Делегация Московского Патриархата посетила Эфиопскую Церковь

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia an official delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate visited Ethiopia from January 17 through 21, 2007. The delegation, led by Archbishop Augustine of Lvov and Galich, consisted of professor of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Humanitarian University archpriest Valentin Asmus, associate professor of the same university Rev. Oleg Davydenkov, and assistant to the Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for external church relations Rev. Sergiy Govorun and a staff member of the same department hieromonk Savva (Tutunov).

On January 17, the delegation met with the members of the Theological commission of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church at the premises of the Ethiopian Patriarchate in Addis Ababa and considered proposals concerning dialogue. That same day the delegation was received by the Primate of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Abuna Paulos. In his welcoming speech he expressed his joy over the return to cooperation between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and conveyed his cordial good wishes to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Archbishop Augustine greeted His Holiness Abuna Paul on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia and the Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for external church relations Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad.

On January 19 the delegation visited the leading educational establishment of the Ethiopian Church – the Holy Trinity Theological College and met with the rector, archbishop Timotheos and the faculty and discusses prospects of cooperation. The delegation also met with the leaders of the Commission on development of the Ethiopian Church and was introduced to its social and charity activities. In the afternoon the delegation was received by the Russian Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Ethiopia M. Afanasiev and staff members of the Embassy.

In the evening of January 18 and in the morning of January 19 the delegation attended the celebration of the Epiphany. Archbishop Augustine addressed the hierarchs, clergy and laity of the Ethiopian Church.

On January 19 the delegation visited the Russia Red Cross hospital and met with the staff consisting of seventy-eight persons. That same day Archbishop Augustine celebrated festive Vespers and the Office of the Great Blessing of Waters attended by Russian Ambassador M. Afanasiev, director of the Russian centre of science and culture V. Kirsanov, staff of the Embassy and compatriots living in Ethiopia.

On January 20, the delegation visited an oldest Ethiopian monastery of Debre Libanos and was introduced to its inhabitants’ life. In the evening the Ambassador M. Afanasiev gave a reception in honour of the delegation.

On January 21, Metropolitan Petros of Aksum (Patriarchate of Alexandria) invited Archbishop Augustine to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in an Orthodox Church in Addis Ababa. Attending the service were Russian Ambassador, director of the Russian centre of science and culture, staff of the diplomatic representations of Russia, Greece and Serbia, and many representatives of the Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian and other Orthodox communities. After the service the Moscow Patriarchate delegation met with the rector, archimandrite Chrysostomos, and the parishioners. Later the delegation was received in the Armenian church of St. George and attended a memorial service for the victims of genocide. Members of the delegation also visited a cemetery at which many Orthodox compatriots are buried, including the first Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia K. Lishin (+ 1906) and celebrated a requiem service. That same day the delegation left for Moscow.