His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with delegation of Patriarchate of Constantinople

On 24 May 2015, the commemoration day of Ss Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Teachers of the Slavs (name day of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia), and the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church met with a delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which had arrived in Moscow to attend the celebrations.

The delegation included Metropolitan Methodios of Boston and Archimandrite Nathanael (Symeonides).

Taking part in the meeting which was held at the Patriarchal Chambers of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour were also Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman, and archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill warmly greeted the guests. As was noted during the meeting, the following good tradition was established in 2009, after the irenical visit of the Primate of the Russian Church to the Patriarchate of Constantinople: every year delegations of the Moscow Patriarchate visit His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew to congratulate him on his name day, while his representatives receive a warm welcome from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on his name day.

“We are pleased that today the delegation of His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch shares with us our common joy here, in Moscow,” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said. “I am glad that today we have celebrated the Divine Liturgy together, receiving communion from one chalice.”

Metropolitan Methodios conveyed to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church cordial greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

Discussed at the meeting were topical issues of pan-Orthodox importance.

DECR Communication Service