His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sent his greetings to the participants of the 12th meeting of the Joint Russian-Iranian commission on dialogue "Orthodoxy-Islam"

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' sent his greetings to the participants of the 12th meeting of the Joint Russian-Iranian commission on dialogue "Orthodoxy and Islam" (20-21 February 2023, Moscow).

To the participants of the XII meeting of the Joint Russian-Iranian commission on dialogue "Orthodoxy-Islam"

Dear Friends!

I cordially greet all of you, gathered these days in Moscow to participate in the twelfth round of meetings of the Joint Commission on Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Islamic community of Iran.

A quarter of a century has passed since the first meeting was held in the Iranian capital in December 1997. During these years the idea of creating the commission, which I proposed together with Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri, has completely paid off. We have managed to reach a high level of mutual understanding on a wide range of questions and topics, such as the role of religion in strengthening family values, ways to overcome the spiritual and moral crisis in society, intercultural and interreligious cooperation, human rights, problems of terrorism and extremism, globalization, environmental protection and many others. Studying and comprehending the experience of our countries and traditions in various spheres of life gave our religious communities an opportunity to look at the existing challenges in a new way and to offer relevant answers to them.

This session, entitled "Community Service by Faith Communities in a Post-Pandemic World," is intended to summarize the work of the Commission over the past 25 years and to provide an impetus for further deepening our cooperation. Unfortunately, the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic have been compounded by the global political and economic crisis and military conflicts. I am convinced that we are called by God for spiritual reflection and joint action on these events.

I hope that this regular meeting of the commission will make a significant contribution to the development of good relations between our religious communities and nations. I wish all of you fruitful discussions and blessed success in your upcoming labors.

+Kirill,
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUS'

Print publication

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sent his greetings to the participants of the 12th meeting of the Joint Russian-Iranian commission on dialogue "Orthodoxy-Islam"

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons