Conference Islam in Russia. Experience of Dialogue between Civilizations

On 20 June, 2011 the Hermitage held Conference Islam in Russia. Experience of Dialogue between Civilizations. The conference was held within the program, dedicated to recently opened Exhibition Roads of Arabia. Archeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia in the museum and it was organized by the State Hermitage in association with St Petersburg State University with assistance of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. This significant scientific and social event was participated by known Orientalists, historians, political analysts, representatives of Islamic clergy of St Petersburg, Moscow, Tatarstan, and Bashkortostan.
The main subjects of the conference were history of Islam in Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, modern problems of inter-confessional relations, issues of Islamic traditions and Islamic education revival. A special session was dedicated to history of Russian and Soviet Islamic studies and training of specialists in Islamic studies.

It is symbolic that such conference was held in the Hermitage - the museum in which collection monuments of Islamic culture are widely presented.

On the other hand encyclopedic collections of the Hermitage give an opportunity to see close links of Islam with culture and art of the European countries. The Conference smoothly fits in the Hermitage activity, in the recent years having opened several permanent expositions and temporary exhibitions, dedicated to Islamic culture and art. Conference's participants got an opportunity to get acquainted with one of such exhibitions: East and West. Art of the Islamic World which is now open in the Hermitage-Vyborg Exhibition Center.

Participation in the discussion of secular scientists and Islamic theologians, people with different points of view and devotees of different traditions encouraged unhacked and straight talk. In spite of lively discussions, taking place in the course of sessions all speakers emphasized a great significance of this conference and necessity of similar meetings in the future.

Mikhail Piotrovsky greeted the participants of the conference

Zhafyar Ponchayev, Dean of
St Petersburg Jameh Mosque

In the Hermitage Theatre