Bible Festival 2011 has concluded

Bible Festival 2011 has concluded!

This Saturday, August 6, the largest Christian celebration of all denominations this year came to a close: Bible Festival 2011.

Bible Festival 2011 began on August 3 with intercession for the state of Latvia at the Freedom Monument, continued on August 4 with intercession by Riga City Council for the mayor of Riga and his team, and on August 5 with intercession by the Presidential Castle for the President and the President's Chancery.

Throughout the day, events whose main theme was the Bible took place in different locations in Riga. In Bastejkalns, everyone interested had the opportunity to take part in the activity "Domino with a Pastor", where in a free atmosphere people asked pastors from different denominations all kinds of questions. They could also receive a specially prepared drink with the inscription: Whoever drinks the water that I give him will never thirst. Jesus.

In Riga Cathedral, in St. Mary's Chapel, an exhibition of Bibles deposited from the Ernests Gliks Museum was opened by Latvian Evangelical Alliance president Vadims Kovalevs and Archbishop-Metropolitan Zbignevs Stankevics of the Archdiocese of Riga.

Families with children were entertained in the garden of Riga Cathedral, where children enthusiastically took part in creative workshops and watched the puppet theatre "Maska" led by Peteris Trups. "Adventure with the Bible" is a project that offers, through 56 attractive movements, to learn the correct sequence of Old Testament historical events and, through 50 movements, the events of the New Testament. In discovering Bible stories, both words and silence, as well as symbols, have their place in a Godly Play lesson.

At the central office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, the seminar "Adventure with the Bible" took place for Sunday school and Christian education teachers. "Adventure with the Bible" is a project already carried out in Latvia in Rezekne, Liepaja and Riga, and teachers are delighted by this way of teaching Christian education. The teachers themselves have gained and received new knowledge about the Old Testament.

Riga residents were surprised by flash mobs, when young people spontaneously and simultaneously read the Bible by the Laima Clock, Galerija Centrs and other places. The purpose of this activity was to draw the attention of passers-by and creatively show the relevance of the Bible among young people.

On Marstalu Street, in the premises of the youth club "Melna Aita", everyone had the opportunity to enter the "Harbour of Peace", where with calm music they could reflect on life's great questions. Bibles were available on the tables.

All day long, the Tent of Revelation was set up on Dome Square. In this tent it was possible to learn more about the Holy Scriptures, and several intercession teams from different denominations were ready to serve everyone who wanted to share their needs and receive prayer.

On Dome Square there were also young people in pink Bible Festival T-shirts with the inscription "Ask and it will be given to you" /Matt. 11:7/, who offered those present the chance to draw slips with God's promises. There was also an opportunity to write down personal prayer needs.

The event reached its culmination at 16:00 on Dome Square. A documentary video was shown on the large screen, where well-known public figures shared about their faith in God. Riga Deputy Mayor Andris Ameriks opened the celebration on the large stage. Words of greeting were also given by Latvian Evangelical Alliance president Vadims Kovalevs, Bible Festival committee leader Inga Zinge-Pupina, and Prayer Breakfast committee leader Inese Slesere. Testimonies about the special meaning and value of the Bible, the Word of God, were given by pastor Arnis Silis and Davids Gleske, leader of the group "Klikke 1:16". A musical program with well-known worship songs in Latvian and Russian had been prepared and was performed by a united church choir of one hundred participants from all over Latvia, led by conductor Aigars Abolins, together with soloists Liba Ece-Kalnina, Valters Gleske, Kaspars Ezerins, Kristine Praulina, Eliza Godina, Valdis Indrisonoks, Elija Kapicka, Jekabs Reders, Eduards Grundmanis and Santa Lozinska. The bell ensemble of Riga Vilande Baptist Church also performed at the celebration. Representatives of the Jewish Messianic community "Shofar" came to greet the gathering. The celebration concluded with blessings from Latvian Evangelical Alliance president Vadims Kovalevs, Archbishop Janis Vanags of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, Archbishop-Metropolitan Zbignevs Stankevics of the Roman Catholic Church in Latvia, priest Valentins Vasiljevs of the Latvian Orthodox Church, Pastor Peteris Samoilics, member of the Council of the Union of Baptist Churches in Latvia, Bishop Nikolajs Gribs of the Latvian Pentecostal Church Centre, Pastor Aleksejs Ledjajevs of the Evangelical Christian Church "New Generation", Superintendent Gita Mednis of the United Methodist Church in Latvia, and Pastor Andrejs Cebotarjovs of the Christian Centre "Laba Vests".
More than a thousand spectators gathered for the concert. Many of those present were tourists from other countries, who watched what was happening with great interest and were delighted by such a celebration, which is unique in all of Europe.

At the end of the day, at 21:00 on Dome Square, a youth concert took place with the participation of the groups "Return band", "CHRISTE TEAM" from Lithuania, "Klikke 1:16" and the Riga Gospel Choir, gathering more than a thousand spectators.
A unique event, for the first time in Latvia's history, also took place as part of Bible Festival 2011: 12 hours of continuous reading of the Word of God live on Latvian Christian Radio.
Seventy-two people from all Christian denominations were involved in the Bible-reading marathon.
The aim of the Bible Festival is to promote the significance of spirituality in society, strengthen Christian unity and bring the gospel to people in an understandable way.

Information prepared by:
Bible Festival committee leader,
Inga Zinge-Pupina
+ 371 26464348
lea@lea.lv