Hawzah News Agency- Hosted by Hojatoleslam Seyyed Ali Akbar Ojaqnejad, custodian of the Jamkaran Mosque, the event coincided with the mid-Sha‘ban celebrations marking the birth anniversary of the Promised Savior (Imam Mahdi, may God hasten his reappearance). The conference highlighted common spiritual foundations across religions and the ethical imperative of preparing society for a just and harmonious world.
Distinguished Religious Leaders Attend
Participants included Hojatoleslam Hosseini Kohsari, Deputy for International Affairs of the Iranian Seminaries; Mamousta Iqbal Bahmani, representative of Kurdistan in the Assembly of Experts; Archbishop Krikor Chiftchian, Catholicos of the Armenians of Azerbaijan; Chief Rabbi Younes Hammami Lalezar, spiritual leader of Iran’s Jewish community; Bishop Vanya; and Charley Anviatekieh, representative of the Assyrian community in the Iranian parliament.
Shared Belief in a Global Reformer
In their addresses, the leaders stressed that belief in the emergence of a global reformer—one who will eradicate oppression and restore justice—is a central tenet in all divine religions. This shared conviction, they argued, provides a strong foundation for dialogue, collaboration, and national cohesion.
Chief Rabbi Younes Hammami Lalezar, referring to the concept of the Mashiach in Judaism, and Behdad Barkhordar, Zoroastrian representative in parliament, explaining the idea of Saoshyant, both emphasized that waiting for the savior should be an active, transformative process that encourages moral and social reform.
Promoting Mutual Respect and Coexistence
Christian representatives, including Bishop Vanya and Charley Anviatekieh, highlighted the importance of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among followers of all faiths within the framework of a shared homeland. They praised Iran’s environment of religious freedom as a platform for greater social solidarity and national unity.
Conference participants identified moral corruption, social injustice, and ethical decay as key obstacles to the emergence of the savior, stressing that collective efforts to address these challenges are essential to active spiritual expectation.
Joint Declaration for Unity and Global Justice
The gathering concluded with a joint declaration reaffirming the commitment of all attending religious leaders to promote ethical virtues, strengthen national cohesion, and prepare intellectual and social frameworks for the realization of global justice.
Organizers described the event as a milestone in Iran’s interfaith engagement, signaling a step forward in fostering mutual understanding, cooperation, and a message of hope and unity for both Iranian society and the international community.
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