Yekaterinburg, Russia - In the comfortable hall of the Writers’ House in Yekaterinburg, representatives of different religions and spiritual groups met on February 6. This time it was a joint prayer for peace and mutual understanding in support of the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week.
After the keynote address delivered by the leader of the UPF-Ural chapter – who spoke about historical background of the week, the role of the UPF founder, Dr. Sun Myung Moon to bring together people of different religions, and the proposal to establish an interfaith council within the UN system – a large Candle of Peace and Understanding was lit. From this symbolic light, all the participants lit their own small candles, which were blown out after the last prayer ended.
Prayers for peace and harmony were offered according to their religious tradition by regular participants of such meetings: World University of Spiritual Culture Brahma Kumaris, the Academy of the International Scientific School ofl Universology, “Magnetic Net – Star of Transfiguration,” the New Life Protestant Church, the Church of the Last Commandment (Vissarion Church), the Unification Church, the Association of Sri Chinmoy, and the Noospheric Spiritual and Ecological Peace Assembly. They were joined by newcomers: the head of the Evangelical Lutheran parish, the head of the mosque in Yekaterinburg, and a follower of the Buddhist group in Yekaterinburg.