DECR chairman meets with the Turkish Ambassador to Russia

On 30 September 2015, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), met with H.E. Umit Yardim, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to Russia. Attending the meeting that took place at the DECR premises were Rev. Dimitry Safonov, head of the sector of inter-religious contacts, Ms. Olga Mazur of the Secretariat for far abroad countries, and Mr. Emil Karaz, counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Russia.

Metropolitan Hilarion greeted the high guest within the walls of the Synodal department and told him about its work. The DECR chairman also spoke of the cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Presidency of religious affairs of the Republic of Turkey and expressed hope for successful continuation of this constructive cooperation.

The participants in the meeting also discussed special aspects of religious education in Russia and Turkey and the situation in the Middle East.