Representatives of Russian Orthodox Church take part in interreligious forum in Uzbekistan

DECR Communications Service, 17.11.2024. 

On November 16, an international conference "Religious Tolerance in New Uzbekistan" was held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The conference was organized by the State Committee on Religious Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the participation of religious communities and academic organizations of the country.

Taking part in the forum timed for the International Day for Tolerance which the UN invited to celebrate annually on November 16 were leaders and representatives of the Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and other communities, political and public figures, as well as scientists and journalists fr om Uzbekistan, Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, South Korea, Malaysia, India, Scotland, and other countries.

Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, head of the Metropolitan District of Central Asia, attended the event and addressed the audience with a welcome speech. With the blessing of Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, Rev. Ilya Kashitsyn, DECR secretary for interreligious relations and executive secretary of the Interreligious Council of Russia, presented a report on the role of interreligious dialogue in the strengthening of social accord.

Speaking at the opening session were Mr. Muzaffar Kamilov, advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Ms. Sara Noshadi, head of the UNESCO’s Office in Uzbekistan; Dr. Davronbek Makhsudov, first deputy chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs of Uzbekistan; Ms. Zulaykho Makhkamova, deputy prime minister of the country; Mr. Sodik Toshboev, chairman of the Committee on religious affairs of Uzbekistan; Mr. Rustambek Kurbanov, chairman of the Committee on interethnic relations and friendly ties with foreign countries; Mufti Sheikh Nuriddin Kholiknazar, chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Uzbekistan; Mr.Viktor Pak, chairman of the Association of Korean Cultural Centers in Uzbekistan and member of the Oliy Majlis (the Parliament of Uzbekistan); and Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan.

Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church answered numerous questions from the media.

Among those speaking at the section "Experience of Uzbekistan and other countries in ensuring interreligious dialogue and tolerance" were Junggu Kwon, member of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Central Council; Bishop Jose Luis Mumbiella Sierra, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Central Asia; Ms. Elaine Duncan, chief executive of the Scottish Bible Society and chair of the United Bible Societies Fellowship Council; Prof. Dr. Mohd Rosmizi Abd Rahman of the Islamic Science University of Malaysia; and Mr. Arkady Isakharov, head of the Jewish community of Tashkent. Rev. Ilya Kashitsyn spoke about the experience of establishing good relations among religions and peoples in Russia. He mentioned the positive experience of Uzbekistan, wh ere representatives of more than a hundred different ethnic groups live in harmony both at the level of religious leaders and at the everyday level.

Speaking at the sections "The development of education as a path to strengthening interreligious harmony and stability" and "The role of a special resolution of the UN General Assembly ‘Education and Religious Tolerance’ in strengthening interreligious and intercultural dialogue” were state persons and scientists, rectors and faculty members of theological schools, and experts from Uzbekistan, Armenia, Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries.

That same day in the evening, church participants of the conference prayed during the All-night Vigil celebrated by Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, head of the Metropolitan District of Central Asia, and Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On the following day, the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the cathedral with attendance of church guests from Russia. At the end of the service, there were celebrated a litiya for all those killed in car accidents and a glorification for Ss Peter and Fevronia of Murom at the particles of their relics, which were brought to Tashkent for the "Joy of the Word" exhibition-forum being held by the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in various regions of Russia and abroad with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'. After the service, a round table was held on the topic of the grammatically correct use of the Russian language and its protection from obscenities. Attending were Metropolitan Vikenty, Metropolitan Clement, and guests.