Uzbekistan: Christians and Jews come together to mark 40 years of Nostra Aetate
Representatives of various religions took part in a concert held in the Sacred Heart Parish, proposed by the ambassador of Israel in Uzbekistan.
Tashkent (AsiaNews/Agencies) The 40th anniversary of the document Nostra Aetate, which tackles ties between the Catholic Church and non-Christian faiths, was marked in Uzbekistan with a musical event. The concert was held in the Sacred Heart Parish in the capital Tashkent, thanks to the initiative of the ambassador of Israel to Uzbekistan Emmanuel Mehl. The chamber orchestra "Singing Strings" performed European and traditional Hebrew music. Representative of the Hebrew community and Catholics were joined for the event by members of other faiths and Christian confessions.
Bishop Jerzy Maculewicz gave thanks to "God that almost since the start of my service in Uzbekistan I have an opportunity to celebrate 40 years of 'Nostra Aetate' with representatives of other religions and Christian confessions. This document as well as today's event is of great importance for the Catholic Church in Uzbekistan, which has always served among the majority of people, professing Islam". He also thanked Mehl, responsible for organizing the event, and paid tribute to the understanding of the Israeli ambassador of all the steps the Church has made towards the people of Israel throughout history.
"In a few days, for the International festival of symphony music, a concert, which will also include Uzbek music, will be held in this church," said the Bishop, adding that in the days to come, the Catholic Church in Tashkent will be available as a concert hall for different peoples. "Just as various musical instruments join in the harmonious sounding, I'd like that God would help people of different religions and cultures to make one united orchestra, in which we, through our lives, would compose a harmony and perform the best music."
Mehl said: "It's a great honour to stand here, in the Catholic Church, together with the Bishop Maculewicz." He talked of the importance of inter-faith dialogue and said "this dialogue is needed today not only between Jews and Christians, but also with the Islamic world. Uzbekistan is the right place to do so, being a moderate Muslim state, where fanatics are out of range. Our common work today will pave a better dialogue. This is our responsibility for our children, our duty towards God".
"Here I stand, Jewish diplomat representing the Jewish state, in the church. This could not have happened were it not for that declaration. We have to continue the dialog started 40 years ago for the next generations, for making the hopes for peace and understanding among peoples, come true."
After the concert, the Israeli ambassador said that "being today at this concert and hearing this excellent music, I felt sincere happiness with this cooperation initiative with Catholic Church in Uzbekistan". He said the event was the first of its kind in Uzbekistan, carried out jointly by Catholics and Jews, and he thanked the bishop for having accepted the invitation.
Currently, there are five Catholic parishes in Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Bukhara, Ferghana, Samarkand and Urgench. Out of a population of some 26.9 million people, 88% is Muslim, 9 per cent is Orthodox and the remaining 3% belong to other religions.
.png)
