His Holiness Patriarch Kirill holds traditional meeting with students of the Higher Diplomatic Courses

On 9 April 2019, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with students of the Higher Diplomatic Courses of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Attending the meeting were Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), acting rector of the Diplomatic Academy Mikhail Troyansky, and Deacon Andrei Titushkin, a DECR staff member.

The students include consul generals assigned to work abroad, envoys and secretaries of the Russian diplomatic missions in foreign countries as well as heads of subdivisions and responsible employees of the central office of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill told the Russian diplomats about relations of the Russian Orthodox Church with the Local Orthodox Churches, with other Christian confession, non-Christian religious communities and about contacts with compatriots living abroad.

After his presentation the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church answered questions. Mr. Troyansky thanked His Holiness the Patriarch for the meeting and meaningful dialogue on behalf of the students.