Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church took part in a meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan

Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church took part in a meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan Представители Русской Православной Церкви приняли участие в заседании Секретариата Съезда лидеров мировых и традиционных религий в Казахстане print version September 19, 2019 18:50 On September 18, 2019, in the city of Nur-Sultan, a meeting of the XVIII Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was held, which takes place every three years in the capital of Kazakhstan. The Moscow Patriarchate was represented at the meeting by the vicar of the Astana diocese , the rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, the head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Bishop Kaskelensky Gennady and the DECR secretary for interreligious relations, the executive secretary of the Interreligious Council of Russia, priest Dimitry Safonov . The day before, September 17, Priest Dimitri Safonov took part in a meeting of the Secretariat Working Group, which prepared proposals on its agenda. The meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for the first time was chaired by D.N. Nazarbayeva, who replaced the former head of the Congress Secretariat K.-Z.K. Tokaev, elected President of Kazakhstan in March 2019. D.N. Nazarbayeva also succeeded the new president as head of the Senate of the Republic. The N. Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Inter-Confessional and Inter-Civilizational Dialogue, which was also headed by D.N., took an active part in the preparation of the meeting of the Secretariat. Nazarbayev. Representatives of world and traditional religions attended the meeting of the Secretariat. From Christianity: Head of the Ukrainian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Marcos Hovhannisyan, Head of the Bureau of Islam of the Pontifical Council of the Holy See for Interfaith Dialogue, Monsignor Khaled Akashe, Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kazakhstan Yuriy Novgorodov, Anglican Bishop of Bedford Richford. From Islam: Secretary General of the Academy of Islamic Studies Al-Azhara Nazir Muhammad Muhammad al-Nazir Ayad (Arab Republic of Egypt), Director General of the Department of Religious Attaches and Seasonal Programs of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Conscription and Mentorship Muhammad Abduluhed al-Arifi (Saudi Arabia ), the head of the Center for Religious and Cultural Dialogue of the Organization for Cultural and Islamic Relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammed Mehdi Tashiri, Director General of the Institute for the Study of Islam Int of the Islamic University of Islamabad, Muhammad Ziya Ul-Haq (Pakistan), representative of the Minister of Waqfs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mohammed al-Shahkhat al-Jindi. From Judaism: the representative of the chief Ashkenazi rabbi of Israel, the chief rabbi of the Netanya center Moshe Haim Lau, the representative of the chief Sephardi rabbi of Israel, the rabbi of the South American community in Jerusalem, Yitzhak Lorinz. From Hinduism: Director of the Somaya Bharatiya Sanskriti Pitam Center for Indian Culture, Kala Dhananjey Acharia (India). From Buddhism: Director of the Representative Office of the Korean Chogie Buddhist Organization in Central Asia, Yang Ki Hong (South Korea), Advisor to the President of the World Buddhist Society Tanes Sucharikul (Thailand), Yes, Lama of the Gandan Tagchenlin Monastery of the Buddhist Center of Mongolia, Director of the Zanabazar Khonghur Buddhist Institute Bambazhav (Mughal). Representative of Taoism: deputy head of the Department of the Taoist Research Institute of China, Yin Mingfang. From international organizations: Chairman of the Russian-Arab Center for Research and Information Majid Abdulaziz al-Turki (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Representatives of religious associations of Kazakhstan: Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan, Supreme Mufti Serikbai kazy Oraz, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Mary in Nur Sultan, Chairman of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Kazakhstan Metropolitan Tomas Bernard Pat, Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan Yeshaya Elazar Kogen. Representatives of the state power of Kazakhstan: Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan Dauren Abaev, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Vice Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Commissioner for the Promotion of Goals and Tasks Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Marat Azilkhanov, Chairman of the Board of the Center N. Nazarbayev for the Development of Interfaith onalny and intercivilizational dialogue Altai Abibullaev. Opening the meeting, D.N. Nazarbayeva noted that these days marks the 16th anniversary of the first Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, when for the first time the hospitable Kazakh land was an open platform for a peaceful and fruitful inter-religious dialogue. “The author of the idea of ​​holding a Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was the First President of Kazakhstan, the Leader of the Nation, Nursultan Nazarbayev, a world-recognized peacekeeper who at one time initiated Kazakhstan’s refusal from a colossal arsenal of nuclear weapons. The head of the country, which over the years of its independence has become a regional bulwark of stability and security, Nursultan Nazarbayev was heard by all the leaders of the world's largest religions and faiths, ”D.N. Nazarbayev. Priest Dimitri Safonov in his speech touched on the ongoing persecution and discrimination of Christians. “Unfortunately, this problem has not lost its relevance,” in particular, the representative of the Russian Church stated. - We are worried about the plight of Christians in several regions of the world. In the Middle East and North Africa, it is still very dangerous to profess Christianity. The Christian communities of Syria and Iraq need significant help and support after the terrible damage caused by terrorism and hostilities. In sub-Saharan Africa, armed extremist groups daily commit genocide against Christians. They are being killed, kidnapped for ransom, and houses and churches burned. "Constant attacks on Christians are committed in the countries of Southeast Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Philippines." According to the priest Dimitri Safonov, such challenges should not remain unanswered by religious leaders and people of good will. “Therefore, we propose to more clearly reflect the problem of persecution of religious minorities at the next Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, as well as in the work of the preparatory bodies of the Congress,” he emphasized. “I am convinced that by joint efforts of the leaders of traditional religions, significant progress can be made in solving this acute problem of our time.” Speaking about the topic of the future Congress, priest Dimitri Safonov urged members of the Secretariat to support the theme “Social Responsibility of Religious Leaders and Communities in the Modern World” adopted by the Working Group as a recommendation for adoption by the Secretariat. The representative of the Moscow Patriarchate spoke about the role that social service plays in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church, emphasizing the importance of books, speeches and sermons of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill on this issue. It was decided to hold the next VII Congress in Nur-Sultan on June 15-16, 2021, and the next meeting of the Working Group and the XIX meeting of the Congress Secretariat - June 2-3, 2020. The work of the Secretariat was widely covered in the media of Kazakhstan. At the end of the meeting of the Secretariat, which was held in the Palace of Peace and Accord, the chairman of the Senate of the Parliament, the head of the Secretariat of the Congress D.N. Nazarbayeva held several separate meetings with representatives of religious communities. During the meeting with the priest Dimitri Safonov, a wide exchange of views took place regarding the current state of inter-religious dialogue. The Executive Secretary of the Interreligious Council of Russia spoke about the history, composition, subjects of meetings of this body and introduced D.N. Nazarbayeva brochure issued by the secretariat of the MCP on the 20th anniversary of the Council. Congratulating D.N. Nazarbayev with the appointment of the head of the Congress Secretariat, the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate thanked her for the attention she paid to the participation of the Russian Orthodox Church in the work of the Congress. Priest Dimitri Safonov also spoke about the visit by the chairman of the external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate to Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk Kazakhstan in October 2018, when the last Congress of World and Traditional Religions was held, and about the meetings and negotiations held during the visit. The head of the Senate thanked the interlocutor for many years of support and active participation in the work of the Congress Secretariat. During meetings with members of the Secretariat, Priest Dmitry Safonov discussed with them the development of a bilateral interreligious dialogue, gave an interview to the Kazakhstani Khabar TV channel, and attended a reception hosted by D.N. Nazarbayeva in honor of members and guests of the Secretariat meeting. e