The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church meets with the President of the Republic of Chile

THE PRIMATE OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH MEETS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE

On October 3, 2002, His Holiness Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, met with the President of the Republic of Chile Ricardo Lagos Escobar.

“Russia and Chile have strong Christian traditions which urge us to deepen our contacts in various spheres of life,” the Patriarch pointed out, welcoming the guest at the Patriarchal and Synodal residence in the St. Daniel’s monastery. His Holiness reminded that about 70 thousand Orthodox Christians live in Chile. Most of them belong to the Orthodox Church of Antioch but now the Russian presence has also increased in the country. There is a Russian Orthodox parish in Santiago, the Patriarch said. “Our compatriots in Chile ask us to open new Orthodox parishes in various cities of the country,” His Holiness stressed.

During the conversation Mr. Ricardo Lagos Escobar told His Holiness Patriarch Alexy about the religious situation in Chile and said that the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church would be welcomed in his country and supported by him in organizing parishes.