The Organization of Islamic Culture and Communications reported on a meeting between Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Department for External Church Relations, and Hojjat-ul-Islam wal-Muslimin Mohammad Mahdi Imanipour, President of the Organization for Culture and Communication under the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan.
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Sheikh Imanipour was accompanied by Zahra Rashidbeigi, Director of the Department of the Centre for Dialogue of Religions and Cultures of the Organization of Islamic Culture and Communications. The parties discussed Russia-Iran cultural and religious ties.
In his speech, Hojjat-ul-Islam wal-Muslimin Mohammad Mahdi Imanipour honored the late Ayatollah Tashiri and Metropolitan Theophanes, ‘the founder of the joint dialogue between Islam Orthodoxy in Russia’, and stressed that those dialogues had a long history and had always been fruitful. ‘Earlier, the topic of these talks had been determined and it was supposed to be held in Moscow, but taking into account the changes in the world after coronavirus, it is better to choose a topic appropriate for today,’ he continued. Hojjat-ul-Islam wal-Muslimin Imanipour said the Organization of Islamic Culture and Communications was ready to hold another round of dialogue ‘between Islam and Russian Orthodoxy’ and invited the Head of the External Relations Department of the Russian Orthodox Church to visit Iran. In addition to it, he expressed his hope for further development of relations between the countries: ‘We have special respect for the Russian government and people and hope to develop good relations between the two countries through cooperation’.
Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk also expressed satisfaction at his meeting with the Head of the Organization of Islamic Culture and Communications at the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan. ‘You are our old friends. Cultural relations between Iran and Russia are strong, and we always welcome the expansion of these relations,’ he highlighted.
Referring to the long history of dialogues between Islam and Orthodoxy in Russia, Metropolitan said: ‘Religious dialogues will certainly spread the message of global peace and sympathy, and we are making every effort to expand dialogues between Islam and Christianity, which is a good tradition’. ‘I have a desire to go to Iran, and soon this desire will come true,’ the Head of the Department for External Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church said.
The VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was held in the city of Nursultan (Kazakhstan) on 14-15 September. The event was attended by Pope Francis, Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel Yitzhak Yosef, UN Deputy Secretary General and High representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos, Official Representative of the Custodian of the Two Shrines of the King of Saudi Arabia and Minister of Islamic Affairs, Conscription and Guidance of Saudi Arabia Abdelatif bin Abdulaziz bin Abdrahman Al Sheikh, Chairman of the Administration of Muslims of the Caucasus heikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture and other senior spiritual leaders of world and traditional religions from different countries.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
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