The Orthodox book exhibition and forum "The Joy of the Word" will be held in Pyatigorsk from September 6 to 8, 2026. The event will be held with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
The forum will open with the bringing of the ark with a fragment of the relics of St. Filaret of Moscow to the Spassky Cathedral of Pyatigorsk. The ceremony will be attended by Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Archbishop Theophylact of Pyatigorsk and Cherkessk.
The program includes a presentation of new books by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, published by the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate, as well as the Patriarchal Bible Study Program "Explore the Scriptures." Archbishop Theophylact of Pyatigorsk and Cherkessk will present his book "Eternal Happiness".
Guests of the forum will be able to attend lectures by the famous missionary, Orthodox theologian and Biblical scholar Archpriest Oleg Stenyaev, as well as a speech by Alla Mitrofanova "Leo Tolstoy in search of the meaning of life: from reflections in Pyatigorsk to Anna Karenina". Boris Korchevnikov will meet with the student youth.
Other events included meetings with representatives of publishing houses, the presentation of Maria Osinina's book "Living Aids," a brain—ring intellectual game for youth, and an author's concert of the Thomas magazine "12 Stories."
During the forum, a mobile photo exhibition "Primates of the Moscow Land" will be open, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, which is being celebrated this year.
With the blessing of Archbishop Theophylact of Pyatigorsk and Cherkessk, this year's book exhibition will be housed in the Gorky Central City Library. Visitors will be presented with new editions and a wide selection of Orthodox spiritual and moral literature.
The Joy of the Word exhibition and Forum has been held on the territory of the Pyatigorsk Diocese for 12 years. Previously, its events were also held in Kislovodsk and Yessentuki.
The forum is organized by the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Pyatigorsk Diocese, the Spas TV channel, the Thomas magazine and the Nikea Publishing house. Residents and guests of the Caucasian Mineral Waters are invited to explore the world of Orthodox book culture.