""The Joy of the Word" exhibition and forum was opened on September 23, 2026 in Volzhsky, Volgograd region, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, in conjunction with the Orthodox exhibition and fair "Volga Orthodox", held with the blessing of Bishop John of Kalachevo and Pallasovo.
For the worship of believers from the Kaluga Diocese, an ark with fragments of the relics of St. Filaret of Moscow was brought to the exhibition-forum. Bishop John, accompanied by the clergy of the diocese, performed a prayer service in front of the shrine.
At the end of the service, His Eminence addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. The Bishop thanked the Publishing Council for their long-term cooperation and the organization of the "Joy of the Word" exhibition and forum, which has become an annual event expected by the townspeople.
At the opening ceremony, the head of the exhibition sector, Priest Andrey Stepanov, delivered a welcoming speech from the Publishing Council. He read out a message from the Chairman of the Publishing Council, Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, and presented Bishop John with the seventh volume of the works of St. Theophan the Recluse of Vyshinsky. The seventh volume of the "Chronicle of the Life and Works of St. Theophan, the Recluse of Vyshensky" contains documents and memoirs about St. Theophan, created after his death and before 1917 (1895-1917·). The main topic of this volume is an analysis of the life of St. Theophan, expressed, in addition to the memories of his contemporaries, in the works of students and teachers of theological educational institutions who analyzed the literary heritage of the Saint. The specifics of the presentation of the material in the seventh volume allow us to trace the gradual origin of the veneration of St. Theophan, which later resulted in his canonization at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988.
As part of the opening ceremony, a presentation of new books by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, published by the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate, took place.
The audience was presented with the 32nd volume of the works of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the first volume containing the words and addresses of His Holiness the Patriarch, uttered in the period from 2009 to 2024, and the book "War. Beyond apparent cause and effect." A set of books provided by the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate was donated to the Diocese of Kalachev. 
""The Heirs of Cyril and Methodius" intellectual brain-ring game was held by the Publishing Council in the Kalachevo Diocese on the same day as part of the "Joy of the Word" exhibition. Five teams took part in the event, which took place at the "Pokrov" spiritual and educational center at the Church of the Apostle John the Theologian. The game was hosted by Priest Andrey Stepanov. The winner was the team from the church of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky. All participants received diplomas and gifts.