Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and His Holiness the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia meet in the Kazan Kremlin

On 20 May in the Kazan Kremlin the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin had a meeting with His Holiness the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia  who came to take part in the ХIV International Economic Forum “Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum 2023”.

Speaking at the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov said: “I am happy to welcome you in Tatarstan once again. We all remember well your visit to the republic in 2021 when you held the consecration of the restored Cathedral of the Kazan Virgin. We are deeply grateful that you found the possibility once again to come to Kazan and take part in a plenary session of the Strategic Vision Group of Russia-Islamic World. I am sure your personal participation will serve strengthening of position of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church in the Islamic world and development of inter-religious and state-religious cooperation”.

“Today for us it is especially important to unite when facing common challenges and consolidate our efforts in strengthening spiritual values and struggling against xenophobia, extremism and terrorism and developing common position concerning Islamophobia and persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church,” he said and emphasized that Tatarstan attaches priority attention to the support of traditional religious amalgamations, has created all conditions for exercising religious demands of citizens and restores and returns cult facilities to believers.

In his turn the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said that one can see changes happening in Kazan and Tatarstan in the last years – the region is developing and this is mostly due to the administration of the republic. “I can see sincere whole-hearted relations between representatives of various religions,” he said and emphasized the great role of the First Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev in achievements of the republic.

“Your predecessor Mintimer Shaimiev is a highly respected person and it is pleasant that you have good personal and business relations. This is an example for many others. Respectful attitude to the past and succession are the examples you are setting”, he said and, having told about his visit to the Assumption church in the city of Bolgar, he asked not to turn it into a museum but to hold sermons in it.

Patriarch Kirill thanked the administration of the republic for consideration for the Orthodox Church and its needs.