| Patriarch Kirill Congratulates Metropolitan Hilarion on the 10th Anniversary of His Service as DECR Chairman Source: DECR Photo: mospat.ru On March 31, 2019, the 3d week of the Great Lent, the Sunday of the Adoration of the Cross, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great at the Moscow church of Our Lady the Joy to All the Afflicted-in-Bolshaya-Ordynka. The day marked the 10 th anniversary since Metropolitan Hilarion was appointed as head of the DECR. The archpastor was assisted by Metropolitan Niphon of Philippople, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East; Bishop Dionisiy of Voskresensk, first deputy chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Archpriest Nikolay Balashov and Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), DECR vice-chairmen; Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemaytovsky), representative of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands of Slovakia; Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow to the Patriarch of Antioch; and other church officials and staff members of the DECR in holy orders. After the Prayer of Fervent Supplication, His Eminence Hilarion lifted up a prayer for peace in Ukraine. After the service, the worshippers venerated the cross taken out to the center of the church. Bishop Dionisiy read out Patriarch Kirill’s message of congratulations to Metropolitan Hilarion: ‘The Most Rev. HILARION Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Chairman Department for External Church Relations Your Eminence, Ten years have passed since by the Holy Synod decision you were appointed as head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. I would like to thank you cordially for the help you and your co-workers give me in my hard Primatial ministry. I highly appreciate the contribution made by your synodal department to bearing witness to Christ before the world, to the beauty and truth of the Orthodox faith. |
| Accept The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presides over jubilee meeting of Inter-Religious Council of Russia DECR Communication Service, 07/12/2023 On December 7, the Inter-Religious Council of Russia (ICR) held a meeting marking its 25 th anniversary. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, the ICR honorary chairman, presided over the meeting that took place at the Danilovsky Hotel Complex. Participating in the meeting were members of the ICR Presidium: Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Mufti Shaykh al-Islm Talgat Tadzhuddin, chairman of the Central Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of Russia; Mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, chairman of the Spiritual Board of the Muslims of the Russian Federation; Mufti Kamil Samigullin, chairman of the Spiritual Board of the Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan; Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar; and Chief Rabbi of Russia Adolf Shayevich. Among the participants in the meeting were also Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan; Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), DECR deputy chairman; and Mr Vladimir Legoyda, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church’s Relations with Society and Mass Media. Present at the meeting were members of the Inter-Religious Council of Russia, public officials and representatives of non-governmental organisations. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church greeted the participants in the meeting and delivered an address . He was followed by Mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin, chairman of the Central Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of Russia, who pointed out that cooperation between traditional religions in Russia has deep historical roots, having stood the test of time. “Today, upholding traditional spiritual and moral values is a task not only for the clergy and other representatives of traditional religions, but for the entire state,” the Mufti said. |
| Accept The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy DECR chairman concelebrates Liturgy with Patriarch of Antioch at Russian Church’s Metochion in Damascus DECR Communication Service, 28/01/2024 On 28 th January 2024, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relation, who is visiting Syria with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, took part in the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer – Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus. Officiating at the Liturgy was His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East. Among other concelebrants were Bishop Romanos of Seleucia, chief secretary of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Antioch; Bishop Moussa of Darayya; Bishop John of Sergiopolis; Archimandrite Yakoub (Assaf), a staff member of the Patriarchate of Antioch; Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR deputy chairman; Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ to the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East; and Priest Alexander Yershov, assistant to the DECR chairman; The liturgical prayers were offered in the Arabic, Church Slavonic and Greek languages. Attending the divine service were Mr Alexander Yefimov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as representatives of the Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring in the Syrian Arab Republic, and numerous Russian citizens residing in Syria. At the end of the Liturgy, His Beatitude Patriarch John of Antioch wholeheartedly greeted Metropolitan Anthony, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ambassador of the Russian Federation. |
| The Synod members also heard a report by the DECR chairman concerning the participation of the ROC delegation in the 7th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held in Kazakhstan on September 14-15, 2022. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church led by DECR chairman Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk took part in the Congress. The delegation included, among others, Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan. Among the participants in the conference were other hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church as well, namely, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, head of the Metropolitan area in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; and Bishop Savvaty of Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan. This year the Congress focused on the Role of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in the Spiritual and Social Development of Humanity in the Post-Pandemic Period. During the opening session, Metropolitan Anthony read out a message of greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. The DECR chairman also delivered an address during the opening session and spoke at the final session of the Congress. On September 13, upon the arrival of the delegation in Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk met with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem to discuss a wide range of issues pertaining to the relationships between the two Churches. Besides, on the side-lines of the Congress, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church met with Pope Francis; President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; the chairman of the Muslim Board of the Caucasus, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade; Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb; the head of Iran’s Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, Mohammad Mehdi Imanipour; and the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Maulen Ashimbayev. |
| The Synod members also heard a report by the DECR chairman concerning the participation of the ROC delegation in the 7 th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held in Kazakhstan on September 14-15, 2022. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church led by DECR chairman Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk took part in the Congress. The delegation included, among others, Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan. Among the participants in the conference were other hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church as well, namely, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, head of the Metropolitan area in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; and Bishop Savvaty of Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan. This year the Congress focused on the Role of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in the Spiritual and Social Development of Humanity in the Post-Pandemic Period. During the opening session, Metropolitan Anthony read out a message of greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill http://mospat.ru/en/news/89631/ . The DECR chairman also delivered an address http://mospat.ru/en/news/89632/ during the opening session http://mospat.ru/en/news/89633/ and spoke at the final session of the Congress http://mospat.ru/en/news/89645/ . On September 13, upon the arrival of the delegation in Kazakhstan http://mospat.ru/en/news/89629/ , Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk met with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem http://mospat.ru/en/news/89630/ to discuss a wide range of issues pertaining to the relationships between the two Churches. Besides, on the side-lines of the Congress, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church met with Pope Francis http://mospat.ru/en/news/89636/ ; President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev http://mospat.ru/en/news/89637/ ; the chairman of the Muslim Board of the Caucasus, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade http://mospat.ru/en/news/89639/ ; Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb http://mospat.ru/en/news/89648/ ; the head of Iran’s Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, Mohammad Mehdi Imanipour http://mospat.ru/en/news/89649/ ; and the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Maulen Ashimbayev http://mospat.ru/ru/news/89641/ . |
| Center for Pediatric Prosthetics and Rehabilitation is opened at the ROC Representation in Damascus Source: DECR Photo: mospat.ru On March 6, 2022, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), took part in the opening ceremony of the Center for Pediatric Prosthetics and Rehabilitation at the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria. The Centre has been created with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and with the support of His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, the Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation; the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage; and ‘Poznanie” and Kirche in Not Charity Foundations. Attending the ceremony were Dr. Muhammad Abdul Sattar Assayed, Minister of Endowments of the Syrian Arab Republic; Mr. Hussein Makhlouf, Minister of the Local Administration and Environment; H.E. Alexander V. Yefimov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Syrian Arab Republic: Marie Al-Bitar, deputy of the People’s Council of the Syrian Arab Republic and head of the Parliamentary Committee for relations with the Orthodox Church; Colonel General Michel Farah, head of the medical services directorate of the Ministry of Inferior; Mr. Adel al-Olabi, Governor of Damascus; Bishop Moussa of Daraya, senior auxiliary bishop of the Patriarch of Antioch; Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Antioch; Rev. Alexander Karzan, secretary to the DECR chairman; Mr. Nikolay V. Sukhov, director of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Damascus; Mr. Rimal al-Saleh, head of Aluafa Charity Foundation; Dr. Jihad Muhammad Haddad, head physician of the Center for Pediatric Prosthetics and Rehabilitation at the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus; Mr. Hassan Raya, director of the Centre; Mr. Ivan A. Parfenov, deputy general director of “Poznanie” Charity Foundation; and Vycheslav Yu. Li, assistant to the DECR chairman. |
| Accept The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy DECR Chairman Addresses Round Table at the Federation Council DECR Communication Service, 23.01.2024. On January 23, a round table on “Russia’s role in the global humanitarian space. Preservation and promotion of cultural and spiritual heritage” took place at the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in the context of the 12 th Parliamentary Meetings which are traditionally held as a part of the International Christmas Educational Readings. The round table was co-chaired by Mr. Grigory Karasin, head of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR). Mr. Karasin addressed the participants with opening remarks. In his speech, Metropolitan Anthony emphasized the urgency of the topic discussed at this meeting, “since it gives a wide field for meaningful and businesslike talks, deliberations and discussions about the mission of Russia and the Russian Church in the modern world.” The archpastor reminded the audience that throughout history “our nation has been creating spiritual and cultural space inseparable from the Orthodox faith. It was the Christian worldview that became the key factor and basis for the formation of Russian culture and national identity and greatly influenced the development of national social and political thought,” he underscored. “Russian culture, which is known to the whole world today in all its diversity and richness, could not come into being without Orthodoxy. As time went on, this culture got enriched by new traditions brought by the people who took the path of common historical development, which ultimately gave rise to the phenomenon of Russian civilization.” Metropolitan Anthony continued to say: “Like any civilization, we cannot retreat into ourselves, but seek contacts and cooperation with other peoples and cultures and with all those who are ready for dialogue with us. This is a kind of mission to which the Russian Orthodox Church attaches great significance. The language of spiritual ideals and meanings, moral axioms, high culture and art is an instrument that despite all potential obstacles and impediments can cross national and linguistic boundaries, thus offering a chance to relate people all over the world with one another.” |
| Accept The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy DECR chairman and ROCOR First Hierarch celebrate Liturgy at Synodal residence of Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in New York On July 12, 2021, the commemoration day of the Holy, Glorious and All-praised Leaders of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, and the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign of the Russian Church Outside of Russia in New York. Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, the cathedral clergy and clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate parishes in the USA concelebrated. Greeting the DECR chairman after the service, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside of Russia said, “Your Eminence, extending brotherly greeting to you on the commemoration day of the First Hierarchal Apostles Peter and Paul, I cordially thank you for the joint prayer that we have lifted up on the festive day and for your love, attention and words of exhortation. I cannot find sufficient words to express how special our feelings were when we celebrated the Divine Liturgy today. “Recalling the archpastoral feats performed by one of my predecessors, Metropolitan Anastasius (Gribanovsky), the author of popular conversations with his own heart, who was consecrated as bishop this day 115 years ago at the Cathedral of the Assumption in the Moscow Kremlin, we have prayed today so that the Chief Pastor Christ may continue and multiply His mercies for the spiritual unity between the Russian Church abroad and the Russian Church at home, which we had sought with brotherly love and great efforts”, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York noted. |
| Accept The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy DECR chairman attends conference on World Orthodoxy: Primacy and Conciliarity in Light of Orthodox Teaching On September 16, 2021, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, took part in the conference held by the Synodal Biblical-Theological Commission on the theme “World Orthodoxy: Primacy and Conciliarity in the Light of the Orthodox Teaching”, which took place at the St. Sergius Hall of the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. The conference is attended by members of the Synodal Biblical-Theological Commission, representatives of the theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church, university faculty, hierarchs and clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and guests from Local Orthodox Churches. Presenting his paper, Metropolitan Hilarion stressed in particular that the Orthodox teaching speaks about the unity and oneness of the Church proceeding from the Gospel and makes this characteristic the first in the rank of her properties. “Any threat to the unity of the Church is a threat to the Body of Christ, in which believers are united by one faith, the Eucharist and her Head - Jesus Christ”, the DECR chairman noted, “Precisely for this reason, the most tragic events in the history of the Church are schisms in which Christ-commanded unity is violated, the unanimous life in faith is lost, the union around the Eucharistic Cup ends, the apostolic succession in the hierarchy is upset, and a deep wound appears in the Body of Christ”. According to the hierarch, in the history of the Church there is a great deal of examples of how actions of her particular members led to tragic divisions with their consequences felt to this day. “These pages of church history could serve as a lesson and a warning against such actions in the present and the future. However, up to this day the unity of Orthodoxy is threatened not only from outside but also from inside, coming from those who seek to act contrary to the Orthodox teaching and canonical tradition. We can see such actions today taken by the Patriarchate of Constantinople”, Metropolitan Hilarion stated. |
| Archive DECR chairman attends official opening of an exhibition on interior decoration of St. Sava Church in Belgrade 20 December 2023 year 10:26 On December 19, 2023, an exhibition entitled ‘The Beautification of the Cathedral of St. Sava in Belgrade’ opened at the Museum and Exhibition Complex of the Russian Academy of Arts in Moscow. The exhibition, organized by the Russian Academy of Arts in partnership with the Moscow International Foundation for Support to UNESCO, occupies an area of over 600 square metres, offering insight into the general artistic concept behind the interior mosaic decoration of the Cathedral of St. Sava in the Serbian capital and showing design drawings and sketches of its various elements. It is an unprecedentedly large-scale project carried out by a team of Russian and Belarusian mosaicists under the auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, attended the exhibition opening with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’. Mr Nikolai Mukhin, academician, member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Arts, People’s Artist of Russia, who was the author of the project and supervised the interior decoration works, showed Metropolitan Anthony exhibits on display, giving him an overview of various stages in his team’s work. The exhibition was opened by the President of the Russian Academy of Arts, Zurab Tsereteli. In his opening address, he spoke of an important role of the academic artistic school and its representatives – the mosaicists who had created the mosaic decoration for St. Sava Church, thus carrying out the major project in the history of monumental art. The DECR chairman read out greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’. His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia also sent a message of greetings to the artists and exhibition visitors, in which he noted that the interior decoration of the Church of St. Sava in Belgrade opened a new page in the history of Christian art and became a visible symbol of Russia-Serbia friendship. |
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