For everyone interested in the works of Emanuel Swedenborg and the teachings contained in them, a very important and memorable event took place. On December 3-4, 2005, in Dnepropetrovsk, was the opening of the Swedenborg Center, the first in the CIS area. The idea of creating such a center was born long ago when members of the Dnepropetrovsk and Crimean Swedenborg Societies held meetings and discussions in Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, and Crimea with people interested in the Writings. Participants of the first Conference in the CIS of translators and followers of Swedenborg (Yalta; February, 2003) as well as those that had attended a meeting which took place a year later with followers of Swedenborg and Goran Appelgren (Dnepropetrovsk; March, 2004) expressed wishes of building a center which would facilitate the spreading of translations of Swedenborg and where people with a thirst for the truth could meet and discuss pressing questions with like-minded people. The first to support the idea of building a center were the pastor of the New Church in Sweden, Goran Appelgren, and Mr. Duncan Smith of the General Church (USA). Members of the Dnepropetrovsk Society turned to laymen and clergy of the New Church in many countries around the world appealing for support in the construction of the first CIS Swedenborg Center. The main financial support in the building of the Center was provided by the CUCIS organization, which is headed by Duncan Smith. Others who responded to the call for help were people of the New Church in Stockholm, in England and in America. Constant help and support were provided by Swedenborg Publishers International (SPI), which is headed by Erland Brock. Leading architects of Dnepropetrovsk were recruited for the architectural planning and design of the Center. But because of the limited funds, the majority of labor was carried out by the Dnepropetrovsk Society members themselves. They put aside their personal affairs and other work and quickly learned to perform many high-skilled jobs. The building of the center continued for an entire year through all weather conditions and without holidays. They worked from early morning to evening, and occasionally late into the night. Helen Vozovik, of the Crimean Society, worked out the interior design of the Center along with the design of some multi-function furniture, practical for holding various general meetings and seminars as well as smaller group discussions on a more internal level. And at last, on December 3rd, 2005, the opening of the Swedenborg Center took place. There were more than thirty guests from different parts of Ukraine and Russia, who had discovered the Writings of Swedenborg at different times and had maintained long-lasting and close contact with the Dnepropetrovsk and Crimean Societies. Also present at the opening were guests from abroad, including Goran Appelgren, Duncan Smith, and his son Jeffrey Smith (USA). More than thirty others were unable to come for various reasons, but they sent their congratulations and best wishes for the success of the Center. The leader of the Dnepropetrovsk Swedenborg Society, Dmitry Vasiliev told the guests about the development and construction of the center and presented a brief movie. This was followed by the presentation of the new official website of the Swedenborg Society, which will aid greatly in spreading the already published works of Swedenborg, as well as the new Russian translations. Besides this, the website will create the possibility of communication between all those who look for and long to find like-minded people with whom they can discuss important subjects and questions of life. The administrator of the Dnepropetrovsk Society, Svetlana Manayenkova told the guests about the work of translating and publishing the Writings, carried out by the Dnepropetrovsk and Crimean Societies, and the task of spreading them among Russian-speaking people around the world. The guests were also told about plans for future activities as well as educational programs. The Russian translation and publication of Arcana Caelestia, Volume II, done by Helen Vozovik, made its debut at the opening. It was completed especially in time for the opening and was given as a gift to the guests who had long waited for its publication. Now these books are available in the Dnepropetrovsk Swedenborg Center as well as in book stores around Ukraine and Russia. A children’s dance group, the teacher of which is Tatiyana Vasilieva, member of the Dnepropetrovsk Society, put on a wonderful show for the guests, which added to the enjoyment of the weekend. Following the dance performance the guests dined together in a nearby restaurant, during which they had pleasant conversation and discussions of important matters.   The Swedenborg Center opening celebrations went on for two days. On December 4th Goran Appelgren lead Sunday worship and then passed on greetings and congratulations from Erland Brock of SPI, as well as from the New Church community in Sweden. Duncan Smith spoke to the guests a couple times over the course of the two days, about the importance of the Center’s opening in the CIS and the part that each one of them can play in its future purposes. Those attending the meeting discussed many important and interesting questions, and listened attentively to the answers of Goran Appelgren regarding the works of Swedenborg. The Dnepropetrovsk Society gave the guests bags, envelopes, pins and T-shirts bearing the Swedenborg Center logo. Sincere, lively, and soul-stirring conversation and discussion during the breaks of the program were evidence of the high interest in the Center’s activity and the importance of discussing and socializing. The weekend gave witness to the necessity of coming together and cooperating in spreading the ideas of Swedenborg. There was an obvious thirst for knowledge of the Truth and a deep interest in the Doctrine. The Swedenborg Center in Dnepropetrovsk invites everyone who so desires, to take part in its purpose of spreading the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg and uniting all who love the Lord and search for truth.