Home page News
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with William Frankl…

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with William Franklin Graham President of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

On 28 October 2015, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with William Franklin Graham, President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

They were joined in the meeting hat took place at the Patriarchal and Synodal residence in St. Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow, by Mr. Viktor Hamm, Vice President of the Association, and archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted that the founder of the Evangelistic Association, the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham had visited Moscow several times, even in the Soviet period in the 1950s and in the 80s, when he addressed Orthodox worshippers in the Yelokhovo Cathedral of the Epiphany.

“There were many missionaries of different kind, including those from Western countries, in the early 90s here. They were seeking to convert the Orthodox into their faith, and we were in anxiety about our relations with Western Christians. I recall a meeting of my predecessor, Patriarch Alexy II, with your father, - the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said, addressing the guest. Patriarch Alexy II told him about a difficult situation in Russia and about hard feelings which our Church experienced because of the behaviour of these false brothers. And your father said that the Billy Graham Association would never go along this way but will develop relations with the Russian Orthodox Church. This promise has been fulfilled.”

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted with appreciation good relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, mentioning with gratitude common work for supplying humanitarian assistance to the refugees from Ukraine.

His Holiness touched upon a topic of spiritual foundations of modern Western civilization. “The Russian Orthodox Church was active in developing relations with Western Christians even during the ‘cold war.’ We lived in hard conditions in the state in which the atheistic ideology was dominant and thought that Western civilization was Christian. We highly appreciated the freedom of Christian Churches in the West and their influence on public life. For us, Western Christians were like brothers and sisters. They were our allies.

“I believe that through our joint efforts we managed to exert influence on the change of political climate in relations of the Soviet Union with the West. Our relations were based on the understanding of our belonging to one and the same Christian civilization and our confession of common Christian moral values.”

However, – the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said with regret, – spiritual and religious life in the West has undergone radical changes in the recent years. Western civilization and Western countries ceased to indentify themselves with Christian tradition and adopted an idea of society in which Christian moral values should not be dominant. And then, legislative solutions were taken in many countries, the United States of America including, which allow same-sex marriage, equaling it to natural marriage that the Lord has given us in commandment. People who do not want to abide by these solutions may be subjected to repressions. Today, Christians who uphold the intransient importance of Christian moral values had to become confessors of the faith living under various kind of pressure, on the part of mass media including.”

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association courageously confessed its faith and defended Christian values. “This gives us a sign of hope: there are people among Western Christians akin to us in ethic principles, sharing them with the Russian Orthodox Church,” His Holiness said and reminded his listeners that the Moscow Patriarchate had suspended any contacts and dialogue with Christian Churches and communities which perform same-sex marriages in church and even ordain people of non-traditional sexual orientation as priests and bishops. For instance, we had to break off contacts with the Episcopal Church in the USA, but we support the Anglican Church in North America which remains faithful to Christian ethics. I would like to note once again the role played by the conservative evangelicals in the United States as their position gives us an opportunity to continue our dialogue with Christians in America.”

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expressed his support to the guest in his courageous stand for the Gospel truth.

William Franklin Graham conveyed greetings from his gather, the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and said that it was a privilege for him to meet with His Holiness and thanked him for raising his voice for the truth in the world which experiences moral hardship.

He added that it important to work together supporting Christians throughout the world who stand for the truth.

Franklin Graham expressed his particular concern over persecution of Christians in different regions of the world, especially in the Middle East.

As to other aspects of international cooperation, Franklin Graham mentioned the necessity of common efforts in rendering help to the refugees from Syria and Afghanistan in Europe like the help given to the refugees from Ukraine to Russia. The guests told His Holiness about the Association’s work with the youth and children, about social ministry and Christian education and expressed his hope for cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church in different fields of action.

Franklin Graham expresses his gratitude to the Russian Orthodox Church and her Primate and said that he had prayed to God to keep His Holiness and give him strength to uphold moral positions and the truth of God’s word in the rapidly changing world.

Share:
Congratulations of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the President of Turkey on his 70th birthday

26.02.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's condolences in connection with the murder of the monks of the Ziquala Abo Monastery in Ethiopia

24.02.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the XII Christmas Parliamentary Meetings at the Federation Council of the Russian Federation

23.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: Patriarch of Constantinople is not a free man

07.01.2024

Christmas Message from Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Rus’

06.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill had phone conversation with Metropolitan Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol

02.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences over deadly earthquake in northwest China

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates Mr Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on his re-election as President of Egypt

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill welcomes the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the decoration of the Church of St Sava in Belgrade

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presides over jubilee meeting of Inter-Religious Council of Russia

07.12.2023

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at jubilee meeting of Inter-Religious Council of Russia

07.12.2023

Patriarchal greetings on the occasion of 60th anniversary of the Diocese of Vienna and Austria

26.11.2023

Primate of Russian Church presents historic miracle-working Kazan Icon of the Mother of God to the faithful and celebrates Liturgy in the Kremlin Dormition Cathedral

04.11.2023

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ to the participants of the World Conference of Compatriots Living Abroad

01.11.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met with the Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East

31.10.2023

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب