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On 13 March 2010, Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), met with H.E. Sadasivan Premjith, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Singapore to the Russian Federation.

They were joined at the meeting by the Deputy Ambassador of Singapore and the Rev. Sergy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for far abroad countries.

Metropolitan Hilarion warmly greeted the guests at the Synodal institution in charge of international contacts of the Russian Orthodox Church. At the request of the high guest Metropolitan Hilarion told him about the life of the Russian Orthodox Church, its place and role in society, its ministry on the canonical territory and in the far abroad countries, the social doctrine of the Church, and about challenges to it in the modern world.

Discussed during the talk were the ministry of the Moscow Patriarchate in the Southeast Asia with the Patriarchal Exarchate there, and a construction in Singapore of the Russian cultural centre and the church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, this having a considerable importance in the spiritual support of the compatriots and the development of dialogue and accord among religions and cultures.

The DECR chairman and the Ambassador of Singapore also discussed topical problems, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Metropolitan Hilarion explained the Statement of the Holy Synod of the Russian Church of March 11, 2020, made in connection with the spreading of this infection.

Ambassador Premjith thanked Metropolitan Hilarion for the talk. Metropolitan Hilarion wished the high guests success in his work in Moscow and assured him in the willingness to develop constructive cooperation with the Embassy of Singapore.