Home page News
Patriarch Kirill meets with British Ambassador to …

Patriarch Kirill meets with British Ambassador to Russia Dr. Laurie Bristow

On April 5, 2016, His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, met with Great Britain’s Ambassador to Russia Dr. Laurie Bristow, at the patriarchal and synodal residence in the St. Daniel Monastery.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Martin Harris, Minister and Deputy Head of Mission to Russia, and Mr. Jonathan Evans, fist secretary of the British Embassy. The Russian side was represented by Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), vice-chaired of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), and Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for the far abroad.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox congratulated Dr. Bristow on his appointment as head of the British Embassy in Moscow.

Patriarch Kirill said that the tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church’s good relations with the Church of England, which traces back to the 16th century, is an important factor determining her attitude to Britain and the British people. The inter-church contacts were especially intensive in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, but even in the difficult Soviet time the relations were not interrupted. Thus, during World War II, in 1943, Archbishop Cyril Garbett of York came flying to Moscow, and in the post-war time Patriarch Alexis I visited Great Britain.

‘Since that time we have had fairly intensive bilateral relations and they are developing at present’, His Holiness said, stressing that the Russian Orthodox Church welcomes the stand taken by the Anglican Church on issues concerning the Christians understanding of marriage. ‘This January, Archbishop Jastin Webly of Canterbury held a meeting of the primates of the Anglican Church, which clearly stated the position of the Anglican community on this issue, which is close to that of the Russian Orthodox Church. It creates a condition for continuing our cooperation. I hope that it will continue to develop, benefiting the Russian-British relations as well’.

His Holiness also mentioned concrete problems as important for Christians to solve together. In the first place, it is the concern for protecting Christian communities subjected to persecution. ‘The developments taking place today in the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, Nigeria and a number of other countries testify to the terrible oppression of Christians – more terrible then in the Roman Empire, more terrible then in the Soviet Union. Every five minutes, according to the OSCE, one Christian is killed. I was struck by the news about the monstrous crime committed quite recently in Pakistan where a priest was crucified on Easter day. We also know that Christians are killed by whole villages’, he noted.

His Holiness mentioned that in 2002, when he was on a visit to Iraq, the Christian community in the country amounted to a million and a half people. Now there are only 150 thousand Christians left. In 2011, when hostilities began in Syria, Patriarch Kirill visited the country to meet with Christian leaders there. There were 1 million 500 thousand Christians living there at that time. Now there are only 500 thousand left. In addition, the extremists destroyed a great number of churches. As far as Libya is concerned, one can say that the Christian community there was exterminated.

To save Christians subjected to persecution and physical exterminations, both religious leaders and politicians should take action together, His Holiness said, noting that the problem of protection of persecuted Christians was the main topic of discussion during his meeting with Pope Francis of Rome, which took place in February.

Patriarch Kirill also stated that the oppression of people who confess Christianity could be also seen in a number of well-to-do countries. ‘It is maintained that there should be no visible signs of one’s belonging to a Christian Church, in the name of tolerance’, he noted, ‘We believe that Christians have the same rights as people of any other religion, especially in Europe which is founded on Christianity, however she may understand herself today. It is a Christian civilization, which subsequently, especially in the recent times, stopped regarding itself as Christian. But it is my profound conviction that it remains such. Therefore, any oppression of Christians for the outer expression of their belonging to the Christian Church is certainly upsetting. We believe that Christians have the same rights as the rest and by no means should be discriminated to please some other religious communities.’

In his talk with the ambassador of Great Britain, Patriarch Kirill drew his attention to the fact that there is the Russian Orthodox Church diocese of Sourozh existing there since 1962. By the number of parishes and the faithful it is the second largest diocese among the dioceses of various Orthodox jurisdictions after those of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

‘And on the whole, the Russian Orthodoxy in Great Britain is 300 years this year’, His Holiness said, adding, ‘The first church was opened in 1716 by a decree of Emperor Peter I. Its first parishioners were Russian students, who were had been sent by Peter II to Great Britain to study. Later they were joined by Greeks and people of other nationalities. We count the history of Russian Orthodoxy in your country from that year’.

‘Thank you very much, Your Holiness, that you have found time to meet me today’, Dr. Laurie Bristow said in his turn, stressing that the significant 300th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church in Great Britain celebrated this year is also a very important proof the long and rich history of Russian-British relations. Actually, he said, this history is much longer than three hundred years because the first ambassador of Great Britain was appointed to Russia 450 years ago. He also said that the Russian community in Great Britain and the British people who reside in the Russian Federation are of great importance for developing relations between the two nations.

The ambassador pointed to the historic significance of the meeting in Cuba between Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Pope Francis of Rome and to the good relations between the Anglican Church and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Speaking about the hard fate of Christian communities in the countries in which they are persecuted, Dr. Bristow stressed the importance of inter-confessional dialogue concerning the help to be given to persecuted Christians.

Speaking about the situation in European countries, the guest expressed the conviction that people of various religious beliefs need to have an opportunity to confess their religion peacefully and according to state laws.

In conclusion of the meeting, Patriarch Kirill presented Ambassador Laurie Bristow and those who accompanied him with tokens of the meeting.

DECR Communication Service

Share:
Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the VIII World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad

30.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra on the commemoration day of St. Sergius of Radonezh

09.10.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers and Akathistos hymn to St. Sergius in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

07.10.2024

Message from the Primate of the Russian Church to His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in connection with blasphemous act on the ruins of ancient Ulpiana

14.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates on the feast of the 300th anniversary of the transfer of relics of St.Alexander Nevsky to St. Petersburg

12.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-night Vigil at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on the eve of Transfiguration

18.08.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' met with the Ambassador of India to Russia

30.07.2024

Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III: Ukrainian government’s support for schism and persecution of the major canonical Church is a religious pogrom against the faithful Orthodox Christians of that country

24.07.2024

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrates the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in the city of Tver.

21.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Liturgy at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius on the commemoration day of the saint

18.07.2024

The Primate of the Russian Church celebrates All-night Vigil at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

17.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius and reads akathist to the saint

17.07.2024

Patriarchal condolences on the death of Boris A. Nelyubov

14.07.2024

Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

DECR Chairman has begun his visit to India

31.10.2024

Work of the Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is declared successful

24.10.2024

Synod acknowledges importance of bilateral projects carried out in collaboration with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

24.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

DECR Chairman heads celebrations for the fifteenth anniversary of the consecration of the Dormition Church at the Russian embassy in Beijing.

19.10.2024

Saint Petersburg Theological Academy hosts conference on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) entitled ‘The Person of Metropolitan Nikodim in the History of the Church’.

16.10.2024

DECR Chairman meets with President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference

15.10.2024

Participants of the Divine Service at the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist in Presnya congratulated the DECR Chairman on his 40th birthday.

12.10.2024

Russian diplomat given Patriarchal award.

10.10.2024

DECR Chairman delivered a lecture to students of the Russian Orthodox University

09.10.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers and Akathistos hymn to St. Sergius in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

07.10.2024

DECR Chairman takes part in festivities for the beginning of the academic year at the Saints Cyril and Methodius Postgraduate Institute.

03.10.2024

DECR chairman attends reception given by Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation

22.09.2024

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with delegation of Orthodox Church in America

16.09.2024

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