Muslim-Orthodox Relations in Russia: Contextual Readings of A Common Word

Abstract

The publication in 2007 of A Common Word between Us and You (ACW) was an unprecedented instance of outreach by Muslim leaders to Christianity on a global scale. The website dedicated to it contains hundreds of related materials, including over 70 responses from Christian leaders and scholars. The response by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II was a significant contribution to the discussion, which set a precedent in the Muslim-Orthodox relationship by introducing a theological reflection on biblical texts that was applied to the Russian context. While neither ACW nor Alexy claimed that their assessments were exhaustive, their substantive insights and observations may well encourage future collaborative studies and dialogue on the founding texts and core values of both traditions. This chapter first examines Muslim-Orthodox relations in Russia today, then studies the use of biblical texts in the two documents. After an overview of other Orthodox responses to ACW, it concludes with a reflection on the significance of this exchange for future Muslim-Orthodox dialogue.