DECR representative attends 6th International Interreligious Youth Forum
The 6th International Interreligious Youth Forum began its work in Manas, Republic of Dagestan, on 30 September 2019. It was organized by the Russian Orthodox diocese of Makhachkala, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Dagestan (SAMRD) the Council of Jewish Communities in Dagestan, and the Ministry for ethnic policy and religious affairs of the Republic.
Over one hundred and fifty religious leaders, statesmen and young representatives of religious communities from different regions of Russia and foreign countries attended.. Deacon Iliya Kashitsyn, a staff member of the DECR secretariat for interreligious relations, took part in the forum with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and read out the message of greetings from Metropolitan Hilarion at the opening session.
The participants visited the religious and educational centre under construction by the SAMRD and planted trees. That same day representatives of the Synodal departments and Orthodox guests visited the Cathedral of the Dormition and were received by Archbishop Varlaam of Makhachkala and Grozny.
On October 2, a conference on the ways leading to ethno-confession peace and accord was held. The DECR representative took part in the section ‘Experience of traditional confessions in the Republic in ideological countering extremism and terrorism in the context of the 1999 events in Dagestan.’ He told the audience about the grounds of successful propaganda of extremism among young people, noting the key role of religious education in the formation of true culture of interreligious relations.
The conference continued its work at the Republican House of Friendship. Several hundred of students of the Dagestan leading educational institutions attended. The conference being over, the guests visited the Church of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God in the city of Kaspiysk.