Kazakh President praised for developing inter-faith dialogue

During the meeting Mr. Tokayev, the head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, handed Patriarch Kirill a personal message from President Nursultan Nazarbayev with an invitation to attend the 5th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions that will be held in Astana on June 10-11, 2015. Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus', in turn, thanked President Nazarbayev for development and strengthening of inter-religious dialogue and erecting a monument to Venerable Sergius of Radonezh in Astana. "This year we will celebrate the 700th anniversary of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, the founder of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, the most important Russian monastery. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nursultan Abishevich and the Government of Kazakhstan for erecting the monument to Venerable Sergius of Radonezh in your country," Patriarch Kirill said. Besides, Patriarch lauded Nursultan Nazarbayev and the Kazakh society for reaching a high level of inter-religious relations. "Kazakhstan is the most peaceful state in the post-Soviet space in terms of inter-faith relations," he added. Patriarch Kirill also stressed that the upcoming religious forum convoked on the initiative of President Nazarbayev is an important and effective dialogue platform. "The forum that is dedicated to the inter-religious dialogue is undoubtedly a successful platform for international dialogue on religious issues and present state of human civilization," Patriarch noted.