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On January 17, 2014, a solemn celebration was held at St. Peter’s of the Mexican Metropolis of the Patriarchate of Antioch on the occasion of the name-day of Metropolitan Anthony of Mexico, Central America, Venezuela and the Caribbean Islands (Patriarchate of Antioch). With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the celebration was attended by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations.

After the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Anthony addressed the congregation, expressing a special welcome to the high guest from the Russian Orthodox Church. He said in particular that the Russian Church gave invaluable support to the Christian population in the Middle East countries experiencing a difficult situation. “I am very glad that we have with us today Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, an outstanding hierarch of the world Orthodoxy. As head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, he works hard to strengthen relations between Orthodox Churches”, he said.

After the Divine Liturgy a reception took place. It was attended by 1800 guests including hierarchs of the Catholic Church in Mexico, governmental officials, state governors, ambassadors of Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Cyprus. In his words of greeting, Metropolitan Hilarion pointed to a weighty contribution that Metropolitan Anthony made to the development of relations between the Orthodox Churches of Antioch and Russia. He expressed concern for the situation in the Middle East, noting the efforts made by Russia for a peace settlement of the crisis in Syria and expressing hope that Mexico’s government will help improve the situation of Christians in the Middle East.

 

DECR Communication Service