Russian Church hierarchs take part in round table meeting on intercivilisational dialogue held in Malaysia

DECR Communication Service, 13/12/2024

On 12^th December 2024, the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia – Islamic World” continued its meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

As part of the meeting, a dialogue session on Intercivilisational Dialogue was held at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Among those who took part in the session were the IIUM rector Dr. Osman Bakar; Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan; Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia, Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia; Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta, vicar of the Diocese of Singapore; Mr Farit Mukhametshin, deputy chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia – Islamic World;” as well as representatives of the academic and educational communities.

The participants in the session discussed different topical issues of cooperation. Suggestions were put forward aimed at fostering inter-confessional and intercivilisational harmony and promoting the sense of shared responsibility for the current developments in the world.

Metropolitan Kirill thanked representatives of the host party for hospitality and readiness for dialogue, website of the Tatarstan Metropolia reports. He also noted that problems of divisions are characteristic not only of certain religious groups, but of the humanity as a whole. “Division is a problem of spiritual life. The further we deviate from the Divine plan, the more divisions, malice, hatred, wars and other bloody developments we have. Our primary task is to fulfil the will of God, following the commandments the Lord left us,” he added.

The head of the Tatarstan Metropolia mentioned in his speech that the first printed edition of Quran in the Russian language had been published thanks to the work of professors of the Kazan Theological Academy in 1803, and dwelt on the present-day life of the Kazan Seminary, saying: “The Kazan Theological Seminary continues traditions of the Kazan Theological Academy. Today our theological school has a department of Islamic studies, which studies Islam and helps Christians living in our country to understand the worldview of people professing Islam. We would be very interested in establishing cooperation with the International Islamic University.”

As the website of the Patriarchal Exarchate of South-East Asia reports, speaking at the session, Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia emphasised that in his activities he relies on the centuries-old traditions and spiritual heritage of his homeland. Metropolitan Sergiy noted that in Russia Orthodox Christians and representatives of the Muslim community coexist in peace, cooperating in carrying out various cultural and social projects.

After the session, the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church met with student of the International Islamic University Malaysia.

Print publication

Russian Church hierarchs take part in round table meeting on intercivilisational dialogue held in Malaysia

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons