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Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, met on 28 December with Mgr Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, Auxiliary Bishop of Paris, who is in Moscow on the invitation of the Roman Catholic Church in Russia for the French Christmas in Moscow music festival which has started on December 27. Participating in the meeting were also Hieromonk Philip (Riabykh), DECR vice-chairman, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations, as well as Rev. Richard Escudier, Rev. Eduard Shatov, a cleric of the Catholic church of St. Louis in Moscow, and A. Dikarev, a DECR staff member for inter-Christian relations.

Archbishop Hilarion expressed satisfaction at the intensive development of relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in France, which has been observed in recent years. Bishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort conveyed to Archbishop Hilarion greetings from Cardinal Henry Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, and pointed to the need to continue developing cooperation between the Orthodox and the Catholics in bearing common witness to the gospel’s eternal values in the difficult spiritual and moral situation in Europe today.

They also discussed prospects for cooperation during the year 2010 declared the Year of Russia in France and the Year of France in Russia. A number of joint ecclesiastical and cultural activities were outlined to be held both in France and Russia. At the conclusion of the meeting, which was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere, the two hierarchs exchanged souvenirs.

DECR Communication Service