Home page News
Metropolitan Hilarion signs condolence book at Cub…

Metropolitan Hilarion signs condolence book at Cuba’s Embassy

On 30 November 2016, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, visited the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Moscow and met with Ambassador Emilio Losada Garcia to express condolences over the death of Fidel Castro Ruz.

Metropolitan Hilarion laid flowers at Fidel Castro’s portrait at the Embassy building and said to Ambassador Garcia: “On behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and on my own behalf I express cordial condolences to the leaders of Cuba and to all Cuban people over the death of Commandante Fidel Castro. His Holiness sent a letter of condolences to his brother, General Raul Castro Ruz, Chairman of the State Council and Council of Ministers, saying that Comandante Fidel became a legend of the country.” The DECR chairman noted that there was no single man in Russia who did not know the name of this man. Indeed, friendship between our nations and the Russian people’s respect for the Cuban people are linked with the years when every Soviet citizen knew the name of Fidel Castro.

Metropolitan Hilarion added that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill feels special feelings to Cuba as he visited the island many times and met with Fidel Castro. The construction of a Russian Orthodox church in the centre of Cuba’s capital was completed with personal participation of Fidel Castro.

‘It was not fortuitous that Havana was chosen for historical meeting of the Patriarch of Moscow with the Pope of Rome as it was His Holiness Kirill’s firm decision. During his stay in Havana His Holiness met with Commandante Fidel for the last time. I would like to express my sympathy to all of you and also my wish for the upholding of friendly relations between the Cuban and Russian people.

Ambassador Garcia thanked the DECR chairman for his kind warm words and assured him that the Cuban leaders would continue to strengthen friendly relations and develop fruitful cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and Cuba’s government.

Metropolitan Hilarion signed the book of condolence: “On behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia I express cordial and sincere condolences to the leaders of Cuba and to all Cuban people over their hard loss – the demise of Commandante Fidel Castro, a symbol of the Cuban people’s struggle for independence, the leader of Cuba for over half a century. His name is known to everybody in Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church is grateful to him for his participation in the construction of the church dedicated to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Havana, a place where our compatriots living in Cuba can meet with God and with one another. I wish us to keep in our hearts a good feeling of friendship and mutual respect between the Cuban and Russian people developed largely thanks to the deceased Cuban leader.’

Fidel Castro Ruz, 90, died on November 25, 2016. Nine days of mourning were declared. He will be buried in Santiago de Cuba on December 4.

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