Serbian Patriarch calls for interfaith dialogue
According to Patriarch Porfirije, interfaith dialogue is not conversion and does not tolerate exclusivity.
On 12 November 2024, the "Dialogue for Peace: Tolerance and Civilization" event took place in the Ceremonial Hall of the Serbia Palace in Belgrade. This event, held for the fifth time, was attended by delegates from Serbia and Indonesia. The session was led by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, reports orthodoxianewsagency.
The participants noted the ongoing nature of interfaith meetings that Indonesia has been conducting with many countries around the world. Bilateral interfaith meetings between Serbia and Indonesia began in 2011, and in 2015, Indonesia supported Serbia in Paris by voting against Kosovo's admission to UNESCO.
Patriarch Porfirije emphasized the significance of these meetings: "Interreligious dialogue is often misunderstood, and that is why it is extremely important to forge a path where we meet people who profess faith in God in a different way, with people who enrich our knowledge of the world we share with them. This path – or rather the crossing of paths – is the basic condition of every conversation, and much more of interreligious dialogue, which results in understanding and acceptance of the other."
Additionally, Patriarch Porfirije stated that interfaith dialogue is often undervalued in secular society.
"The aim of interreligious dialogue is to learn something new, to overcome doubts and misunderstandings and to exist in understanding. Through the dialogue, we observe the differences but also the similarities of the believers. Through dialogue we understand our differences and rejoice in our similarities," said the Serbian Patriarch.
The participants highlighted the importance of goodwill and cooperation between the two countries in the fields of education and culture.
In conclusion, Patriarch Porfirije noted that interfaith dialogue is a place of reciprocity, appreciation, respect for others, and a place where others show appreciation and respect for us.
As earlier reported by the UOJ, Patriarch Porfirije discussed with the Ukrainian ambassador the mistakes made by the government regarding the UOC.
