Coptic Patriarch Tawadros II completes his visit to Russia
On May 25, 2017, the Coptic Patriarch, His Holiness Tawadros II, completed his visit to Moscow for the award ceremony to receive the prize of the Unity of Orthodox Nations Foundation.
At Domodedovo airport, the Head of the Coptic Church was seen off by Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), Egypt’s Ambassador to Russia Mohammed El-Badri, the second secretary of the Egyptian embassy Mr. Thomas Ava Mina, the head of the International Public Foundation of the Unity of Orthodox Nations Mr. V. Alekseyev, the DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov) and Mr. Ph. Champion, DECR officer.
During his visit, on May 23, Patriarch Tawadros had a talk with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and was awarded the prize of the Unity of the Orthodox Nations Foundation. On May 24, the Coptic delegation attended the celebrations held on the occasion of Patriarch Kirill’s name day – the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Christ the Saviour, the grand concert in Red Square and the fraternal repast.
On the same day, Patriarchs Kirill and Tawadros II met with President Vladimir Putin.
In conclusion of Patriarch Tawadros’s visit, a reception was given in his honour by Egypt’s ambassador in Moscow. In attendance were also members of the Coptic community in Moscow, who had an opportunity to receive a blessing from their Patriarch.
The delegation who accompanied the Head of the Coptic Church included Metropolitan Serapion of Los Angeles, cochairman of the Bilateral Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church; Metropolitan Kirolos of Milan; Bishop Angelos, Patriarchal Exarch in Great Britain; Bishop Gabriel of Austria; Bishop Makar of Ash-Sharqiyah; Bishop Pavly, Patriarchal Vicar in Alexandria; Rev. Angelos Ishaak, personal secretary of the Coptic Patriarch; Mr. Michael Abdelmalek, staff member of the Coptic Cultural Centre in Cairo; and Ms. Ereny Wagdi, a staff member of the Diocese of Austria.
DECR Communication Service