Kyrgyzstan has a unique experience of harmony in interreligious relations – Rossiyskaya Gazeta

The head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, informed the inhabitants of the Kyrgyz Republic about the opinion expressed by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church (DRC). He read it at the international conference “Kyrgyzstan: A Country of Interfaith Peace and Harmony” held in Bishkek. Patriarch Kirill, in his address to the participants in the event, thanked the leaders of the republic for the many years of fruitful cooperation with the Bishkek diocese. He stressed that the development of such ties aims to “preserve traditional spiritual and moral values, establishing the principles of good neighborliness, solidarity and mutual respect in people’s lives.”

“The modern world is going through difficult tests, when political contradictions have intensified and the threat of new conflicts and clashes has increased,” Patriarch Kirill emphasized in his speech. – The danger of destruction of the good relations that have developed for many years between peoples, representatives of different cultures and traditional religions is today a serious challenge for all well-intentioned forces committed to constructive cooperation. I am convinced that the successful resolution of these issues is only possible through open and honest dialogue between religious associations, government authorities and the public. It is gratifying to testify that the Kyrgyz Republic has a unique experience in harmonizing interethnic and interreligious relations.

The leaders of the Kyrgyz Republic see the international conference as a platform designed to find solutions to problems facing both the republic itself and the world community. According to the head of the State Commission for Religious Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Toigonbai Abdykadyrov, the answer to a number of challenges, especially global ones, can be dialogue between people of different religions.

“We have 17 religions in our country,” he recalled. – These include Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Our Constitution provides for freedom of religion, which is why interfaith harmony is important.

At the same time

According to Vincent, head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church, the world is already facing a number of serious threats. He considers that one of those challenges is the attempts to destroy interreligious peace in various parts of the planet. Vikenty cited Ukraine as an example, as well as the situation in the Middle East, where a political conflict can turn into a religious one. Vikenty mentioned the promotion of non-traditional relationships in society and the lack of adequate control over the development of artificial intelligence (AI) as no less serious and global challenges. “We need to carefully monitor the consequences of the introduction of AI in various areas,” he emphasized.