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On 2 April 2019, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, met with H.E. Mr. Andreas Fryganas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hellenic Republic to the Russian Federation. They were joined in the meeting by Archpriest Sergy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for far abroad countries.

Metropolitan Hilarion warmly greeted the high-ranking diplomat who is completing his mission in Moscow.

Mr. Fryganas told about his years-long service in Russia and shared his impressions of the religious life and culture of the Russian people. The diplomat also thanked the archpastor for promoting cooperation between the Department for External Church Relations and the Embassy of Greece in Russia.

The participants in the meeting discussed various issues of inter-Orthodox cooperation, including the relationships between the Russian and the Greek Orthodox Churches, noting their striving for upholding the basic principles of canonical order in the face of complicated situation surrounding the church life in Ukraine. Among the issues discussed during the meeting were also present-day international relations.

To conclude the meeting, Metropolitan Hilarion wished Mr. Fryganas God’s help in his further work.

DECR Communication Service