Address of Interim President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov on the occasion of the Day of official adoption of Islam in Volga Bulgaria

Dear citizens of Tatarstan!

Dear Muslims!

From the bottom of my heart I congratulate you on an important historical date - the Day of official adoption of Islam in Volga Bulgaria.

In this sacred place our ancestors were inspired by the Great Islamic Teaching that determined the future of Tatar people. Today we kneel down to Allah.

Islam teaches us loyalty, abstinence and mercy, and respect to traditional values. Today we fell ourselves a part of Muslim civilization, big Eurasian world, united Russian people and are proud of our great history and responsibility for future generations.

In the year of 70th anniversary of Victory in WWII won by the Soviet people, representatives of all nationalities and religions, we are delighted at courage, diligence and mercy of that heroic generation.

Tatarstan has unique experience of religious development, inter-confessional and inter-ethnic interaction that favour preservation of our spirituality, history, languages and cultures.

Muslim citizens of the republic as well as representatives of other religions take an active part in the revival of their sacred places, especially the ancient town of Bolgar and the island town of Sviyazhsk.

I am sure that celebration of the Day of official adoption of Islam in Volga Bulgaria will give rise to new good traditions that will be kept by our grateful descendants.

I wish you health, happiness, and welfare! Let Merciful Allah protect you and your relatives!

Interim President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov.