DECR chairman meets with new head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Central Asia

Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk met, on 2 October 2009 at DECR, with the Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Central Asia, Avgust G. Kruse, who has been recently elected to this post.

His Eminence Hilarion extended warm congratulations to Archbishop Kruse on his election and thanked him for making a visit to DECR during the first days in his new important office. DECR chairman made a special mention of the fact that a citizen of the Russian Federation was elected Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Central Asia whereas previously this office was occupied by representatives of Germany.

In discussing relations between the two Churches, Archbishop Hilarion pointed to the shared positions of the Orthodox and the Lutherans and other CIS countries on many social and ethical issues. According to His Eminence, as there are two tendencies developing in Christendom today, traditional and liberal, and debates unfolding between them, the two Churches should develop cooperation in defending the traditional values of Christianity.

They were joined in their talk by Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations.