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Russia, Where Religions Have 'Real Coexistence'
Russia, Where Religions Have 'Real Coexistence'
Sputnik Africa
Russia is a nation where people of various religious and belief systems live in harmony. The country officially recognizes four major religions: Orthodox... 20.12.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-12-20T10:21+0100
2024-12-20T10:21+0100
2024-12-20T10:21+0100
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Russia, Where Religions Have 'Real Coexistence'
Sputnik Africa
Russia is a nation where people of various religious and belief systems live in harmony. The country officially recognizes four major religions: Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism. Each of these faiths contributes to the nation's rich cultural mosaic, fostering an environment of mutual respect and coexistence.
The Russian Orthodox Church has been a significant cultural and spiritual force throughout Russian history. Its influence extends beyond religious practices to include contributions to literature, art, and education, Father Nicholas Esterhuizen, priest in the African Exarchate of the Moscow Patriarchate and rector of the Church of Saint John of the Ladder in Cape Town, South Africa, says.Complementing this influence is the rich tapestry of religious diversity in Russia, which also includes Islam as a prominent faith. Orthodoxy and Islam both emerged concurrently and have developed in tandem, remarks Shamil Alyautdinov, Imam-Khatib of the Moscow Memorial Mosque, theologian, and preacher. However, Russia is dedicated to promoting cultural diversity and identity. Even the smallest communities are granted substantial autonomy in matters pertaining to culture and religion, adds Vitaly Kurennoy, Director of the Institute for Cultural Research and Head of the Department of Cultural Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.Discover more insights from our guests on the Russian Essence podcast, proudly brought to you by Sputnik Africa.The podcast is presented with the support of Directorate of the World Youth Festival.You can find our episodes not just on the website but also on Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of Russian Essence Podcast.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Afripods.
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religion, russia, culture, islam, orthodox christians, russian orthodox church, orthodox church, south africa, sudan, kazan, moscow, muslims, podcasts, west, cape town, аудио
religion, russia, culture, islam, orthodox christians, russian orthodox church, orthodox church, south africa, sudan, kazan, moscow, muslims, podcasts, west, cape town, аудио
Russia, Where Religions Have 'Real Coexistence'
Samantha Arias
Producer / Podcast host
Russia is a nation where people of various religious and belief systems live in harmony. The country officially recognizes four major religions: Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism. Each of these faiths contributes to the nation's rich cultural mosaic, fostering an environment of mutual respect and coexistence.
The Russian Orthodox Church has been a significant cultural and spiritual force throughout Russian history. Its influence extends beyond religious practices to include contributions to literature, art, and education, Father Nicholas Esterhuizen, priest in the African Exarchate of the Moscow Patriarchate and rector of the Church of Saint John of the Ladder in Cape Town, South Africa, says.
"The Orthodox Church is deeply embedded in Russia [...] the Orthodox Church played a part in bringing literature, writing, and reading," the priest says, noting that "what's interesting is that although the Soviets tried for 70 years to destroy the church, they were never really able to. In Russia, unlike what we see happening in the West, it seems to be a real sense of coexistence."
Complementing this influence is the rich tapestry of religious diversity in Russia, which also includes Islam as a prominent faith. Orthodoxy and Islam both emerged concurrently and have developed in tandem, remarks Shamil Alyautdinov, Imam-Khatib of the Moscow Memorial Mosque, theologian, and preacher.
"If we talk about Orthodoxy and Islam, we have been integrated for a long time. [...] both Islam and Orthodoxy, they approximately at the same time appeared on the modern territory of the Russian Federation and that's how they moved in parallel throughout this period; we are elements of one whole Russian culture," he says.
However,
Russia is dedicated to promoting cultural diversity and identity. Even the smallest communities are granted substantial autonomy in matters pertaining to culture and religion, adds
Vitaly Kurennoy, Director of the Institute for Cultural Research and Head of the Department of Cultural Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics."This cultural diversity, cultural identity, was extremely actively supported. And the national languages of even the smallest community have always been supported and continue to be so at present, because Russia is a federation with many national republics, regions, and they have a gigantic cultural autonomy in matters of cultural identity, religion and so on," Kurennoy highlights.
Discover more insights from our guests on
the Russian Essence podcast, proudly brought to you by
Sputnik Africa.
The podcast is presented with the support of Directorate of the
World Youth Festival.
You can find our episodes not just on the website but also on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of
Russian Essence Podcast.
