Print This Post

Hegumen Philip Riabykh, vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, was invited to dinner given on 18 April 2010 by Swiss Ambassador Walter Geiger. There were also Archbishop Antonio Menini, Holy See representative in Russia, Rev. Dmitry Lotov of the Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul in Moscow, Mr. Yu. Zudov, executive secretary of the Christian Interconfessional Advisory Committee, Mr. Rushan Abbyasov, head of the Council of Muftis’ international relations department, Chief Rabbi of Moscow Pinchas Goldschmidt as well as journalists.

They discussed interreligious relations in Russia and Europe in the light of Swiss pastor William McComish’s ideas concerning the contribution of religions to overcoming social injustice and terrorism. They also shared their visions of the role played by religious communities in asserting the moral foundations of modern society.

Ambassador Geiger stressed that Russia’s experience in interreligious relations was unique and should be used in Western Europe since Russia managed to ensure a peaceful coexistence of various religious communities for centuries. Father Philip welcomed the ambassador’s initiative and explained the existing mechanisms of maintaining interreligious peace in Russia and the CIS. He expressed hope for cooperation with the Swiss Confederation on the whole range of pressing problems involved in dialogue of religions in Europe and the world.

DECR Communication Service