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On 12 January 2010, Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk met with the Russian and foreign journalists at the Moscow Patriarchate Department for external church relations.

During question and answer period, a forthcoming visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the Orthodox Church of Alexandria was a topic of conversation. By tradition, a newly elected Patriarch visits all Local Orthodox Churches. In accordance with the diptych, the Patriarch first visited the Patriarchate of Constantinople on 4-6 July 2009, and the Patriarchate of Alexandria is the next to visit. Answering a question about this visit, the DECR chairman noted its importance, as the Church of Alexandria is an oldest Orthodox Church with canonical jurisdiction throughout Africa.

“This Church is developing dynamically: new metropolia are being established, new churches are being built, and even the locals are becoming Orthodox Christians. I have no doubts as this visit. It will not be just a matter of protocol; it will include fraternal meetings of the Primates of the two Local Orthodox Churches and discussion of topical problems,” Archbishop Hilarion said.

As to the “interests of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa,” he noted that there were several parishes on the continent for the Russian-speaking Orthodox Christians. ‘Priests of the Russian Orthodox Church serve at these parishes, but, by mutual agreement, are placed under jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria during the period of their ministry there. This is also true for the parish in Johannesburg,” the DECR chairman emphasized.