Kazakhstan capable to be mediator in global religious dialogue - Chairman of Information Department of Russian Orthodox Church Volodymyr Legoyda

The current visit of the Holiest Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill to Kazakhstan is undoubtedly of paramount importance. Is this a reconnaissance visit or does it have principal aims?

First of all this is a pastoral visit, however it has a reconnaissance character too. Being the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church the Holiest Patriarch plans to visit all its eparchies in all countries in order to meet with believers and talk about their thoughts and concerns. It is impossible to do it in distance that is why the Holiest Patriarch has arrived in Kazakhstan to have a live contact with the population.

How do you assess Kazakhstan's initiatives on strengthening the inter-faith dialogue? What role does the Congress of the World and Traditional Religions' Leaders play in promotion of the idea of inter-religious harmony?

The region which has become a Motherland for the representatives of various religious confessions must always be tolerant towards inter-faith relations. In this view Kazakhstan can serve as a model for other countries. In many respects such situation was reached due to the traditions of the Kazakh nation as well as due to the policy conducted by the state.

The Religions Congress is one more proof of harmonious existence of many various religions on the territory of Kazakhstan. The event sets the best pattern of the country's internal stability and its capability to be mediator in global religious dialogue.

People say Patriarch Alexy II was a "patriarch-restorer". The Holiest Patriarch Kirill set missionary revival and strengthening unity of the Russian Orthodox Church as the primary goals for himself. What steps have already been taken in this direction?

To date the Church is involved in development of its external activity which aims at estimation of Christian approaches from the viewpoint of modern reality. I think this is namely the way demonstrating topicality of orthodoxy for modern people and which can be considered important for confessing Orthodoxy in the modern world.

You pay much attention to work with the youth. Do you share the opinion that the younger generation for the most part is vicious today? Do you have a recipe to bring the youth to faith?

I think it is quite unreasonable to call the youth as vicious. The modern youth faces the same problems like any other generation. Their problems lie in human nature, which is common for everybody and which is exposed to sin.

That's why I find honest and open dialogue with the youth on the eternal with understanding of the issues exercising them, and readiness to give answers as the most efficient way of bringing them to faith. Young people try to seek the truth themselves; they are not silly and reckless as they seem to be. They are capable bring up questions, debate urgent problems, therefore we must conform to their level.

Thank you for the interview! We wish you good health and success!