Interfaith dialogue on the international stage: the Kazan Seminary delegation in Iran

      Representatives of the Kazan Theological Seminary made a working visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. With the blessing of Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, representatives of the Kazan Theological Seminary took part in the International Conference “Comparative Studies of Ethics in Islam and Christianity,” which was held in the city of Qom (Iran) on October 15–16. The delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church included the rector of the Kazan Seminary, Priest Nikita Kuznetsov; the head of the Department of Islamic Studies, Vladimir Rogatin; a lecturer in the Department of Islamic Studies, Elena Rogatina; and Ilya Vevyurko, an associate professor of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s Humanitarian University.

      Scholarly dialogue: from bioethics to family values

      From October 15 to 16 the Second International Conference “Comparative Studies of Ethics in Islam and Christianity,” organized by the Ibn Sina Foundation, was held in Qom. Russian theologians took an especially active part. Priest Nikita Kuznetsov delivered a paper titled “The Position of the Russian Orthodox Church on Issues of Bioethics,” in which he, in particular, outlined the Church’s position on abortion, based on documents of the Holy Synod. “According to the Church’s position, human life begins at the moment of conception, and therefore the unborn child has an inalienable right to life,” he said in his address.

      The head of the Department of Islamic Studies, Vladimir Rogatin, presented a paper “Christian-Islamic Dialogue in Russia,” and the head of the postgraduate program, Elena Rogatina, addressed the topical issue “The Orthodox Family in the Context of Contemporary Challenges,” analyzing in detail the social and psychological reasons that drive women to abortion.

      A high-level meeting with Ayatollah Shahristani

      One of the key events of the trip was a meeting of the delegation with Ayatollah Muhammad Jawad Shahristani. During the open conversation the parties discussed the challenges facing traditional religions in the modern world. The rector of the seminary presented the history and educational programs of the Kazan Seminary, emphasizing the role of Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan in the development of the dialogue. As a sign of respect, Priest Nikita presented the Ayatollah with an Orthodox catechism in Persian and the seminary’s journals.

      Kazan as an example for the world: closing remarks in Qom

      At the closing ceremony of the conference, Priest Nikita Kuznetsov addressed the international audience with a vivid speech about peace and concord. “Russia, and especially the city of Kazan, is a striking example of peaceful interreligious coexistence. In our streets, churches and mosques stand side by side, and the ringing of bells and the adhan sound alternately, demonstrating the real possibility of mutual understanding between our religions,” the rector noted. He also pointed to the universal nature of contemporary challenges, whose resolution requires a joint approach by traditional religions.

      Spiritual conclusion of the visit in Tehran

      The visit to Iran had not only an academic but also a deep spiritual dimension. On October 17 the delegation joined the fraternal Orthodox community of Tehran for the Divine Liturgy at the St. Nicholas Cathedral. The rector of the seminary, Priest Nikita Kuznetsov, concelebrated with the cathedral cleric, Igumen Varlaam (Dulsky). The trip concluded with lively conversation with local parishioners over a shared tea, which became a warm and human finale to the intense working program.

      The Kazan Theological Seminary delegation’s trip to Iran vividly demonstrated that dialogue between Christianity and Islam is not only possible but also extremely productive. The discussion of shared values and challenges in an academic setting, the high-level meeting, and interaction with the local Orthodox community — all these are links in a chain that contribute to strengthening mutual understanding between the two great religious traditions.

      More news about the event:

      The delegation of the Kazan Theological Seminary took part in an international conference on comparative studies of ethics in Iran

      From October 15 to 16, 2025, the international conference “Comparative Studies of Ethics in Islam and Christianity” is taking place in the city of Qom (Iran). 12:06 06.11.2025 Theological Seminary – Kazan

      Interreligious dialogue on the international stage: the Kazan Seminary delegation in Iran

      Representatives of the Kazan Theological Seminary made a working visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. 12:05 06.11.2025 Theological Seminary – Kazan