Patriarch Alexy meets with Greek Ambassador Ilias Klis

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II met with Greek Ambassador to Russian Federation Ilias Klis in patriarchal working residence in Chisty side street on December 9, 2005.

His Holiness welcomed Iliaas Klis as a new ambassador of the Greek republic to Russia, noted that the Russian Orthodox Church and Greek Embassy in Moscow always had kind relations and expressed hope for further fruitful cooperation.

The parties pointed to friendly relations based on common spiritual tradition between the Greek people and people spiritually guided by the Moscow Patriarchate.

His Holiness thanked the Greek Orthodox Church for considerable financial help to the Beslan victims. Orthodox church to commemorate the victims is constructed in Beslan with assistance of the Greek Foreign Ministry. Children of Beslan had an opportunity to spend their summer vacations in Greece. ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’, His Holiness said.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church appreciated simplification of visa formalities for Russian pilgrims who come to venerate Greek shrines, especially the Holy Mount Athos.

Patriarch Alexy stressed the need for the pastoral care of the Russian-speaking community in Greece, ex-citizens of Russia and the CIS countries. The Church of Russia is ready to extend any help that could be needed. His Holiness also underscored that Moscow Patriarchate is aware of spiritual needs of ethnic Greeks residing on its canonic territories. He mentioned the new church for the Greek community built in the Diocese of Donetsk near Mariupol, with the assistance of the Greek Foreign Ministry.

Greek Ambassador was interested in the revival of church life in Russia. His Holiness shared his impression from his primatial visits to dioceses.

The parties touched upon the question of the Greek-Catholic church in Ukraine, proselyte activity of foreign missionaries in Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia and Kazakhstan.

Ilias Klis noted great changes in life of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church and underlined that Greek people rejoiced at the current revival of Russia.

The parties underscored the importance of joint Orthodox witness in European institutions.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy said the Russian Orthodox Church was concerned with the problems of the Russian cemetery near Thessalonica where the headstones of Russian compatriots were destroyed six years ago and are not restored ever since.

Among the participants in the meeting also were Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR MP Secretary for Inter-Orthodox Relations, Mrs. Klis, spouse of the Greek Ambassador, and Dimitrios Yalamas, adviser of the Greek Embassy.