On October 15, 2026, on the memorial day of the righteous warrior Feodor Ushakov (1817), the XII Interregional Forum of Orthodox Youth "Peresvet", dedicated to the theme "Family values", opened in the capital of Mordovia. It is attended by representatives of dioceses located in the Volga region — priests, heads of youth departments, teachers, volunteers, as well as employees of state and public organizations.
The Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Righteous Warrior Theodore Ushakov in Saransk on the opening day was led by Metropolitan Zinovy of Saransk and Mordovia. The head of the Mordovian Metropolia was concelebrated by the participants of the forum.
Then a plenary session was held at the Ogarev Arena spiritual and educational center "Russia - Our History". It was attended by the head of the Republic of Mordovia, A.A. Zdunov, Metropolitan Zinovy of Saransk and Mordovia, Acting Chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs, Hieromonk Filaret (Zubov), Chief Federal Inspector for the Republic of Mordovia, M.V. Trofimov, bishops of the Mordovian Metropolis, representatives of the Government, the State Committee for Youth Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Sports, The Public Chamber and public associations of the Republic of Mordovia.
After the plenary session, the work of the forum continued at the sites of the camp "Sunny Mordovia" and the Pilgrimage Center of St. John the Theologian Monastery. The program of the first day includes a seminar and a strategic session "Sobriety — a family issue and the task of the state", an introduction game, family workshops and a board game "Southwest. Sea Strike 2".
In the following days, participants will attend a workshop on creating video content using artificial intelligence, a strategic session "Church youth policy and family values: ways of interaction", a seminar on socio-cultural design and grants, an educational quest on the travels of the Apostle Paul, useful games, a legal seminar for priests and heads of organizations, a workshop of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, movie screenings and a concert.
The forum will end on October 18 with a Liturgy, a sightseeing tour of Saransk and a closing ceremony at the Pilgrimage Center. The closing ceremony will feature the presentation of certificates and gifts, as well as the viewing of the final video.
The Peresvet Forum is being held for the twelfth time and brings together representatives of dioceses, government and public organizations. Its purpose is to share experiences, spread and develop successful projects in the field of youth and family Orthodox ministry.