Under the able leadership of senior member saints of Acharya Sabha 6 person’s delegation visited Moscow representing Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha to attend India - Russia civilisation seminar from 24-27 January. Below is the detailed report:
On 25 January 2026, Pujya Swami Parmatmanand ji and Pujya Nirmalabandanathji, prominent Hindu spiritual leaders rooted in Sanatana Dharma traditions, engaged in a significant interfaith meeting with Bishop Cyril of the Church of St. Sergius at the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, a key Russian Orthodox monastery located 70 km northeast of Moscow in Sergiev Posad. This UNESCO-listed site, founded in 1345 by St. Sergius of Radonezh, serves as the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church and houses over 300 monks. The dialogue exemplified growing India-Russia spiritual ties, with Russians increasingly drawn to Sanatana Dharma's universal principles.
Sanatana Dharma emphasizes eternal truths like the divine presence in all creation (Brahman manifesting as Atman in everything) and tapas (penance or austerity) as paths to self-realization and liberation. Russian Orthodoxy similarly teaches that God created all things visible and invisible from nothing, infusing the world with divine essence, while ascetic practices like fasting, prayer, and monastic renunciation purify the soul toward Theosis (union with God). Both traditions reject total human depravity, viewing free will and moral striving as essential for spiritual ascent, fostering natural compatibility.
The conversation delved into shared core values, including divinity permeating nature and existence, echoed in Orthodox creation theology and Hindu panentheism, and the transformative role of penance. Hindu tapas align with Orthodox Hesychasm and asceticism, both promoting self-discipline to transcend worldly bonds and meet the divine. Participants noted broader resonances, such as ritual devotion, meditation, and ethical living, amid rising Russian interest in Vedanta and yoga.
Leaders committed to deeper collaboration, proposing multi-level engagements and working groups to explore philosophical synergies. This builds on historical spiritual exchanges, positioning the traditions for joint initiatives in dialogue, education, and cultural preservation. Post-meeting, the delegation shared a monastery-hosted lunch and museum tour, highlighting Lavra's icons like Andrei Rublev's Trinity and its baroque architecture.
On the second day of engagements in Moscow, discussions with Russian delegates advanced key cultural synergies between India and Russia. Building on Day 1's spiritual and philosophical dialogues, focus shifted to actionable collaborations, including expanded student exchange programs and production of short documentaries highlighting shared civilizational rituals like fasting, silence, and nature worship. Swami Parmatmanand ji (General Secretary, Acharya Mahasabha) and Swami Nirmalanandnathji, alongside Russian figures like Prof. Alexander Dugin, Andrey Bezrukov, Konstantin Malofeev, Lipa Kirill, and Ms. Nana Mgeladze, reiterated commitments to wisdom-centric societies, decolonized narratives, and business-civilization integration for sustainable people-to-people connections.
Pujya Swami Parmatmanand ji Noted that in India, foreign rulers were aggressive immigrants, while all-inclusive traditions of worshipping everything, like sky, water, mountains, rivers, and trees etc express divinity. People-to-people connections will help spread mutual cultural values.
Prof. Alexander Dugin, advocated a top-down approach for mutual dialogues to overcome individualistic life and turn toward contributory actions. Russian Orthodox civilization shares rituals with Indian civilization, such as to observe maunam (long silence), fasting, and long prayers. Wisdom-to-wisdom and knowledge-to-knowledge connections will bring societies together toward wisdom-centric societies.
Swami Nirmalanandnathji, highlighted that science, and technology brought the world together but at the cost of traditional values and cultures. Mankind succeeded in dividing the atom but has not learned how to unite humanity.
Andrey Bezrukov, urged organizing dialogues at spiritual and philosophical levels, emphasizing humanity's relationship with the planet. India and Russia have a special responsibility in facing difficult situations, seeing the world differently.
Lipa Kirill, Stressed civilization and business together for fostering shared values, no generic efforts, but real cooperation with actions in different areas.
Ms. Nana Mgeladze, focused on decolonized narratives to get rid of liberal ideologies.
Konstantin Malofeev, Traced Roman Empire roots in Russian civilization, noting Istanbul (once Constantinople) as a cultural centre.
These back-to-back engagements underscore deepening India-Russia ties through shared spiritual and civilizational values, from ascetic practices to nature reverence and wisdom traditions. They promote unity amid diversity, fostering practical collaborations like exchanges and media projects to counter modern fragmentation and build sustainable intercultural bridges.
