Russian Orthodox Patriarch thanks Iran's Leader for message, calls for peace and expanded interfaith cooperation
Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church has expressed gratitude for a message from the Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, while reaffirming support for closer interfaith dialogue and cooperation between Iran and Russia.
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The remarks came during a meeting with Iran's Ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, who delivered Ayatollah Khamenei's response to separate messages previously sent by the Russian Orthodox leader conveying condolences over the martyrdom of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and congratulations on the election of Iran's new Leader.
Thanking Ayatollah Khamenei for what he described as his "valuable message," Patriarch Kirill said the close relations between Iran and Russia provide a solid foundation for expanding bilateral consultations and cooperation.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church also voiced deep sorrow over the suffering of people in conflict zones around the world, including the hardships faced by the Iranian people.
"I pray for the establishment of peace and security in the region, and especially for the health and well-being of the people of Iran, who are standing firm and showing resilience," he said.
Patriarch Kirill praised the ongoing dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and Iran's Islamic religious institutions through the joint interfaith commission, emphasizing that Russian Christians enjoy positive relations with Iran's Muslim community.
He noted that the Russian Orthodox Church and Iranian Muslims share common positions on a range of issues, including moral values, the role of religion in everyday life, and the protection of family institutions, while expressing concern over what he described as the erosion of ethical values and the family in some parts of the world.
The patriarch also underlined the importance of strengthening religious, academic, and scientific cooperation between the two countries.
Referring to the Russian Orthodox delegation that attended the farewell and funeral ceremonies for the martyred Leader of Islamic Revolution, Patriarch Kirill said members of the delegation had reported receiving a warm welcome from both Iranian officials and ordinary citizens.
"This reflects the closeness between Iran and Russia, as well as the friendship between followers of Islam and Christianity," he said.
For his part, Ambassador Jalali thanked the Russian government, people, and the Russian Orthodox Church for expressing solidarity with Iran following what he described as the criminal aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime that resulted in the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, senior military commanders, and civilians.
He also expressed appreciation for the participation of high-level Russian delegations representing President Vladimir Putin, as well as Muslim and Christian communities, in the funeral ceremonies.
Jalali said the recent military attacks on Iran had taken place while diplomatic negotiations were underway, lamenting what he described as the erosion of ethical and humanitarian principles in international affairs.
He added that those behind the attacks had believed that assassinating Iran's leader and senior military commanders would weaken the country, but argued that Iran had instead emerged stronger, a reality reflected in the massive turnout at the funeral ceremonies.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran stands today against aggression based on its moral, humanitarian, and Islamic principles," he said.
The ambassador also described spirituality as a shared foundation for Iran-Russia relations, saying Islamic spirituality and Orthodox Christianity represent "two strong fortresses" against moral relativism and the denial of truth.
Highlighting the two countries' shared commitment to defending the family institution, social values, peace, and justice, Jalali announced Tehran's readiness to host the 13th round of the Iran-Russia Islamic-Orthodox Christian Dialogue.
Both sides agreed to coordinate preparations for the upcoming round of talks in Tehran, assigning the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Iranian Cultural Center in Moscow, representing the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, to make the necessary arrangements.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Jalali presented Patriarch Kirill with a Persian translation of his book Freedom and the Sense of Responsibility, originally published in Russian.
