Interfaith Conference “Moscow-Jerusalem: Dialogue of Faiths” Held in Israel

On April 18, Jerusalem hosted the interfaith conference “Moscow-Jerusalem: Dialogue of Faiths.” The event was organized by the Government of Moscow, the Russian Embassy in Israel, the Jerusalem Patriarchate, and leaders of Israel’s Druze community.

Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov participated in the conference, which was moderated by Honorary Russian Consul General in Israel’s Northern District Amin Safia.

The discussion featured prominent religious leaders including His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine; Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeev), Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem; Sheikh Mowafak Tarif, spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community; and Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations. Other participants included representatives from the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, the Armenian Patriarchate, local Jerusalem churches, various religious denominations and communities, as well as members of the academic community.

“The Moscow government places special emphasis on supporting interfaith and interethnic harmony,” noted Sergey Cheremin. “One of the city’s key priorities is fostering mutual respect among residents for the customs and traditions of different cultures and religions, while preserving the unique religious and cultural environment that has developed in Moscow over centuries.” Earlier that day, Ambassador Viktorov and Minister Cheremin inaugurated Russian photographer V.V. Tolkachev’s exhibition “Space. Time. Destinies – Prayer” at Jerusalem’s Sergei Courtyard. The exhibition explores the spiritual life of Russia and the Middle East region.