Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Ambassador of Poland to Russia Wojciech Zajonczkowski

On 30 August 2011, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR) received H.E. Wojciech Zajonczkowski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to the Russian Federation. They were joined in the meeting by Maciej Jakubik, first secretary of the Embassy of Poland in Russia; hegumen Philaret (Bulekov), DECR vice-chairman; and Miguel Palacio, a staff member of the DECR secretariat for far abroad countries.

Metropolitan Hilarion told the guests about the DECR’s work, turning their attention to the fact that the Department he heads maintains wide connections with the diplomatic corps accredited in Moscow.

Ambassador Zajonczkowski said that he attaches great importance to the development of relations with the Russian Orthodox Church.

Discussed at the meeting were cooperation between the Orthodox and the Catholics in upholding traditional Christian values, and a document currently being prepared on the contribution of the Church to the reconciliation of Russian and Polish people. The document was initiated by the Moscow Patriarchate and the Catholic Church in Poland.