On April 25, 2023, the Presidential Library in St. Petersburg hosted the conference “The Traditional Religions as the Spiritual and Moral Unity of Russia.” The event was organized by the Administration of Leningrad Oblast and gathered around 100 government officials from Leningrad Oblast and Moscow, heads of religious organizations and community, civil society activists and scholars. They discussed cooperation between religious and nongovernmental organizations, educational institutions and government.The following ELCIR congregation head pastors attended the conference: ELCIR Chief Secretary Rev. Mikhail Ivanov (St. Mary’s Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg), Rev. Dean Pavel Krylov of the ELCIR West Ingrian Deanery (Skvoritsy Lutheran Church, Petrovo, Leningrad Oblast), Rev. Anatoli Leshchik (Kingisepp), and Rev. Viktor Vorontsov (Gatchina).
Currently, there are more than 400 religious organizations registered in Leningrad Oblast. Besides, federal and regional target programs in the region whose purpose is to foster civic consciousness, patriotism and tolerance and harmonize ethnic and interfaith relationships include activities involving religious organizations.
