Metropolitan Hilarion meets with Ambassador of Austria to Russia

On 21 December 2012, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), met with H. E. Margot Klestil-Löffler, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to the Russian Federation. They were joined in the meeting, which took place at the DECR premises, by hierodeacon Roman (Kiselev), a staff member of the DECR secretariat for far abroad countries.

Metropolitan Hilarion warmly greeted the Austrian diplomat. Discussed at the meeting were cooperation issues, including joint projects.

The Ambassador of Austria thanked Metropolitan Hilarion for the meeting and noted the important role the Russian Orthodox Church plays in the life of Russian society. She expressed willingness to continue cooperation with the Moscow Patriarchate.