Metropolitan Kirill receives the delegation from the Italian town of Bari

On 30 January 2006, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, received a delegation from the Italian town of Bari that consisted of the Rector of the Basilica of St. Nicholas Fr. Damiano Bova and mayor Mikele Emiliano.

Metropolitan Kirill greeted the guests and underscored the great importance of Bari for Russian Orthodoxy as relics of St. Nicholas rest there and thousands of Russian Orthodox believers visit it to venerate the shrine.

DECR Chairman congratulated Fr. Damiano Bovu on his election a rector of the Basilica of St. Nicholas. He is a representative of the Dominican Order that is in charge of the Basilica. He said that Orthodox pilgrimage to the relics of St. Nicholas is one of the most important factors in relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

Metropolitan Kirill thanked Bari mayor M. Emiliano for the help extended to the representation church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Bari in reception of numerous pilgrims and expressed hope for the development of this fruitful cooperation.

Italian guests said they were ready to support and develop traditionally good relations with the Russian Orthodox Church which contribute to strengthening the dialogue between two Churches and peoples of two countries.

Fr. Gerardo Choffari accompanied the rector of the Basilica to the meeting with Metropolitan Kirill and mayor administrator Ciara Lonero Baldassarra accompanied Bari mayor. Also participating were Archpriest Vladimir Kuchumov, Rector of the Representation Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, and Rev. Igor Vyzhanov, DECR Secretary for Inter-Christian Relations.