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On 13 September 2010, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriachate’s Department for External Church Relations, currently on a visit to Estonia with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, visited the Tallinn Mayor’s Office and met with Mayor Edgar Savisaar.

Taking part in the meeting were Metropolitan Korniliy of Tallinn and Estonia, assistants to the DECR chairman Rev. Dimitry Ageyev and hierodeacon Ioann (Kopeikin), a member of the Synod of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate Mr. S. Myannik, and a deputy of the Tallinn City Council director of the Centre of Russian Culture Mr. Yu. Polyakov.

The importance of completing the construction of an Orthodox church dedicated to the “Quick to Hearken” Icon of the Mother of God in the Tallinn district of Lasnamyae was noted during the talk. This church will take spiritual care for 100.000 inhabitants of the district. Metropolitan Hilarion highly appreciated the efforts undertaken by Tallinn city authorities for the implementation of this project and underscored that its success would be possible only with cooperation between the Church and the state.

The DECR chairman expressed his hope for the destiny of historical Orthodox churches in Tallinn and their transfer to the ownership of the Estonian Church to be settled in a constructive dialogue. Metropolitan Hilarion noted the importance of resolving this problem by the time of the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to Estonia.

Also discussed was a proposal of the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church on the Russian Museum in Tallinn. For instance, Metropolitan Korniliy proposed to open in it an exposition dedicated to the history of Orthodoxy in Estonia. This exposition will contribute to the better acquaintance of the residents of the country with history, traditions, and present state of the Orthodox Church.

In conclusion of the meeting, Metropolitan Hilarion presented Mayor Savisaar with his book entitled “Patriarch Kirill. His Life and World Outlook.”