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Manama (Agenzia Fides) – “Dialogue and cooperation are essential to building a more harmonious and peaceful world,” said the Metropolitan of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Antonij Yuryevich Sevryuk during his recent visit to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia (OLA) of the Vicariate of Northern Arabia.
The visit represents a significant milestone in promoting ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and understanding between the various religious communities of the Bahraini Kingdom.
The Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., accompanied by the clergy of the Cathedral, warmly welcomed the Metropolitan Sevryuk and stressed the fundamental role of faith in promoting peace and reconciliation, also sharing the ongoing initiatives of the Vicariate to foster community engagement.
“We are grateful for this opportunity to meet with our brothers and sisters from different faiths,” said Metropolitan Antonij Sevryuk, referring to his meeting with the Heads of Places of Worship of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The meeting aimed to promote understanding and harmony between the various faiths and cultures of the country, with the participation of religious representatives, who exchanged experiences and reflections on interreligious dialogue and cooperation and the fight against common challenges, such as extremism and prejudice.
In his speech, the Metropolitan stressed: “This church is beautiful. I want to mention a crucial point: this church is very open and is one of the symbols of hospitality and love.”
The event concluded with a joint declaration, in which the participants reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, tolerance and understanding between people of different faiths.
The occasion brought together government officials, academics and community leaders, who showed their support for the importance of interreligious dialogue. The visit of His Eminence Metropolitan Antonij Sevryuk is a significant event for the Christian community in Bahrain and is expected to strengthen ties between the various Christian denominations in the country.
During the visit, the Rector of the Cathedral, Father Saji Thomas, accompanied Sevryuk through the various sacred areas of the Cathedral, explaining their details and significance.
Metropolitan Antonij Yuryevich Sevryuk, in Russian Митрополит Антоний Юрьевич Севрюк, is provisional administrator of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Western Europe of the Russian Orthodox Church. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 16/12/2024)
