On July 31, at their meeting at Tatarstan Government House, Interim President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Theophane discussed issues related to the development of spirituality, keeping of peace and harmony in multi-ethnic and multi-confessional region, such as Tatarstan.

During the meeting, Metropolitan Theophane told Minnikhanov that before devoting his life to the church and monkhood, he served in the Army and took the oath at the Kazan Kremlin.