Home page News
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of&n…

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Turkey

On 11 December 2014, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez, head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, usually referred to as Diyanet, at the Patriarchal residency in Chisty side-street.

Among the participants in the meeting were also H.E. Mr. Ümit Yardim, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to the Russian Federation; Mr. Mehmet Emin Kiraz, Advisor to the Ambassador; and Dr. Dursun Aygün, Advisor for Religious Affairs of Turkey’s Embassy in Russia.

Representing the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate were DECR vice-chairmen, archpriest Nikolai Balashov and archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov).

Greeting the guest, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill mentioned their previous meeting which had taken place in 2001 and initiated relations between the Moscow Patriarchate and Muslim leaders of Turkey. Within the framework of the agreements reached during that meeting, a working group on the dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Diyanet was established.

At their sessions, members of the working group discuss such issues as pilgrimages, religious tourism, and student exchange. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill suggested holding such meetings on a regular basis and broadening their agenda.

“It would be good if scholars could join the working group, since it is very important to reflect together on what is going on with human civilization,” His Holiness said, “It is perfectly obvious that the Western civilization, the modern Western culture, has lost its ties with religion and that the Western world cannot be called Christian any more. Religious values are no longer present in social sphere. Such laws are being adopted that contradict God’s commandments and traditional morality.”

The deviation from norms of religious morality, which had occurred under the pressure of secular forces in a number of protestant churches in Western countries, has affected the bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and those communities, His Holiness told Dr. Görmez.

The Primate of the Russian Church also mentioned the cooperation with the Catholic Church, saying, “Catholics remain faithful to the Biblical tradition. Yet, they find it more and more difficult to raise their voice. We strive to render all possible support to the Catholic Church and believe that it is necessary to promote and deepen our dialogue on these issues.”

His Holiness also emphasized that the relationships with the Islamic world and other religious groups that uphold God-given morality ought to be strengthened.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed his deep concern over the Christianophobia spreading in the Middle East. “We are alarmed at the developments in Iraq, Syria, and some other countries, where militants kill Christians,” His Holiness said, “The Christian population in Northern Iraq has decreased considerably. Churches are being destroyed. Christians are being killed, sold into slavery, or forced to accept Islam or pay a special tax.”

The Russian Church is concerned over the fate of two Christian hierarchs abducted in April 2013, - Metropolitan Paul of Aleppo and Metropolitan Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill emphasized.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church also dwelt on the consequences of actions committed by radical forces, in particular, by the “Islamic State” group. “I cannot get rid of the idea that the “Arabic Spring” and the emergence of Muslim radical military forces, who commit public executions, are aimed at demonizing Islam in the eyes of the world community,” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill added.

Share:
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with representatives of Macedonian Orthodox Church in Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra

08.10.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Serbian First Lady

08.10.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Honorary Chair of Japan’s Sasakawa Peace Foundation

21.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill takes part in the closing ceremony of VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

18.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with religious leaders on the sidelines of the Congress in Astana

18.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem

17.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Russia’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan Alexey Borodavkin

17.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill speaks at the opening of the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

17.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends greetings to Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday

17.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

17.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the Ambassador of Turkey to Russia

02.09.2025

Visit of Deans of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa to Russia concludes

01.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa

27.08.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-Night Vigil in Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on the eve of Dormition

27.08.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates MGIMO rector Anatoly Torkunov on his 75th birthday

26.08.2025

DECR chairman concludes his visit to Northern Iraq

02.10.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with Hierarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church

01.10.2025

DECR Chairman meets in Erbil with Director for the Preservation of Assyrian Cultural Heritage

01.10.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan

30.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony meets with Russia’s Consul General in Erbil

29.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with the Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East

29.09.2025

DECR chairman meets with Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs of Kurdistan Region of Iraq

29.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony meets with the Head of the Council of Ulema of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

29.09.2025

DECR Chairman meets with representatives of Christian communities of Iraq

28.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony meets with the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan Regional Government

28.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony takes part in the Assyrian Church of the East Conference dedicated to the First Ecumenical Council

28.09.2025

DECR Chairman meets with the Primate and Members of the Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East

28.09.2025

Visit of the DECR Chairman to Northern Iraq begins

28.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolasmk leads patronal celebrations at the Church of the Renewal of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Danilovskaya Sloboda

26.09.2025

DECR chairman meets with Israel’s ambassador to Russia

25.09.2025

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب