Decision is taken to the set up the Interreligious counsil in Russia

DECISION IS TAKEN TO SET UP THE INTERRELIGIOUS COUNCIL IN RUSSIA

A meeting of heads and representatives of the traditional Russian religious associations: the Russian Orthodox Church, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism was held at the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate on December 23 on the initiative of the DECR Chairman Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. Discussed was a question of strengthening the interreligious dialogue and cooperation in Russia with the objective to coordinate efforts which the traditional religions of our country undertake for the spiritual revival of society.

It was decided to set up the Interreligious Council of Russia in which representatives of the four traditional religions who maintain dialogue from the times of the Soviet Union will be able to discuss problems facing Russian society at present seeking to elaborate a new position on them and present it to the authorities and people. The Council will have a permanent secretariat sponsored by the four initiators of the process. It is also planned to make the Council open to participation of other traditional religious associations of Russia and to cooperation in the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States as well as in a wider international context. The first practical actions of the Council should be a convocation of the Peace Forum of the traditional religions of Russia and the organisation of interreligious actions in connection with the celebration of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ and the beginning of a new millennium.