Metropolitan Hilarion meets with Russia’s new ambassador to Japan

On March 22, 2012, DECR Chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk met with the newly-appointed ambassador of Russia to Japan, Mr Ye. Afanasyev, at the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations. Participating in the meeting were also Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, and M. Palacio of the DECR secretariat for the far abroad.

In the course of the meeting, which was held in a friendly atmosphere, they discussed preparations for the visit His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia plans to make to Japan this year. His Eminence Hilarion also told his guest about the history and the present situation of Orthodoxy in Japan.

Mr Afanasyev, on his part, informed the DECR chairman about the present state of Russian-Japanese relations and prospects for their development in various areas.

DECR Communication Service