On May 26 2023, the All-Russian Conference, “Interreligious Dialogue and Traditional Values in the Age of Global Challenges”, was held at the Bolgarian Islamic Academy. The event was part of the program of the V International Bolgarian Forum, “Theological Heritage of Russian Muslims”, and aroused great interest in scientific and educational and social circles. The conference participants focused on the problems of preserving and developing traditional spiritual values in the context of global challenges.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill highly appreciated the work of the academy in this direction during the meeting with public figures of Muslim countries at the Bolgarian Islamic Academy on May 20 2023, ‘and it is no less important that there is the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue. Orthodox clergy and Orthodox scholars participate in the events organized by the Academy. This not only reflects the true spirit of interreligious interaction in Russia, but also plays a significant role in the education of young people, who learn to treat representatives of other religious traditions with great respect’. ‘If the Orthodox-Muslim dialogue provides a strong joint response to this challenge, we can certainly defend our spiritual and moral values,’ he added.
The Centre for Interreligious Dialogue at the Bolgarian Islamic Academy has the following tasks:
-study of international experience in harmonizing social relations in the field of religion and culture;
-strengthening the security of inter-confessional relations and the development of interethnic peace and harmony;
-preventing radicalism and extremism in inter-confessional relations;
-ensuring effective interaction with religious, state, educational, scientific and public organizations and civil society institutions on issues of interreligious relations, including at the international level;
-expanding the dialogue of religions with the participation of master and doctoral students of the Bolgarian Islamic Academy, youth associations, scholars of theology and representatives of scientific, social and business circles, as well as secular and religious mass media in the scientific and educational sphere.
The conference opened with welcoming remarks by:
Khusnutdinov Farhat Gusmanovich, rector of the Bolgarian Islamic Academy;
Gilmutdinov Ildar Irekovich, first deputy chairman of the Committee for Interethnic Affairs of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Kazan, Russia);
Dirzizov Albert Rivkatovich, head of the Office for Interaction with Religious Associations of the Department for Internal Policy of the Office of the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan (Kazan, Russia);
Bulatov Abdulgamid Osmanovich, head of the Office for Monitoring Interethnic and Inter-Confessional Relations, Prevention of Extremism and Interaction with Religious Associations of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs of Russia (Moscow, Russia);
Hieromonk Grigory (Matrusov), chairman of the Expert Council under Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for Interaction with the Islamic World (Moscow, Russia);
Blazhenov Konstantin Leonidovich, deputy head of the Department for National Policy and Interregional Relations of Moscow, head of the Department for Relations with Religious Organizations (Moscow, Russia);
Valiullin Renat Nakifovich, permanent representative of the Republic of Tatarstan in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region (St. Petersburg, Russia);
Archpriest Vladimir Samoilenko, rector of Kazan Orthodox Theological Seminary (Kazan, Russia);
Karamyshev Ruslan Diasovich, deputy chairman of the Council for State and Religious Relations under the Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan (Ufa, Russia).
During the conference, several thematic round tables were organized to discuss the role and significance of interreligious dialogue in shaping the new world order, the institutionalization of interreligious dialogue as seen in Russia, and its role in education.
Presentations were made and panel discussions held on various topics, such as:
●Interaction and dialogue between religions in the context of globalization and multiculturalism;
●The role of religion in promoting peace, social justice and countering extremism and violence;
●Interaction between religious leaders and state to achieve common goals;
●Education and youth: teaching tolerance and respect for different religious traditions.
One of the main themes raised at the conference was the need to preserve and develop traditional values in the face of contemporary global challenges. The participants discussed issued related to inter-confessional cooperation, mutual understanding and respect among various religious groups.
The conference allowed the participants to exchange experience, ideas and best practices in the field of interreligious dialogue and contributed to further development of cooperation between various religious communities in Russia.
The conference was attended not only by representatives of different regions of Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Republic of Tatarstan, Republic of Bashkortostan, Republic of Buryatia, Republic of Dagestan, Saratov Region, Stavropol Region, Nizhny Novgorod Region, and Tyumen Region), but also by foreign guests from Azerbaijan, Yemen, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Türkiye and Uzbekistan. This event became a platform for experience exchange and development of new strategies in the field of interreligious dialogue.
An important aspect of the conference was the recognition of the importance of education in shaping tolerant and harmonious society. It was noted that academies such as the Bolgarian Islamic Academy play a key role in educating and upbringing young people, promoting tolerance and respect for different religious traditions.
At the end of the All-Russian Conference a resolution was adopted, which stated in particular, ‘The Russian Federation is a historical example of interreligious harmony, peaceful and good-neighborly coexistence and interaction between representatives of traditional religions, including Orthodoxy and Islam. The historical memory of harmonious interreligious interaction and existence of peoples living in Russia is worth of study by other countries as a positive experience’.
On the whole, the All-Russian Conference at the Bolgarian Islamic Academy became an important event aimed at strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation between different religious communities in Russia and beyond. It stressed the need for dialogue and cooperation in addressing contemporary global challenges and creating harmonious society based on respect for diversity of religious and cultural traditions.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"