His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with auditors of Higher Diplomatic Courses
On 1 December 2009, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with a group of auditors of Higher Diplomatic Courses at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MID). The meeting took place at the Red Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.
His Holiness the Patriarch said to the participants, “I would like to cordially greet all auditors of Higher Diplomatic Courses at the Russian MID Diplomatic Academy. I used to meet the auditors of these courses almost every year of my chairing the Department for external church relations. While visiting our institutions abroad, I met with Ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary and general consuls who graduated from the courses and did not forget our meetings. My experience tells me that the talks at the Academy are helpful to all who take part in them. I am happy to continue this tradition and meet with those training for diplomatic service. I wholeheartedly wish you success both in the training at the courses and in your responsible work to which the Fatherland will call you.”
The head of Higher Diplomatic Courses, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary N. Tikhomirov conveyed greetings of the Rector of the Diplomatic Academy A. Panov to His Holiness and presented him with a commemorative medal coined for the 75th anniversary of the Academy founded in 1934.
Press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia report that among those taking part in the meeting were representatives of the Diplomatic Academy, MID departments, and DECR MP deputy chairman Hieromonk Philipp (Ryabykh).