Teacher Veniamin Kondratyev attended the inauguration of the interregional phase of the nationwide contest, titled "Moral Prowess of the Teacher."
In August 2025, the regional stage of the All-Russian "Teacher's Moral Deed" contest took place, attracting over 600 participants and showcasing over 500 works. The event was attended by educators from seven Southern Federal District regions, including the Governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, Metropolitan Vasily of Yekaterinburg and Kuban, Vice-Governor Anna Minkova, and the coordinating committee's executive director, Father Trifon.
The "Teacher's Moral Deed" contest is an initiative launched in 2025, focusing on promoting spiritual and moral education. This contest aligns with the broader national agenda to develop education systems around moral foundations, likely linked to Orthodox Christianity and historical narratives of Russia, such as the legacy of "Kievan Rus" and Cossack traditions, which are integral to Russia's cultural and spiritual identity.
The Cossack education system in Russia complements this by emphasising historical, spiritual, and moral upbringing based on Cossack heritage and customs. Cossack education programs often include military-style discipline, Orthodox Christian faith, and patriotic education aimed at fostering loyalty to Russian state and culture. This system tends to support the moral and spiritual development of youth through traditional values and national history, seen as essential for building resilience and ideological unity, especially among children affected by contemporary regional conflicts.
Together, the "Teacher's Moral Deed" contest and the Cossack education system contribute to the Russian government's effort in 2025 to integrate ideological education with moral and spiritual themes. These programs are part of larger government initiatives spending millions on programs aimed at ideological education and countering perspectives considered destructive or foreign.
Metropolitan Vasily, in his speech, emphasised the significance of the contest and the collaboration between the church and the state in education. He also highlighted the 20th anniversary of the "Teacher's Moral Deed" contest and expressed gratitude to the authorities and the Holy Patriarch for their care for education and youth.
The winners of the in-person round will be given an opportunity to share their experiences at the Kirillo-Mefodievskie Readings in October 2025. The Kirillo-Mefodievskie Readings are scheduled for October 2025, and the winners will be invited to present their experience to educators from the region. The in-person format of the contest was emphasised for enabling participants to exchange experiences and enrich each other.
The Cossack education system in Russia boasts over 5,000 Cossack classes and groups, educating over 111,000 children. Eight Cossack cadet corps with spiritual mentors are also part of this system. In his speech, Veniamin Kondratyev emphasised the importance of spiritual and moral upbringing of the younger generation.
[1] Source: Various online news articles and reports.
- Education and self-development play a significant role in the Russian government's initiatives in 2025, with the "Teacher's Moral Deed" contest and the Cossack education system aiming to integrate ideological education with moral and spiritual themes, fostering the growth and moral development of youth.
- The winners of the "Teacher's Moral Deed" contest have opportunities for personal growth, such as presenting their experiences at the Kirillo-Mefodievskie Readings, connecting them with educators from the region and facilitating knowledge exchange.
