On November 5, 2026, the Moscow Islamic Institute hosted the V Interfaith Youth Forum "Consent of Different". This year's theme was "Youth dialogue for peaceful coexistence." The forum was timed to coincide with National Unity Day and the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia.
The forum was attended by representatives of religious organizations, government authorities, scientists, experts, leaders of youth associations, students and graduate students of religious and secular educational institutions.
The Russian Orthodox Church was represented at the event by employees of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs and the Department for External Church Relations. Among the participants were Priest Vasily Rodionov, head of the Diocesan Relations Department of the Synodal Youth Affairs Department, Nikolai Vaitsekhovsky, a specialist in the department, and Hieromonk Mark (Akhmatkhanov), an employee of the DECR.
Priest Vasily Rodionov presented the report of the acting Chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs, Hieromonk Filaret (Zubov), "Hope as the spiritual support of a young man."
In his speech, special attention was paid to the importance of a respectful dialogue between people of different beliefs and religious traditions.
"People don't have to be the same to agree. It is possible to adhere to different beliefs, look at many issues differently and at the same time respect each other, maintain good-neighborly relations and jointly defend spiritual and moral values that are important for our entire society," the report noted.
The forum was held in three areas: historical experience and modern strategies for interreligious dialogue, youth communities and projects, as well as the role of culture, art and education in strengthening mutual understanding.
The Consent of Different Forum annually becomes a platform for communication between representatives of traditional religious communities of Russia, exchange of experience and discussion of joint initiatives aimed at strengthening interreligious and intercultural peace.