The Commissioner for Human Rights and an employee of the Publishing Council discussed the development of a reading culturetranslated

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

The Commissioner for Human Rights and an employee of the Publishing Council discussed the development of a reading culture Patriarchia.ru

Source: GN church: Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) · Read the full story →

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Grace Moore

Good to see the Human Rights Commissioner and the Publishing Council actually talking about getting people to read more. Any idea if they mentioned specific books or programs that might help with that at the parish level?

Ивана Николовска

It's good that they are discussing reading, but did they mention any specific books or programs for parishes? In our choir, we often exchange spiritual books, but it would be nice if there was something organized from above.

Νίκος Αναγνώστου

Good that they are talking about it, but I would like to see something more specific about parishes. In our own church in Patras we already have a small shelf with books by Agios Paisios and Fr. Ananias, which we lend after the service. If the Hierarchical Counselor has a schedule, let us know which books he recommends first.

Helen Baker

Our parish in Wichita started a little lending shelf last year after Divine Liturgy — mostly St. Paisios, some Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, and a couple of children’s lives of saints. It’s been nice to see the same books come and go. I hope the Commissioner and the Publishing Council put out a short list parishes can actually use instead of just talking about “developing reading culture.

Αντώνης Κωνσταντίνου

In our own church in Thessaloniki, we occasionally put books by Saint Paisios and Father Ananias on the shelf after the service, just as Nikos from Patras says. They are borrowed and rotated, but I would like to see some more organized program from the Patriarchate or the Holy Synod, not just a discussion. Did they mention something specific?

Весна Николовска

Here in Prilep, in the "St. Blagoveshtenie" church, we also have a small corner with books after the Liturgy, mostly from St. Paisius and some of Metropolitan Antony. It is good that they are discussing the culture of reading, but it would be nice to hear a specific program from the Publishing Council for parishes. Maybe something like a list of recommended books to borrow?

Pablo Romero

In our parish in Barcelona we also put up a small shelf after the Liturgy with books by Saint Paisius and Saint John of Kronstadt. They take them and return, but I wish the Publications Council would give us a specific list or a simple program so that it is not just an initiative of each parish.

Cristina Dobre

At our parish in Cluj, after Mass, we also put a few books on a small table - especially from St. Paisie and lives of saints for children. It's nice that reading culture is being discussed at a high level, but I'd like to see a simple list of recommended titles from the Publications Board so we don't have to choose anyway.

Никола Ангеловски

Yes, in Prilep that little corner after Liturgy certainly helps people to take something home. Here in Skopje, in "St. Dimitrij", we tried to make a similar shelf, but Paisius's books are mostly taken. It would be nice if the Publishing Council could provide an accurate list of 10-15 titles for parish libraries, so we know exactly what to get. What do you think, would there be a place for a children's book?

Христина Петренко

In Lviv, we also have a small shelf with books after the liturgy, the most popular ones are St. Paisius and "Lives of the Saints" for children. It is good that it is being talked about at such a level, but I would really like to hear from the Publishing Board at least a short list of 10-12 titles that can be safely recommended.

Андрій Шевченко

Christina, our Odessa parish also has such a shelf after the liturgy, and "Lives of the Saints" for children sell out the fastest, especially those with large pictures. But from St. Paisius, "Painful and Joyful" is more often taken in our country, because people say that it is easier to read there. Have you tried adding anything from Father Seraphim Rose? I think it works well for beginners too.

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სალომე მამულაშვილი

in our Batumi st. We also made a small table in Nino's church after the liturgy, mainly St. Books of Paisius and Lives of Saints for Children. People take and return, but it would be really nice if the Publishing Board gave us a simple list of 10-12 books.

يوسف صايغ

In Zahle, after Mass, we put the books of Saint Pacius and “Lives of the Saints” for children on a small table, and people take them and bring them back. It is nice that they are talking about the culture of reading, but if the patriarchal publications gave us a clear list of 10 easy books, it would be better.

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ნანა კვარაცხელია

It's a good idea, Salome, we also have a similar table in Batumi and St. Paisia's books go very fast. If we were given a really simple list of 10-12 books, it would be easier for the children to choose. Would you recommend any particular books on this list to the Publishing Board?

جيسيكا نصار

It's nice what you do in Zahle after Mass, especially since the children participate. I also tried the lives of the saints with my neighbors’ children and noticed that they liked short stories more. What do you think if we ask the Patriarchal Publications to add photocopies for children?

Петар Илиевски

Yes, in the "Holy Annunciation" after Liturgy I often see people taking those very books from Paisius and Metropolitan Antony. It would be nice if the Publishers Council made a small list of 5-6 titles that are suitable for beginners, so we know exactly what to put on the shelf. Vesna, do any of your older parishioners recommend those books or are they taken on their own?

Дарко Николовски

Yes, Petar, you noticed it correctly - in our country, after the Liturgy, "The Life of the Elder Paisius" and "About Life" are mostly taken. Older parishioners often recommend them themselves to younger ones, especially if someone starts coming more often. It would be good to have that small list of 5-6 books, so that we don't wonder what exactly to get. Do you have a book that you would put first for beginners?