Talks between Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

During the official visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, after a prayer at the Cathedral of St. George, a fraternal meeting of the Patriarchs at the Throne Hall, an exchange of speeches and a fraternal repast on July 4, 2009, talks between the two Primates took place.

In a fraternal and constructive spirit, they discussed various questions of common Orthodox significance and problems involved in bilateral relations between the two Churches as well as inter-Christian cooperation and church-public relations. They considered in particular the pastoral care of Russian-speaking Orthodox believers residing in Turkey and the development of pilgrimage to Christian holy places in Turkey. They also dealt with preparations for a Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church.

Representing the Patriarchate of Constantinople during the talk, which lasted for two hours and a half, were also Metropolitan Evangelos of Perge, Metropolitan Meliton of Austria, Metropolitan John of Pergamon, Metropolitan John of Philadelphia, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Myra, Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, Holy Synod general secretary Archimandrite Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis), Archimandrite Bartholomaios (Samaras), Prof. Vasilios Stavridis, Rev. Basil Papathanasiou, and Hierodeacon Vissarion (Komzias).

The Moscow Patriarchate was represented by Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, administrative director of the Moscow Patriarchate secretariat, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman, Rev. Igor Yakimchuk, DECR acting secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, Rev. Georgiy Kirindas, DECR protocol director, and Mr. A. Churyakov.

DECR Communication Service