DECR chairman meets with members of Egyptian Parliament

On 9 December 2015, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), received a delegation of the members of the new Egyptian Parliament: Coptic Christians Dr. Emad Gad and Dr. Hany Naguib, deputies from the ‘Free Egyptian Party’, and Mr. Emad Raouf, leader of the youth council of the party. They were joined in the meeting, which took place in the parish house of the Church of “Joy to All the Afflicted” icon of the Mother of God, by hieromonk Roman (Kiselev) and Sergei Alferov, DECR staff members.

Metropolitan Hilarion warmly greeted the guests who expressed their condolences over Russian citizens’ death aboard airliner blown up by terrorists. The DECR chairman noted the importance of maintaining relations between Egypt and Russia on a high level, especially now as the threats from extremists are increasing and again called for the establishment of a broad anti-terrorist coalition that would include not only politicians but also religious leaders.

Members of the Egyptian Parliament confirmed the Egyptian leadership’s intention to continue the course toward strengthening of relations between people of the two countries.

After the meeting the Egyptian politicians were shown the interior of the church.