The international conference "Traditional Religions of Russia" was held at the "President Hotel" in Moscow on September 28, 2026.: contribution to strengthening the unity and development of society." The forum was organized by the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of its founding this year.
Religious, government and public figures, diplomats and scientists from 54 countries took part in the conference.
Mufti Albir Krganov, Chairman of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, spoke at the opening of the forum.
On the part of the Russian Orthodox Church, the event was attended by Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, and Priest Ilia Kashitsyn, DECR Secretary for Interreligious Relations. Among the guests of the forum was Archpriest Dionysius Kazantsev, Secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for the Moscow Region.
Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov welcomed the conference participants on behalf of DECR Chairman Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, noting the high level of interreligious relations in Russia, as well as the long-term cooperation of the Russian Orthodox Church with the Muslim community and with the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, in particular, on a wide range of issues.
Among the speakers were S.V. Stepashin, Chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society, E.V. Eremin, Head of the Department for Interaction with Religious Organizations of the Office of the President of the Russian Federation for Internal Policy, Ahmad al-Yusuf, representative of the World Islamic League in the Russian Federation, and other participants from Russia, Switzerland, the United States, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other countries.
Welcoming speeches were read out by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, R.N. Minnikhanov, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, V.I. Matvienko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, S.V. Lavrov, and Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, A.E. Vaino.
The work of the forum continued in thematic sections, after which a reception and a concert for the participants took place at the State Kremlin Palace. Hieromonk Grigory (Matrusov), Head of the DECR Expert Council for Cooperation with the Islamic World, attended the reception.