Metropolitan Hilarion speaks at the meeting of foreign diplomats and staff of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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On 9 June 2010, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations spoke at the meeting held at the mansion of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the framework of the "Golden Collection" project. Taking part in the project, sponsored by the "International Life magazine and realized on the initiative of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, are the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Koichiro Matsuura, the UNESCO Director General (1999-2009). Information support was provided by "Russia 24" TV channel and the Organizing Committee of the "Kazan-2013" Universiade. The theme of the meeting was "Modern Challenges of the Global World. Secularism and Religious World Outlook."

Attending the meeting were the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia A. Yakovenko, the ambassadors of Bolivia, Guatemala, Cuba, Ecuador, Palestine, and South Ossetia; envoy adviser of Ukraine to the Russian Federation V. Yatsyuk, director of the Department for Relations with the Subjects of the Federation, the Parliament and Pubic Associations V. Kenyaikin; Ambassador at large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs A. Vdovin; DECR deputy chairman Hegumen Philipp (Ryabykh); DECR secretary for far abroad countries Rev. Sergiy Zvonarev; representative of the Holy See to the Russian Federation Archbishop Antonio Mennini; representatives of scientific circles and Russian and foreign media.

Metropolitan Hilarion said in his speech, "When we speak about the dialogue between secularism and religious world outlook, we should remember that this is a dialogue not only on religious foundations of certain intellectual persuasions, but mostly on the meaning of human life. As a matter of fact, representatives of the secular and religious world outlooks are disputing the values on which human life is based and what for the human person lives. In the long run, this is a dispute and a dialogue on the future of humanity."

After his presentation, the DEC chairman answered questions.

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Metropolitan Hilarion speaks at the meeting of foreign diplomats and staff of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons