Rustam Minnikhanov: History of Old Belief is most closely connected with history of Tatarstan and its multi-ethnic population

On 29 October the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia of Russian Orthodox Old Belief Church Korniliy, the Bishop of Volga and Vyatka Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Old Belief Church Euphimi and others took part in a plenary session of the All Russia Old Belief Forum “Traditional Family Values” moderated by the Deputy Chairman of Tatarstan State Council Yuriy Kamaltynov.

Before the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov looked round an exposition of Old Believers traditional family costumes and in his welcoming speech emphasized that the Old Belief Forum dedicated to family values will become a landmark event not only for the republic but for the whole of Russia.

He said that Old Believers alongside with Muslims, representatives of Russian Orthodox Church and other religions have played an important role in the life of the republic for many centuries.

“And today Tatarstan remains to be an important center of Old Belief and the current forum proves it. The republic has established friendly and trusting relations with the Metropolis and the Volga-Vyatka Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Old Belief Church that was again confirmed at our yesterday’s meeting with the Metropolitan Korniliy,” Rustam Minnikhanov said and highly evaluated the contribution of the Old Belief into the development of moral foundations of the society and strengthening the inter-ethnic and inter-religious peace and cooperation.

 He stated that the range of cooperation with Old Belief amalgamations is rather broad and first of all it is related to restoration of churches and implementation of cultural projects one of the most important of which was the joint establishment of the Museum of History of Old Belief in Kazan.

The Rais of Tatarstan also handed in regional state awards to the High Priest of the Russian Russian Orthodox Old Belief Church Korniliy and the Secretary of the Kazan Community of Old Believers Ilyas Sultanov.

In his turn the Metropolitan Korniliy thanked Rustam Minnikhanov and Mintimer Shaimiev for their support given to the Old Belief and told about restoration of the Kazan Cathedral Church, construction of  St George church in Zelenodolsk and the successful work of the Museum of History of Old Belief.

“Tatarstan demonstrates the high level  of a multi-ethnic and inter-confessional dialogue, Due to wise policy of the leadership of the republic there are positively developing relations between the state and the church. We can see how old churches are restored and the new ones are being built with the support from Rustam Minnikhanov. All cities and regions of the republic have established friendly and constructive relations with Old Believers,” he added.

The Forum is held on 29-30 October with participation of the clergy and members of Old belief communities from Russia, Australia, Kazakhstan, Moldova and the USA and os dedicated to the Year of the Family in Russia.

Today Kazan is the center of the restored Volga and Vyatka Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Old Belief Church which comprises more than 30 parishes located in Tatarstan, Mari El, Udmurtia, Chuvashia and Kirov and Ulyanovsk regions and there are six registered Russian Orthodox Old Belief Church communities working in Kazan, Naberezhnyye Chelny, Chistopol and Zelenodolsk.