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DECR Chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk has sent the following message to the participants and guests of the international conference ‘Religion for People’ taking place on August 4, 2011, in Sofia, Bulgaria:

Distinguished Participants in the Conference,

On behalf of Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia I would like to wholeheartedly greet you all as you have gathered in Sofia today for an international conference ‘Religion for People’ initiated by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

This distinguished gathering is attended by representatives of Local Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic Church, the Muslim and Jewish communities, the leadership of the European Union, which is a testimony not only to the steady growth of interest in the problems of interreligious dialogue but also to the ability of believers to become its active organizers.

In Russia a remarkable experience of peaceful coexistence of traditional religions has been accumulated. It was and is a guarantee of lasting interreligious peace. The Russian Orthodox Church is ready to offer and discuss models of peaceful coexistence of people of various beliefs in a European inter-civilization discourse, making her contribution to the reinforcement of Europe’s integrity. The Conference on Religion for People offers one of such opportunities.

From my heart I wish the participants in the Conference fruitful work in a spirit of mutual respect and love.

+ Hilarion

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate