Archbishop Christodoulos and Metropolitan Kirill meet with State Duma chairman Gennady Seleznev

ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS AND METROPOLITAN KIRILL MEET WITH STATE DUMA CHAIRMAN GENNADY SELEZNEV

On May 7, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece and Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and those who accompanied them were received by the Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Gennady Seleznev.

Mr. Seleznev explained to them the principles of the democratic system in today’s Russian state and the legislative work of the State Duma, saying in particular, “The State Duma deputies have established good relations with the Russian Orthodox Church and the traditional religions in Russia. In Russia, a solid foundation has been laid for the legislative basis ensuring the normal functioning of religious organizations. The Russian Law on the Freedom of Conscience and on Religious Associations has been supported by the people as it answers their interests and takes into account their spiritual and historical traditions”.

Speaking in response, His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos stated with satisfaction: “Today, in the capital city of the country sharing the same faith, we have an opportunity, which we highly appreciate, for exchanging opinions with elected representatives of the friendly Russian people”.

Speaking about prospects for cooperation between Greece and Russia within the European integration, the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church said in particular, “We believe that the European Union, of which our country has been a permanent member for many years and in which it can come out with uniting initiatives and promote their implementation thanks to its geographical position, should expand to accept in its borders both Russia and other states of Eastern Europe. For us, another weighty reason for Russia to join the European Union is the same faith, Holy Orthodoxy. Thus, we believe and hope that as a result the Orthodox presence will be extended and strengthened in United Europe. And this, in its turn, can help successfully solve the problems generated by the activity in Europe of destructive sects and organizations, as well as uniate activity. Together we could oppose the negative factors accompanying the establishment of the so-called one world space and, in general, all that is done to the detriment of Orthodoxy and in favour of values it rejects”.

After the meeting at the State Duma, His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos and His Eminence Metropolitan Kirill answered questions from journalists. Speaking about relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican, Metropolitan Kirill noted in particular, “There are no mystical reasons for which the Pope of Rome could not meet with His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Though representatives of the Russian Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches have met on a regular basis to discuss existing problems, none of the agreements reached so far has been implemented because of the position of the Catholic side. A meeting between the Primates of the Roman Catholic and the Russian Orthodox Churches will be possible only if the crisis in our bilateral relations is overcome not in words but in deeds”.