ID :
101093
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 13:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/101093
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Visit of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill in Kazakhstan
Astana, January 19, 2010 (Khabar) - The Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia presented the Order of Glory and Honour to Nursultan Nazarbayev. It is given for his significant contribution towards interfaith cooperation as well as strengthening of peace and friendship between nations. The head of the Orthodox Church expressed his gratitude for the policy in the area of interfaith and international relations to Kazakhstan’s leader. He said that Kazakhstan is an example for other states. The Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan unites hundreds of thousands of believers and due to this, the church has a particular status. It is no mere chance that the president announced Orthodox Christmas as a national holiday. Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia said he had been in Kazakhstan 27 years ago, in 1983 and is impressed with great changes of former Tselinograd. An amazing city was built in the steppe and he congratulated all the Kazakhstanis.
Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan:
- Orthodox Christianity is the second biggest religion after Islam in our country. Orthodox believers are participating in the decision making process and are strengthening friendship, trust and mutual understanding between nations. I am convinced that your visit serves towards strengthening trust, tolerance, interfaith relations and accord between the people who live in the territory of Kazakhstan.
Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia:
- Kazakhstan is a multinational state with many religions. But there are two religions that can be called religious majority. This is Islam and Orthodoxy. There were never in history clashes between these religions. It was always peaceful coexistence. We know how evil forces after the collapse of the Soviet Union often provoked conflicts, including religious and ethnic differences. But Kazakhstan is the place on post-Soviet space, where, I frankly tell you, with your approach to these problems, there was nothing that even resembled a similar conflict. It is important to have such examples. Because when you say, turning to people, the need for dialogue and good relations among traditional religions, not everybody understands this fully. Example of Kazakhstan shows remarkable practical consequences of such a policy.
Patriarch Kirill noted that Kazakhstan’s leader was able to provide equality between representatives of different religions and nationalities by example rather than by words alone. In this case, Nursultan Nazarbayev avoided conflict and discord on ethnic and religious grounds. In this connection, Kazakhstan has become an example to other states as well as a venue for meetings between the leaders of religions from across the entire world. Mentioning the foreign initiatives of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed his opinion about the chairmanship of Kazakhstan in the OSCE. Patriarch Kirill said that it is testimony to the international acknowledgement of Kazakhstan.
Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia:
- The creation of an atmosphere where no nation or ethnic group feels oppressed has become a very important factor for the political stability and economic development of Kazakhstan. And the election of Kazakhstan as the chairman of the OSCE didn’t happen by accident. This provides acknowledgement of Kazakhstan’s role in the establishment of international, intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
Patriarch Kirill awarded Nursultan Nazarbayev with the Order of Glory and Honor “for his significant contribution to interfaith cooperation, promoting peace and friendship among people”.
Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia:
- We have respect for public figures in proportion to their work. Authority of the President is very high in Kazakhstan and country and people changed very much during these years. In addition, President Nazarbayev contributes much into processes throughout the former Soviet Union. He was the initiator of even greater integration processes that now exist. So I think that the respect that the Kazakh people and not only the Kazakh people esteem to his stem from his labor, from the results of these works. On this occasion, I wish the President of Kazakhstan and those who work with him further success in all those plans that have been formed, realization of all the dreams for the happiness and welfare of the Kazakh people.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan started to open new churches every year. Today, Kazakhstan has 230 orthodox parishes and 9 dioceses.
Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan:
- Orthodox Christianity is the second biggest religion after Islam in our country. Orthodox believers are participating in the decision making process and are strengthening friendship, trust and mutual understanding between nations. I am convinced that your visit serves towards strengthening trust, tolerance, interfaith relations and accord between the people who live in the territory of Kazakhstan.
Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia:
- Kazakhstan is a multinational state with many religions. But there are two religions that can be called religious majority. This is Islam and Orthodoxy. There were never in history clashes between these religions. It was always peaceful coexistence. We know how evil forces after the collapse of the Soviet Union often provoked conflicts, including religious and ethnic differences. But Kazakhstan is the place on post-Soviet space, where, I frankly tell you, with your approach to these problems, there was nothing that even resembled a similar conflict. It is important to have such examples. Because when you say, turning to people, the need for dialogue and good relations among traditional religions, not everybody understands this fully. Example of Kazakhstan shows remarkable practical consequences of such a policy.
Patriarch Kirill noted that Kazakhstan’s leader was able to provide equality between representatives of different religions and nationalities by example rather than by words alone. In this case, Nursultan Nazarbayev avoided conflict and discord on ethnic and religious grounds. In this connection, Kazakhstan has become an example to other states as well as a venue for meetings between the leaders of religions from across the entire world. Mentioning the foreign initiatives of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed his opinion about the chairmanship of Kazakhstan in the OSCE. Patriarch Kirill said that it is testimony to the international acknowledgement of Kazakhstan.
Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia:
- The creation of an atmosphere where no nation or ethnic group feels oppressed has become a very important factor for the political stability and economic development of Kazakhstan. And the election of Kazakhstan as the chairman of the OSCE didn’t happen by accident. This provides acknowledgement of Kazakhstan’s role in the establishment of international, intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
Patriarch Kirill awarded Nursultan Nazarbayev with the Order of Glory and Honor “for his significant contribution to interfaith cooperation, promoting peace and friendship among people”.
Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia:
- We have respect for public figures in proportion to their work. Authority of the President is very high in Kazakhstan and country and people changed very much during these years. In addition, President Nazarbayev contributes much into processes throughout the former Soviet Union. He was the initiator of even greater integration processes that now exist. So I think that the respect that the Kazakh people and not only the Kazakh people esteem to his stem from his labor, from the results of these works. On this occasion, I wish the President of Kazakhstan and those who work with him further success in all those plans that have been formed, realization of all the dreams for the happiness and welfare of the Kazakh people.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan started to open new churches every year. Today, Kazakhstan has 230 orthodox parishes and 9 dioceses.
