Home page News
Metropolitan Hilarion meets with Cardinal Koch in …

Metropolitan Hilarion meets with Cardinal Koch in St. Petersburg

On 27 July 2017, Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), met with Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity who arrived to St. Petersburg as head of the delegation of the Roman Catholic Church to accompany the relics of St.Nicholas the Wonderworker to Bari.

Discussed during the meeting, which took place at the Novodevichy Resurrection Convent in St. Petersburg, were various issues of bilateral relations between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Roman Catholic Church. The extraordinary event of bringing the relics of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, from Bari to Russia was noted. Metropolitan Hilarion said that over two million believers venerated the relics of the most revered saint in Moscow and St. Petersburg and underscored that it has happened thanks to the agreement between Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Pope Francis reached at their historic meeting in Havana in February 2016. Metropolitan Hilarion thanked Cardinal Koch and his associated for their help in arranging this event so important for the entire Russian Church.

Cardinal Kurt Koch expressed joy and deep appreciation of the believers’ enthusiasm and added that it has demonstrated the big part played by the veneration of saints of the early Church in the overcoming of differences and prejudices among Christians. Metropolitan Hilarion and Cardinal Koch agreed that cooperation among Churches should be continued. The work of the Joint working group for cultural cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church was also considered.

A festive dinner was offered that same day at the Novodevichy Resurrection Convent. Attending it were Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and members of the Roman Catholic Church’s delegation: Cardinal Kurt Koch; Mgr Francesco Cacucci, Archbishop of Bari-Bitonto; Rev. Ciro Capotosto, rector of the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari; Rev. Hyacinthe Destivelle of the Pontifical Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity; Rev. Carlo Cinquepalmi, head of the communication service of the Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto; as well as hegumeness Sofia, abbess of the Novodevichy Resurrection Convent; Rev. Alexy Dikarev, a DECR staff member; and Orthodox benefectors from the PhosAgro holding company Mr. Andrey Guriev Sr.; Mr. Andrey Guriev, Jr; Ms Gurieva; Mr. Kuzmuk; Mr. Goloschapov and president of the Baltic Board of Lawyers Mr. Vadim Zhimirov.

DECR Communication Service

Share:
Primates of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches сelebrate Liturgy at Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

25.04.2025

A meeting of the Primates of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches has taken place

22.04.2025

Сondolences of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the passing of Pope Francis

21.04.2025

Paschal Message by Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Russia

19.04.2025

Patriarch Kirill addresses Primates of Local Orthodox Churches, Christian Leaders, Heads of State, and International organizations regarding law banning the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church

11.04.2025

Primate of the Russian Church leads celebrations in Donskoy Monastery marking the centenary of Patriarch Tikhon’s demise

06.04.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends congratulations to Archbishop Joani of Tirana and All Albania on his enthronement

29.03.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends condolences over devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand

28.03.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends congratulations to Archbishop Joani of Tirana and All Albania on his election as Primate of Albanian Orthodox Church

16.03.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends letter to His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch concerning tragic developments in Syria

11.03.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates the Divine Liturgy for the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral

09.03.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with delegation of Malankara Church

08.03.2025

Delegation of the Malankara Church attends Patriarchal Liturgy on the commemoration day of Blessed Matrona of Moscow

08.03.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill speaks on the phone with His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije

25.02.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the Ambassador of Pakistan to Russia

06.02.2025

DECR Chairman attends farewell ceremony for Pope Francis

25.04.2025

DECR Chairman meets with Russian Ambassador to Italy

25.04.2025

DECR Chairman begins his visit to Italy and the Vatican

24.04.2025

First Hierarch of the Serbian Church visits Donskoy Monastery in Moscow

23.04.2025

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije visits Serbian Metochion in Moscow

23.04.2025

DECR Chairman attends a meeting of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group

22.04.2025

A meeting of the Primates of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches has taken place

22.04.2025

Delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church arrives in Moscow headed by His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia

21.04.2025

DECR Chairman expresses condolences on the passing of Pope Francis

21.04.2025

Primate of the Russian Church leads celebrations in Donskoy Monastery marking the centenary of Patriarch Tikhon’s demise

06.04.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk visits the Resurrection Church in Hakodate

31.03.2025

DECR Chairman participates in Divine Service at the Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo

30.03.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk celebrates Divine Liturgy at the Resurrection Church in Seoul

23.03.2025

The Holy Synod confirms a number of appointments regarding the foreign dioceses and parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church.

20.03.2025

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Anthony presents report to the Holy Synod on his visits to Lebanon, Albania, Italy, Serbia and Armenia.

20.03.2025

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