Moscow delegation visits Coptic Patriarch Tawadros II

(ROC) - On 16 November 2018, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, met with the Primate of the Coptic Church, His Holiness Patriarch Tawadros II, at his residence in Cairo.

Metropolitan Hilarion conveyed to the head of the Coptic Church greetings and good wishes from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and thanked Patriarch Tawadros for the warm hospitality extended to a delegation of representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church’s monasteries and convents that had visited Egypt not long ago. The participants in the meeting noted a great potential for further strengthening of friendly relations between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Coptic Church, which are actively developing today with the direct participation of His Holinesses Patriarch Kirill and Patriarch Tawadros.

Discussed at the meeting was a wide range of issues pertaining to the bilateral relations between the two Churches.

Taking part in the meeting were also Rev. Viktor Kulaga, representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations; Rev. Anatoly Churyakov, DECR staff member; and Mr. Vyacheslav Lee, sub-deacon to Metropolitan Hilarion.

After the meeting Metropolitan Hilarion and those accompanying him visited the Cathedral of the Holy Apostle Mark, located in the territory of the Coptic Patriarchate, and venerated the saint’s holy relics in its crypt.