Regional delegation of International Committee of the Red Cross visits DECR

On 15 November 2016, Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, met with Mr. Magne Barth, head of the regional delegation of the International Red Cross Committee in Russia, Belarus and Moldova.

Representing the DECR at the meeting were also archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, secretary for far-abroad countries, and Ms Margarita Nelyubova. Mr. Magne Barth was accompanied by the staff members of the IRCC regional delegation, Mr. Yu. Barmin and Ms V. Zotikova.

Archimandrite Philaret told the guests about the activities of the Department for External Church Relations. The participants in the meeting focused on the plight of the Syrian people suffering from the ongoing hostilities.

Among the issues discussed was also assistance for refugees from eastern Ukraine, including the Russian Orthodox Church’s experience in providing shelter to refugees and aid to the population of the Donbass and Lugansk regions.

To conclude the meeting, Archimandrite Philaret expressed his hope for the development of cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

DECR Communication Service