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On December 25, 2015, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations (DECR), attended a meeting of the Council of the Russian Humanitarian Academic Foundation (RHAF).

Among the attendees were V. Fridlyanov, RHAF Council chairman, Yu. Vorotnikov. RHAF vice-chairman, N. Vyskochil, RHAF deputy director, Ye. Pivovar, rector of the Russian State University of the Humanities, L. Gohberg, first pro-rector of the Higher School of Economics, A. Kokoshin, academic director of the Higher School of Economics’ Institute of Innovation Management, A. Gromyko, director of the Russian Academy of Science’s Institute of Europe, V. Kondrashin, a RHAF experts, and others.

V. Fridlyanov made a report on the work carried out by the RHAF. He spoke in particular about the work to select applications for grants in the area of the humanities and international cooperation.

The meeting considered the RHAF’s current concerns.

In conclusion of the meeting, the floor was given to Metropolitan Hilarion. He stated that the Russian Humanitarian Academic Foundation contributed to the development of science in various areas and said, ‘I believe, the importance of this support cannot be overestimated. We should get away from the situation where scientists of our country have to seek support for their academic work from other countries, appealing to various foundations and grant organizations. Indeed, support for science in our country should be a priority for our national policy. I am glad that the Russian Humanitarian Academic Foundation carries out this mission in full measure’. His Eminence pointed to the enormous volume of work carried out by the Foundation to select applications and support those of them which deserve the greatest interest.

Metropolitan Hilarion, who represents the Russian Orthodox Church in the Interreligious Council in Russia, stressed the significance of academic studies which contribute to the fostering of interreligious accord in society.

‘In today’s dangerously explosive situation, about which we know from the mass media and many of us from our daily work, the consolidation of inter-confessional harmony is one of the principal tasks of the Russian State. I hope that academic studies carried out in various areas will contribute to it and the RHAF will support these efforts in every possible way’, Metropolitan Hilarion noted.

DECR Communication Service