Metropolitan Kirill awarded Symbol of Honour

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad met with the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s center for international scientific and cultural cooperation, Ms. E. Mitrofanova, on December 13, 2006, at the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations. They were joined in their talk by Bishop Mark of Yegoryevsk, DECR vice-chairman, Ms. L. Nikitina, deputy head of the center’s informational support department, and D. Petrovsky, DECR secretariat for inter-Orthodox relations.

They discussed the need for Russian compatriots to preserve their cultural and linguistic identity and outlined specific measures for coordinated efforts in particular countries with Russian diaspora and priorities for further work.

Ms. Mitrofanova presented Metropolitan Kirill with the center’s Symbol of Honour ‘For Contribution in the Cause of Friendship’ in recognition of his long-standing efforts for strengthening friendship among nations and on the occasion of his 60^th birthday.

In conclusion of the meeting, an agreement on cooperation and coordination between the department and the center was signed.

DECR Communication Service