On 25 April at the Yeltsin Presidential Library (St. Petersburg) a conference on “Traditional Religions – Spiritual and Moral Unity of Russia” was held. The event was organized by the Administration of the Leningrad Region. More than 100 people gathered around one table to discuss issues related to the spiritual and moral unity of Russia: clergymen of traditional religious confessions, representatives of the government of the 47th region, scholars and public figures.
Chairman of the Administration of Muslims of St. Petersburg and North-Western region of Russia Ravil Pancheyev, Bishop Mstislav of Tikhvin and Lodeynoye Pole, Chairman of the Jewish Community of the Great Choral Synagogue Mark Grubarg, Lama of the St. Petersburg Datsan Anton Shcheglov spoke about valor and strength of multinational Russia, preservation of traditional approaches, inviolability of eternal cultural and moral values, love to Motherland, respect of rights and freedoms of people of different nationalities and religions. In addition to it, Ruslan Sayakhov, pro-rector of the Bolgarian Islamic Academy for scientific activities, Tsydyp Tudutov, lama of the Aginsky Datsan, and Badma Markhayev, dean of the Buddhist University “Dashi Choynhorlin”, addressed the participants of the scientific meeting via conference hall.
Anna Danilyuk, vice-governor of the Leningrad Region for domestic policy, addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. She stated that according to the Russian President’s Decree №809 dated 9.11.2022, which approved the basis of the state policy for strengthening and preservation of Russian traditional spiritual and moral values, an important task of the state is to create comfortable living conditions for people of different faiths. ‘New opportunities and prospects of interaction with the state are opening up for religious organizations and public in the country today,’ Anna Danilyuk, vice-governor of the Leningrad Region for domestic policy, said.
She also noted that many years of joint activities between the Leningrad Region and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of St. Petersburg and North-West Region of Russia are aimed at preserving Russia’s national traditions.
‘Every religion lays important moral foundations and right values in human beings, necessary for harmonious and peaceful coexistence of people. I am convinced that our country will always stand firm in defending traditional spiritual values,’ the politician highlighted.
The conference also discussed the issues that are of particular relevance today: cooperation between religious and non-governmental organizations, educational institutions and authorities, interaction between national diasporas, interregional ties and joint projects, experience exchange in inter-confessional issues.
‘Our city is historically multi-confessional, and this status persists now,’ Ravil Pancheyev noted. ‘One of the goals of humanity is to achieve spiritual and moral unity. This unity has always saved peoples and countries, especially at crucial moments and critical times’.
The speaker drew the audience’s attention to the urgent problems of preserving traditional family values. Issues of educating the younger generation should be dominated by important ideas related to nurturing patriotism and cultural tolerance, and harmonizing international and inter-confessional relations.
Ruslan Sayakhov, pro-rector of the Bolgarian Islamic Academy for scientific activities, told the conference participants about the main directions of scientific activities of the Bolgarian Islamic Academy, its organizational structure and the specifics of the research carried out.
Yuri Trusov, chairman of the Public Chamber of the Leningrad Region, made a closing address to those present and called on all confessions and civil society to unite their efforts and protect the Russian world. At the end of the conference, Yuri Trusov was photographed with his fellow countrymen.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Peter H\Pixabay