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On 10 May 2019, a delegation of the Moscow Theological Schools met with Patriarch Tawadros II of the Coptic Church. The delegation headed by Archbishop Amvrosy of Vereya, rector of the Theological Academy, is making a pilgrimage to the ancient common Christian holy sites in Egypt.

At the beginning of the meeting Patriarch Tawadros expressed his condolences over the tragedy happened at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow and added: ‘We are praying for all victims and the injured.”

Primate of the Coptic Church greeted the guests from the Moscow Theological Academy and expressed his hope for a visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to Egypt, saying: ‘We are looking forward to seeing him on a visit to Egypt. Some months ago, our good friend Metropolitan Hilarion visited us. I visited Russia two times and have fond memory of them.

“We are happy to receive all delegations from Russia. Recently we had a group of monks from Russia, and a delegation from our monasteries visited Russia. Our monks joyfully shared their impressions. We highly appreciate the Russian Church’s spirituality which I felt during my visits. The Copts venerate many saints of the Russian Church.

‘It is a pleasure to see young people in your delegation, because youth is the future of the Church of Christ, and we hope that our Churches will be one in Christ.”

Archbishop Amvrosy thanked Patriarch Tawadros for warm reception on behalf of the delegation and said: “This visit is a great God’s blessing for us and a great joy. A delegation from the Moscow Theological Academy is visiting Egypt for the first time. In these days we have become convinced in the usefulness of such contacts we come to learn one another. We cordially thank You for condolences over our tragedy.

“I should add that monasticism in the Coptic Church was a revelation to us.  Today we held a round-table conference and discussed many interesting points. Our and your young people immediately have found common language. We are looking forward to a visit of rector, faculty and students of our educational institution.”

Patriarch Tawadros congratulated the delegation on the Victory Day of the Soviet troops over Nazi Germany.

The delegation of the Moscow Theological Academy visited the Cathedral of St. Mark in Alexandria, the Church of St. Paul and the Church at which St. Athanasius the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria, is buried.

On May 10, the delegation met with faculty and students of the Coptic Seminary in Cairo and with the leadership of the Institute of Coptic Studies. Prospects for cooperation were discussed at the round-table conference.