On September 1, 2026, the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church began accepting works for participation in the XIII season of the International Children's and Youth Literary Competition named after I.S. Shmelev "Summer of the Lord".
The competition is held with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia by the Publishing Council. The contest is designed to promote the formation of a sustained interest in the study of Russian literature, history, the Russian language and the foundations of Orthodox culture.
Russian Russian literature The objectives of the competition are: to develop the creative potential of the younger generation based on the spiritual tradition of Russian culture; to develop a culture of reading and interest in Russian literature; to popularize the work of writers who follow the spiritual tradition of Russian culture; to promote the formation of creative skills among young writers aimed at preserving and developing the best traditions of Russian literature.
Creative works are accepted until December 10. The contest participants are divided into three age groups: grades 6-7, grades 8-9, and grades 10-11. The participants of the competition can be students of educational institutions of secondary (full) general and secondary vocational education (schools, gymnasiums, colleges, lyceums, etc.) of any organizational and legal form, as well as pupils of Sunday schools, institutions of additional education and other educational institutions of the Russian Federation and abroad under the age of 18.
To participate in the competition, you must fill out a participant's questionnaire on the competition's website and attach to it a creative work designed in accordance with the requirements specified in the Competition Regulations.
The contest participants can choose one of the following topics:
• The Holy Gospel as the foundation of Russian literature.
• "There is no greater love than if someone lays down his life for his friends," a feat of love and faith;
• "Man deserves his happiness, and always through suffering," dedicated to the 160th anniversary of the creation of F.M. Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment;
• "The Kingdom of God is a quiet, peaceful, imperceptible entry of the Holy Spirit into human hearts", dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of St. Luke of Crimea;
• "A man cannot live without work, without being needed," dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of the writer Valentin Grigoryevich Rasputin;
• "Truly, it was the Golden Age of our literature, the period of its innocence and bliss!" (M.A. Antonovich), poetry and prose of the XIX century.
The topic can also be formulated by the author himself.