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Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations visits Namibia

26.11.2008 · Архив 2005-2009, События  

On 25 November 2008, the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad visited Namibia in the framework of his trip to the South West African countries.

Russian Ambassador to Namibia N. Gribkov gave an official reception in honour of the high guests. Present were representatives of the Namibian government, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of the Lutheran and Coptic Churches of Namibia.

After the reception Metropolitan Kirill blessed a new apartment building constructed for the staff members of the Embassy of the Russian Federation. Many diplomats and compatriots attended the service.

That same day in the evening Metropolitan Kirill met with the President of Namibia Hitikepunye Lucas Pohamba at the Presidential Palace. Metropolitan Kirill told the head of the state about the position of the Russian Orthodox Church on the all-round development of relations of Russia with the South West African countries, including Namibia and about spiritual care for the compatriots living in this country.

President of Namibia warmly thanked Metropolitan Kirill for his visit saying that it will open up a new stage in the relations between Russia and Namibia. He underscored that the government of Namibia would always understand and support initiatives of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Present at the meeting were Russian Ambassador in Namibia N. Gribkov, representative of the Russian Orthodox Church at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg hegumen Filaret (Bulekov), rector of the Church of St. Sergius in Johannesburg Rev. Ioann Lapidus, and counselor of the Russian Embassy A. Yakovlev.