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On May 17, 2017, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), met with the president of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Stanslav Lipovsek of Celje (Roman Catholic Church in Slovenia). Participating in the meeting were also Rev. Anton Strukel, member of the Slovenian Ecumenical Council and professor of dogmatics and patrology at the University of Ljubljana, Mr. Urban Ocvirk, vice-president of the Slovenia-Russia Society. From the DECR side there were Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov), DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations, and Hierodeacon Roman (Kiselev), DECR office for the far abroad.

Metropolitan Hilarion welcomed Bishop Stanislav Lipovsek and his party to the synodal department responsible for the ROC external contacts.

The DECR chairman shared his impression of his visit to Slovenia and meetings with the leaders of the country and the head and representatives of the Roman Catholic Church in Slovenia. In particular, recalled his participation in the commemorative events devoted to the centenary of the Russian Chapel of the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles in the Vrsic Pass, which took place in July 2016.

In the course of the talk, which was held in a warm atmosphere, they discussed the results of the historic meeting between Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Pope Francis of Rome on February 12, 2016, in Havana. They also touched upon the state of relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Slovenia and the situation of Orthodoxy in the country.

On his part, Bishop Stanislav Lipovsek thanked Metropolitan Hilarion for hospitality during his visit to Moscow.

In conclusion, the sides exchanged tokens of the meeting.

DECR Communication Service