Patriarch Kirill meets with the Netherlands’ ambassador in Russia

On October 28, 2015, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with the Netherlands’ Ambassador in Russia, H. E. Ron van Dartel, at the Patriarchate residence in the St. Daniel Monastery, Moscow.

The ambassador was accompanied by Mr. Iohan Willem Kurt, an adviser of the political department of the Netherlands’ embassy.

Participating in the meeting from the Russian Orthodox Church was also Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), a vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR).

Welcoming the guest, His Holiness Kirill noted that the Church operates by long periods of historical time, including in assessing the contemporary situation: ‘What is a bygone time for today’s people is a reality for the Church, to which she is very attentive. Therefore, meeting with an ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, I cannot help remembering history which we know very well and which is of everlasting importance for us’.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church stated that since the time of Emperor Peter I, relations between the two states have developed positively. ‘Your country made an enormous influence on the formation of Peter the First’s worldview, who modernized our country and opened up for representatives of your people to work in Russia and make their own contribution. The Netherlands used to be perceived by the Russian consciousness as a very successful country technologically and scientifically. We remember well these important historical episodes and believe they can help us build more active relation between our two countries and peoples today as well’, he said.

The ambassador of the Netherlands thanked Patriarch Kirill for the opportunity to meet. He spoke about his visit to Mount Athos ten years ago and his deep gratitude for the warm hospitality accorded him at the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mouth Athos.

‘I agree with you that in today’s life we should rely on history and look into the future’, the ambassador said, stressing the importance of historically established relations between Russia and the Netherlands.

They discussed a number of topics of mutual concern.

In conclusion of the talk they exchanged tokens of the meeting.

DECR Communication Service

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Patriarch Kirill meets with the Netherlands’ ambassador in Russia

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