Teachers of the Kazan Theological Seminary, with the blessing of Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan and the invitation of Hamid Hadavimogaddam, President of the Ibn Sina Foundation for the Study of Islamic Culture, paid a visit to Iran on May 7-15, 2025.
The delegation included: Rector of the Seminary, Priest Nikita Kuznetsov, Head of the Department of Islamic Studies V.N. Rogatin, Associate professors of the Department of Islamic Studies Hieromonk Roman (Modin) and E.S. Rogatina.
On May 12, a delegation from the Kazan Seminary visited the University for the Study of Religions and Denominations in the Iranian city of Qom. Mohasel Mohsen, Head of the Department for International Cooperation, conducted an introductory tour of the university. During the scientific meeting, issues of interaction were discussed. Father Nikita spoke about the academic activities of the Kazan Seminary and noted the special role of Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan in the development of interreligious dialogue. Ahmadreza Metah, the university's Deputy Rector for Academic Affairs, presented and donated his books on the study of Catholicism to the seminary's library. After the meeting, the parties agreed on further cooperation.
On May 13, the delegation participated in a meeting with Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, Secretary General of the World Organization for the Rapprochement of Madhhabs. Ayatollah Araki spoke about the activities of the Kuma Seminary, which dates back more than 1,200 years, and stressed that the last hundred years of this seminary represent a special period in the history of the educational institution. In turn, Priest Nikita Kuznetsov presented the history of the Kazan Theological Seminary and the educational programs implemented in it. During the conversation, the special role of Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan in the development of the Kazan Seminary was noted. The parties discussed common challenges for traditional religions in the modern world.
The delegation of the Kazan Theological Seminary also visited the Khujatiya Madrasah at the Al-Mustafa International University in Qom. During the visit, a tour of the educational buildings of the madrasah was conducted. This madrasah specializes in Islamic law. Arabic is taught at a high level, which is the key to the knowledge of all Islamic sciences. The leadership of the madrasa was particularly interested in the fact that Priest Nikita Kuznetsov is also an expert in the field of church law. The sides exchanged views on issues related to various social challenges and the search for theological answers to them. The participants of the meeting emphasized the importance of live communication, which makes it possible to overcome the stereotypes imposed by secular society and Western propaganda.
On the same day, the delegation visited the Imam Khomeini Educational Research Institute in Qom. This Shiite educational institute was founded in 1991 by Ayatollah Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, who was the director of the institute until his death. The Institute is engaged in adapting scientific and technological developments of the 21st century to religious needs. As part of the discussion of the academic life of the theological educational institutions of the two countries, the meeting participants noted the need to deepen joint cooperation. The parties also noted the lack of literature on Shiism at the Kazan Seminary and materials on Orthodoxy at the Imam Khomeini Institute.
On May 14, a delegation from Kazan Seminary visited Imam Sadiq Islamic University in Tehran. This university strives to combine Islamic studies and modern sciences, especially humanities. Imam Sadiq University is considered one of the universities in Iran that has played a key role in training politicians and other high-ranking officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The university staff conducted a tour of the buildings of the Islamic educational institution, which featured an extensive university library with the latest book accounting technologies, student campuses and their schedules. In turn, the members of the delegation spoke about the academic and educational activities of the Kazan Seminary. It was noted that the seminary is focused on training clergymen; the main printed publications of the Kazan Theological Seminary were also presented.
On the same day, the seminary delegation visited the Institute of Theology and Islamic Studies of Allame Tabatabai University in Tehran, which implements educational programs in three areas: theology, Islamic studies and Islamic philosophy. The Institute's structure is represented by four departments: the Department of Islamic Philosophy and Kalama, the Department of Islamic Studies, the Department of Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, and the Department of Qur'an and Hadith Studies.
Priest Nikita Kuznetsov presented the main platforms for interreligious dialogue in which the Kazan Seminary participates, and spoke about the role of Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan in building such a dialogue in the Republic of Tatarstan. The main printed publications of the Kazan Theological Seminary were also presented, in which the staff of the Allame Tabatabai University could publish their research and developments. During the meeting, the vectors of possible cooperation in the scientific and educational sphere were identified. The following were identified as priority areas of cooperation: joint conferences, webinars, advanced training courses and joint publications.