Tatarstan President: “Orthodox Christianity has held a special place in our republic”

On May 13, opening an Orthodox Christian Public Forum in Kazan, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that Orthodox Christianity, along with Islam, has taken a special place in the life of Tatarstan society.

Welcoming participants of the forum, Rustam Minnikhanov first of all thanked everybody, who accepted an invitation to participate in the forum. “It becomes very relevant these days to support spiritual values and religious cultures," R.Minnikhanov pointed out.

According to him, Tatarstan leadership aims to provide every condition to develop all the religious faiths. “Orthodox Christianity, along with Islam, has historically held a special place in our republic, being an integral part of our common spiritual heritage,” said R. Minnikhanov.

The Russian Orthodox Church having recently established Tatarstan metropolitan was an important event for Orthodox Christians in the country. According to Tatarstan President, the Old Believer communities that have been present in the republic for many centuries, also contributes to the development of spirituality.

“Tatarstan pays particular attention to the revival of sanctuaries, spiritual and moral development of the society, as well as promotion of pilgrimage tourism,” Tatarstan President said.

With the support of the state, a large amount of work is being done to restore and construct places of worship in Tatarstan. In the past 25 years, 138 new churches have been built, another 39 being under construction. Only in the last 10 years Kazan eparchy has been assisted in the amount of 1.1 billion roubles to restore temples.

The revival of a unique church and monastery complex “The Island town of Sviyazhsk” has become a great project, with the funding amounting to more than 1.2 billiob roubles.

“The measures taken contribute to the revival of the best spiritual and moral traditions, strengthening of peace and understanding in Tatarstan society,” Rustam Minnikhanov believes.

“Tatarstan is a multiethnic and multiconfessional republic. Our goal is to maintain and promote a constructive interfaith diologue,” R. Minnikhanov said.

Summing up, Rustam Minnikhanov said that he is sure that the forum will give new impetus to the development of Orthodox Christianity and relations between the state and the church in Tatarstan and presented a certificate for 30 million roubles to His Grace Anastasy to build a sports complex for the religious seminary.

Rustam Minnikhanov also expressed his hope that such forums will become annual.

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, State Council Chairman Farid Mukhametshin, Tatarstan Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Kamaltynov, Metropolitan of Tatarstan and Kazan Anastasy, and other officials took part in the forum.