Home page News
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Pr…

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Primate of Malankara Church

On September 1, the 11th Sunday after Pentecost, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR) and rector of the Ss Cyril and Methodius Institute of Post-Graduate Studies (CMI), celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church of Ss Martyrs and Confessors Michael, Prince of Chernigov and His Boyar Theodore, the Wonderworkers in Moscow. The church is a part of the Patriarchal Chernigov Metochion, which houses the CMI.

Among the archpastor’s concelebrants were Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Great Antioch and All the East; Hieromonk Ioann (Kopeikin), CMI pro-rector to development, Hieromonk Pavel (Cherkasov). CMI pro-rector for training; Archpriest Mikhail Nemnonov, CMI pro-rector for educational and social work; Rev. Dimitry Safonov, secretary of the CMI academic council and DECR secretary for inter-religious relations; Rev. Mikolay Scheglov, pro-rector for training, Nikolo-Ugresh Seminary; as well as CMI staff and students in holy orders.

Present at the service were His Holiness Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Primate of the Malankara Orthodox Church (India); Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nikolovos, head of the Malankara Church department for external church relations; Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Diascoros, secretary of the Malankara Church Holy Synod; Rev. Abraham Thomas, secretary of the Malankara Church department for external church relations; and Rev. Aswin Zefrin Fernandis, head of the Malankara Catholicos’s protocol service; Rev. Jiss Jonson, personal secretary to His Holiness the Catholicos; Mr. Jacob Mathew, member of the Malankara Church Council; Mr. Kevin George Koshi, head of the communication service of the Malankara Church department for external church relations; and Dr Cherian Eapen, a representative of the Malankara diaspora in Russia.

Among the worshippers were CMI staff members, faculty and students.

After the Prayer of Fervent Supplication, His Eminence Hilarion lifted up a prayer for peace in Ukraine.

After the liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion greeted the Primate of the Malankara Church on behalf of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and said in particular. ‘Your Holiness, you visited the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988 as a bishop of the Malankara Church who accompanied a delegation led by the Catholicos, and you had an opportunity to see the life of our Church at that time. Now you can see the life of the Russian Orthodox Church today. For the last 30 years, our Church has changed beyond recognition. While in the Soviet years we had a little more than 6000 parishes in the whole of the Russian Orthodox Church, today there are almost 40 thousand parishes. It means that during 30 years we opened one thousand churches a year. At that time, we had only 20 monasteries while today they are almost a thousand. And these monasteries are now filled with young monks and nuns. While in the Soviet time we had only three theological seminaries, today we have already opened over 50. At that time, it was impossible to imagine that theology would be taught in secular universities, while today it is taught and officially recognized by the state as an academic specialization. We have an opportunity for granting our graduates certificates that are recognized by the state. All this and many other things can be seen by you and your honourable delegation with their own eyes.

‘Today I welcome you to the Ss Cyril and Methodius Institute of Post-Graduate Studies, an educational institution that was established a little over ten years ago at an initiative and with a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. His Holiness chairs our institute’s supervisory board. We educate post-graduates and seekers of doctor degree here and many of them then become clergymen, some become bishops while others take up secular jobs to bring the spirit of Christianity into the secular world, to those with whom they work. The task of our institute is to educate a new generation of clergy, church workers, church diplomats and workers in the field of ecclesial education’.

In conclusion of his welcome, Metropolitan Hilarion presented the Primate of the Malankara Church with an icon of the Saviour.

 

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, in his turn, thanked the DECR chairman and expressed hope for the successful development of relations between the two Churches. He said in particular, ‘The Malankara Orthodox Church had very deep and close relationships with the Russian Orthodox Church three decades ago’. He also mentioned the translation of Loving Kindness made by Dr Charian Eapen into the Malayalam language used in the Malankara Church. The book has been distributed gratis and has become popular not only among Christians but among Hinduists as well. Recalling his visit to Russia in 1988, when he was the youngest bishop in the Malankara Church and a member of the delegation to the Millennium of the Baptism of Rus’, the Catholicos confirmed, ‘At that time we could see how lively was the faith in Rus’ and how many faithful people there were here’

‘We are delighted and gratified to visit your theological school’, said Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nikolovos addressing Metropolitan Hilarion. He thanked His Eminence for the hospitality and expressed hope for the development of cooperation between the two Churches.

Then the guests visited the CMI. In the rector’s study, Metropolitan Hilarion and Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulose II had a talk. Taking part in it were the Malankara Church delegation who accompanied His Holiness the Catholicos. The Russian Orthodox Church was represented by Hieromonk Stephen, Hieromonk Ioann and R. Akhmatkhanov.

Metropolitan Hilarion introduced them to the work of the Department for External Church Relation (DECR). Speaking about the relationships between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Malankara Church, His Eminence made a special mention of the importance of the efforts made for these relations by Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of blessed memory and Patriarch Kirill when he was DECR chairman.

Speaking in response, the Primate of the Malankara Church thanked Metropolitan Hilarion for the warm welcome and expressed the wish to develop bilateral relations between the two Churches at a new stage.

Metropolitan Zachriah Mar Nikolovos noted that the tragedy of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 20th century and her revival is an example of how a Church can overcome hardships and become stronger.

The sides also considered possible ways of cooperation in the academic sphere. The CMI rector explained to the guests the specific features of the CMI and its international experience, in particular, in holding inter-Christian Summer Institutes.

The Malanraka side expressed gratitude for the enrolment of Deacon Anoupa Ragou to the precentors department of Moscow Theological Academy and interest in developing cooperation in the academic sphere. They thanked Metropolitan Hilarion for his book ‘The Sacrament of Faith’, the English version of which is used in India as an educational aid for students of the Malankara Church schools.

The sides also considered other possible areas in which the two Churches can cooperate. In conclusion, Metropolitan Hilarion stressed that already today there is every possibility for developing bilateral contacts and strengthening the relationships – the efforts which the DECR will promote in all possible ways.

After the meeting, the sides exchanged gifts.

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