Patriarch Alexy meets with USA Ambassador William Berns

On 28 September, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II received new USA ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary William Joseph Berns appointed by the US Senate on July 29, 2005.

Archimandrite Zakheus (Wood), Rector of the Church of St. Catherine in Vspolie and Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate, also participated in the meeting.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church congratulated W. Berns on his responsible appointment and wished him blessed success in his work. ‘The Cold War is over and today leaders of Russia and the USA have good personal relations’, the Patriarch said. He also expressed hope that work of the new ambassador would serve for the welfare of both nations.

US Ambassador said that he had already worked in Russia as minister-advisor on political issues in the US Embassy in Moscow and he noted positive changes and special role of the Russian Orthodox Church in them.

Among the discussed questions were: fight against terrorism, aid to the socially deprived including those who live with HIV/AIDS.

W. Berns thanked His Holiness for his assistance to the Representation of the Orthodox Church in America and noted that he attended the commemoration service for the perished in acts of international terrorism in the Representation Church on September 11, 2005.