His Holiness Patriarch Alexy meets with US Ambassador to Russia, Alexander Vershbow
13.07.2005 · English, Архив 2005
His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Russian Federation, Alexander Vershbow, on July 13, 2005. Mr. Vershbow, who is completing his four-year term as head of the American diplomatic mission, visited the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church at his working residence in Chisty Pereoulok.
Participating in the meeting was also the Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate, Archimandrite Zacchaeus (Wood), who is also rector of the Church of the Holy Protomartyr Catherine-on-the-Ridge.
The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church noted the contribution, the US Ambassador Vershbow made to the development of relations between Russia and the United States, stressing that these relations developed not only on the level of heads of state, but also on the level of interpersonal relations and cooperation in cultural and other humanitarian fields. ‘During the years of your ministry in this important office, the Russian Church has established good and constructive relations with the US Embassy in Russia’, His Holiness said.
His Holiness Patriarch Alexy thanked Alexander Vershbow for the support he gave to the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America.
‘Unfortunately, the recent years have been marked with tragic events in the life of the American people, among them the terrorist attack on the territory of the USA on September 11, 2001’, His Holiness said, adding, ‘we invariably share with the American people the grief that befell New York and the whole country at that time. Archimandrite Zacchaeus, in your presence, lifted up prayers for the victims of the terror at the Church of the Holy Protomartyr Catherine in Moscow, the representation of the Orthodox Church in America. These prayers united people, helped them to withstand the loss, to endure the tragedy.
‘Terrorist attacks were also made on other countries. Many lives were taken by the blasts in London and Madrid. Terrible terrorist actions were carried out in Russian cities.
‘Let us hope that through common efforts we will be able to oppose terrorism and that relations between our two countries will continue developing in the positive spirit’.
His Holiness Patriarch Alexy wished to Alexander Vershbow a safe journey back home and expressed hope that sometime he would visit Russia again.
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