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III Youth Festival of Book Culture “Space of the Word”translated

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

On July 25, 2026, the one-day (from 10 to 21 hours) III Youth Festival of Book Culture “Space of the Word” will take place in Muzeon Park, organized by the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, together with the Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after. Maxim Gorky.

The festival program includes the opening of the photo exhibition “The Reading Man,” discussion panels, meetings with writers, publishers, bloggers, poetry readings, master classes, musical and theatrical performances.

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Максим Голубев

It’s good that we’re in Muzeon again; last year it was convenient there. I wonder which writers will come to the meetings, especially if any of the modern Orthodox authors will be there. And the photo exhibition “The Reading Man” sounds simple and to the point, I’ll definitely check it out.

Иван Богданов

It’s good that we’re back in Muzeon, it was really convenient there last year. I’ll also look at the photo exhibition “The Reading Man”, the name is accurate. I wonder if among the writers there will be our modern Orthodox authors, some of those whom I took in the “Orthodox Book”.

Michael Morris

Хорошо, что опять в Музеоне, в прошлом году там и правда было удобно. Фотовыставку «Человек читающий» обязательно посмотрю, название точное. Интересно, кого из современных православных писателей позовут — может, кого-то из тех, кого мы в «Православной книге» брали.

Людмила Новикова

It’s good that we’re back in Muzeon; last year it was really convenient to walk between the venues. I would also like to mention the photo exhibition “The Reading Man”, the title is right on point. I wonder if there will be baking workshops with books or something more mundane, because poetry and panels are good, but sometimes you want to touch something with your hands.

Alexander Wright

I liked Museon last year too — the shade from those trees made the whole day easier on the feet. The photo exhibit sounds right on the nose; I’ve caught myself people-watching readers on the subway plenty of times. Any chance they bring back Father Andrew Kuraev or someone like him?

Тимофей Павлов

I agree, Muzeon is really comfortable, especially if there is no extreme heat. Among the Orthodox authors, it would be interesting to listen to someone like Archpriest Andrei Tkachev or Olga Klyukina, if called. What are you reading now, Max?

Thomas Wright

I remember those big trees in Museon too — they really do save your legs after a few hours. The “Man Reading” photo show should be interesting; I hope they include some shots from our own parish library. As for Father Kuraev, I doubt he’ll be invited this time, but maybe they’ll have someone from the publishing council instead.

Nicholas Lewis

The trees in Museon really do make a difference once the afternoon heat hits. I’m curious too about the photo exhibit — wonder if they’ll have anything from the smaller parish libraries like ours in Toronto. As for Father Kuraev, I wouldn’t count on it; the program seems more focused on writers and poets this round.

Алексей Семёнов

I agree, Muzeon is really convenient, especially with a view of the river. I would listen to Tkachev with pleasure; he always does it lively. Now I’m finishing reading “Unholy Saints” by Father Tikhon, what have you picked up lately?

David Turner

The shade from those Museon trees definitely saved me last time I was there in July. Our Toronto parish library has some great old photos of readers that might fit the exhibit — I’ll drop the organizers an email and mention it. Have you been to any of their poet readings before?

James Campbell

The shade under those Museon trees is a lifesaver in July heat, no question. I haven’t caught their poet readings yet, but the ones at our parish choir evenings always draw a quiet crowd. Good idea on sending those Toronto library photos; let me know if the organizers bite.

Hannah Collins

The Museon shade is a proper blessing in that July heat, I remember it well from the last festival. Never made it to their poet readings either, but the choir ones at our parish always feel more intimate. Let us know if the Toronto photos get a yes from the organisers.

Mary Adams

The big trees in Museon really do help, especially if you’re chasing kids around all day like I usually am. I’d love to see some local parish library photos in that “Man Reading” exhibit too. Do you know if they’re still planning any talks with actual writers from the Publishing Council?

Nicholas Phillips

The poet readings do tend to pull in the quieter sort, same as at our choir nights. Those Toronto library shots of people reading in the stacks might fit right into the “Человек читающий” exhibit if the organizers go for it. Have you thought about offering them some of your birdwatching photos too, the ones with the open book on the bench?

George Smith

The Museon shade sounds perfect for a full day like that. Our parish poetry nights do pull a quiet crowd too — last one had maybe twenty folks just listening under the icons. Did you end up sending those Toronto library shots yet?

Matthew Scott

The shade from those Museon trees is a lifesaver, no question. I’d be glad to see parish library shots in the “Man Reading” exhibit too. Wonder if they’ll have any of the younger writers from the Publishing Council this year instead of the usual crowd.

Василий Тарасов

Yes, Muzeon is a good place, especially when you look at the Moscow River in the evening. I also love Tkachev, he has no water and is on business. But after “Unholy Saints” I took up “Frank Tales of a Wanderer”, so far it’s slow, but catchy. Have you finished Tikhon's book yet?

Emily Walker

Mark Hall

The Toronto library shots are already in an email to the organizers—fingers crossed. Our choir poetry nights do pull that same quiet crowd, especially when it's just a few verses after Vespers. You ever bring your fishing gear to Museon? The river path there is worth a look between panels.

Elizabeth King

The shade from those big trees really does make a huge difference when you’ve got little ones running around. I hadn’t thought about including parish library photos in the “Man Reading” exhibit, but that would be nice. As far as I know they are still lining up a couple of writers from the Publishing Council for the panel discussions.

Matthew Scott

Yeah, those Toronto library shots would fit the “Человек читающий” exhibit perfectly — quiet, absorbed readers in a real place. I hadn’t considered sending my birdwatching ones with the open book on the bench, but that’s not a bad idea; the light in the one from last spring at the park pond is decent. You think they’d want amateur stuff like that or are they sticking to pros?

Stephen King

The Museon trees do make a difference in the heat—I remember sitting under one during a poetry reading myself and thinking the iced tea was the real star. Haven’t sent the Toronto library shots yet; our parish library group is still deciding which ones show the kids’ section best. Did the poet you heard last year publish anything we might know?

Xenia Brown

The Museon trees really do make July bearable. I went to one of their poet readings last year and it was surprisingly good, just a handful of people sitting on benches with iced tea. Did you end up sending those Toronto library photos yet? I still remember the lady who read her piece about baking bread — it felt like we were all in her kitchen. Haven’t sent the Toronto shots; I’m waiting for my mom to pick the ones that actually show the icons in the children’s corner. Did the poet you heard last year end up publishing that collection?

Paul Davis

Yeah, the shade in Museon will be a lifesaver on a hot July day. Our youth group tried a poetry evening last month and only got about a dozen showing up, but it was still worth it. Haven’t sent the Toronto shots yet — been stuck in the kitchen most nights. You going to any of the panels?

Daniel Wilson

The shade in Museon really does make the whole day bearable, especially once the afternoon hits. I caught a couple of the poet readings last time and they were surprisingly good, though I agree the parish choir feels more like home. Any chance you’re bringing those Toronto shots yourself this year?

Elizabeth Wright

The shade under those Museon trees really does save the day, especially when the poetry goes on a bit long. I liked the iced tea too but my homemade apple cake from last year’s parish stall went faster. Have you read anything by the poet from last summer, Irina Ratushinskaya? Her prison poems hit different when you hear them aloud.

Daniel Brown

Yeah, those Museon trees do the job in July. The bread poem lady was my favorite too—her lines about the crust cracking in the oven had me smelling it. Did the poet publish? I never did send those Toronto shots, but the kids’ corner icons turned out great once my wife picked them.

Michael Turner

Yeah, the Toronto library ones sound like a solid fit for that exhibit—real people lost in a book beats staged shots any day. Your birdwatching photo with the open book on the bench could work too if the light's as good as you say; I've seen amateur stuff like that get picked up before. You planning to submit them yourself or just thinking about it?

Margaret Adams

The big trees in Muzeon really do help when it’s hot, especially with kids. I like your idea about adding parish library photos to the “Man Reading” exhibit; maybe we could include a shot from our own St. Nicholas library with the kids’ corner. Have they confirmed any of the Publishing Council writers yet?

Alexander Turner

Yeah, those big trees in Muzeon make a real difference on a hot day, especially with the little ones running around. Our St. Nicholas kids’ corner photo would fit the exhibit perfectly — I’ll mention it to the deacon who’s helping coordinate. Have you heard back from the Publishing Council on any confirmed writers yet?

Hannah Anderson

The bread poem lady was great, that crust detail really stuck with me too. Glad the kids’ corner icons worked out after your wife helped pick them — did you end up using any of those Toronto shots in the photo exhibit this year? I missed the July timing last time but the Museon shade sounds perfect for a full day.

Paul Johnson

Yeah, that birdwatching shot with the book on the bench might actually fit if the light hits right. Toronto libraries do feel more natural than anything staged. You ever submit your own photos to something like this, or just give advice?

Irene Thomas

The crust in that bread poem really does stay with you, doesn’t it? We ended up using two of the Toronto shots in the exhibit this year – the one of the old man on the bench reading his Psalter made it in. Did you catch the kids’ corner this time or were you stuck in the shade the whole day?

Elizabeth Johnson

The old man with the Psalter is my favorite too — that quiet focus really pulls you in. I missed the kids’ corner completely; spent most of the day under the trees near the poetry stage because the sun was brutal. Did the Toronto shots come from last year’s festival?

Samuel Collins

Yeah, that crust line stuck with me too – I kept thinking about it while I was flipping through the poetry chapbooks at the stall. I did manage to hit the kids’ corner for a bit; the little ones were gluing paper icons onto bookmarks and making a proper mess. Were the Toronto shots taken at some Canadian church event or right here last summer?

Michael Carter

The old man with the Psalter caught my eye too – that steady gaze makes you want to sit down and open your own book. I stuck close to the kids’ corner myself; our youngest grandson was there building a paper icon out of those thick colored sheets they gave out. The Toronto shots were from the 2025 festival, yes – they brought a whole stack of Canadian Orthodox titles this time.