Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church attend a conference organized by the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia

DECR Communication Service, 28/09/2026

On 28^th September 2026, an International Conference on Traditional Religions of Russia: Contribution to Strengthening Unity and Society Development took place at the President Hotel in Moscow. The event was organized by the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, which celebrates this year the 10^th anniversary of its foundation.

The conference brought together religious and public figures, statespersons, diplomats and scholars from 54 countries.

Mufti Albir Krganov, Head of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, delivered an opening address.

Taking part in the meeting on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church were Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate (DECR), and Priest Iliya Kashitsyn, DECR Secretary for Interfaith Relations. Among the forum guests was Archpriest Dionisy Kazantsev, Patriarchal Secretary for the Moscow Region.

Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov greeted participants in the conference on behalf of the DECR Chairman, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk. In his speech, he pointed out a high level of interfaith relations in Russia and noted that the Russian Orthodox Church maintains a long-standing cooperation with the Muslim community and the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia in particular on a wide range of topics.

Among those who addressed the meeting were also Mr S.V. Stepashin, Chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society; Mr Ye.V. Yeremin, Head of the Department for Interaction with Religious Organizations of the Presidential Domestic Policy Directorate; Mr Ahmad Faisal El-Youssef, Representative of the Muslim World League to the Russian Federation; and other delegates from Russia, Switzerland, the United States, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other countries.

Read out during the conference were messages of greetings from Mr R.N. Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan; Ms V.I. Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Mr S.V. Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; and Mr A.E. Vaino, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office.

The forum continued its work within thematic sessions, followed by an official reception and a concert at the State Kremlin Palace. Among those who attended the reception was Hieromonk Grigory (Matrusov), Head of the DECR Expert Council for Interaction with the Islamic World.

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Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church attend a conference organized by the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons