Delegation of abbots and abbesses of the Coptic Church arrives in Russia

On 12^th September 2019, at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Tawadros II of the Coptic Church, a delegation of abbots, abbesses and nuns from the Coptic Church’s monasteries and convents arrived in Moscow to begin their pilgrimage to the Russian Orthodox abodes.

This pilgrimage, aimed at promoting the dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church, is organized within the framework of the bilateral Commission. Earlier, a monastic delegation of the Coptic Church visited Russia on 17^th – 23^rd June 2017, and delegations of monks and nuns of the Moscow Patriarchate undertook pilgrimage to Egypt on 6^th – 12^th November 2016 and 7^th – 13^th November 2018.

The Coptic delegation includes: Bishop Daniel, abbot of the Monastery of St. Paul of Thebes, Patriarchal assistant for monasteries and monasticism – head of the delegation; Bishop Dametrios, abbot of the Monastery of the Life-Giving Cross in Al Minya; Bishop Marcos, abbot of the Monastery of St. Damian in Damietta; Hieromonk Dawoud el-Anthony, representative of the Coptic Church to Russia; Dr. Anton Milad, representative of the Coptic Patriarchate; Tamav Kiria, abbess of St. Mercorios Convent in Cairo; Nun Marteria from St. Mercorios Convent in Cairo; Tamav Takla, abbess of St. Girgis Convent in Old Cairo; Nun Kiria from St. Girgis Convent in Old Cairo; Tamav Adroses, abbess of St. Tadros Convent in Cairo; Nun Youana from St. Tadros Convent in Cairo; Tamav Athanasia, abbess of St. Girgis Convent in Zweila; Nun Kiria from St. Girgis Convent in Zweila; Tamav Bacilia, abbess of the Virgin Mary Convents in Zweila and         Elbeheira; Nun Helpes from El Batool Convent in Malawi; Nun Mehraty from St. Sara Convent in Al Minya; and Nun Bestes from St. Demiana Convent in Albliana.

The guests from Egypt were met at the Domodedovo Airport by Archbishop Feognost of Kashira, chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism; Hegumenness Iulianiya (Kaleda), abbess of the Stavropegic Convent of the Conception of the Ever-Virgin Mary; Hegumenness Yelisaveta (Pozdnyakova), abbess of Ss. Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy; Hieromonk Yermogen (Korchukov), oikonomos of the Zaikonospassky Monastery; Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), secretary for inter-Christian relations of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; and DECR staff members, Mr. Sergey Alferov and Mr. Ruslan Akhmatkhanov.

During their pilgrimage, which will last until 19^th September, representatives of the Coptic Church will visit churches, monasteries and historical and cultural sites in Moscow and the Moscow Region, as well as the holy sites of the Nizhniy Novgorod metropolia, including the Convent of the Holy Trinity and St. Seraphim in Diveyevo.

DECR Communication Service