Department for External Church Relations
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Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki
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In the morning of 13 December 2011, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk visiting Greece with the blessing of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and at the invitation of His Beatitude Hieronymus, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, left Athens for Thessaloniki to present the Greek edition of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s book “Freedom and Responsibility.” At the airport the DECR chairman was seen off by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Greece Vladimir Chkhikvishvili and a staff member of the Greek Archbishopric.
Consul general of Russian Federation in Thessaloniki Alexy Popov welcomed Metropolitan Hilarion to Thessaloniki. From the airport the DECR chairman made his way to Thessaloniki Metropolia. The delegation visited the Cathedral of St. Gregory Palamas and prayed at the relics of this great saint. The DECR chairman saw exposition of icons dated to 14th-15th centuries at the museum of Metropolia.
Metropolitan Anthimos received Metropolitan Hilarion and his suite at his study and told them about the history of the Thessaloniki diocese originating from St Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys, about its structure and social and educational activities. While speaking of some hardship caused by the current economic crisis Metropolitan Anthimos emphasized the main role of the Orthodox faith in uniting the people at this difficult time.
The DECR chairman told Metropolitan Anthimos about the life of the Russian Orthodox Church, and, in particular, about the Sash of the Mother of God recently brought to the Moscow Patriarchate for veneration and about millions of faithful who have come to pray at the shrine. Metropolitan Hilarion underscored that this event bore witness to the piety of Russian people.
The DECR chairman presented Metropolitan Anthimos with a panagia.
Patriarch
Department Chairman
Sermons
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