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On August 9, 2019, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), who is in the Philippines with a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, met with the Hon. Alan Peter Cayetano, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines.

They discussed a wide range of issues of mutual concern. In particular, Metropolitan Hilarion informed his interlocutor about the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Philippines and other countries of South-East Asia. They also exchanged opinions about interreligious dialogue and a number of other topics on international agenda.

Participating in the meeting were Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia, Patriarchal Exarch for South-East Asia; Russia’s ambassador to the Philippines I. Khovaev; Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansi and Surgut, acting administrator of the diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam of the Patriarchate Exarchate of South-East Asia; Mr. D. Karenin, second secretary of the Russian embassy in Manila, and Hieromonk Pitirim (Dondenko), secretary of the Exarchate.

After the talk, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines gave a dinner in honour of the high guest.

In conclusion of the meeting, the sides exchanged commemorative gifts.

DECR Communication Service