Metropolitan Hilarion meets with Russian ambassador in Finland

Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, who is on a visit to Finland for the enthronement of the head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Archbishop Kari Mäkinen, met on 8 June 2010 with the Russian Ambassador to Finland A. Rumyantsev, at the Russian embassy in Helsinki. Present at the meeting was Archpriest victor Lyutik, rector of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Parish of the Protecting Veil.

Metropolitan Hilarion told Ambassador Rumyantsev about the progress of theological dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, as well as problems in relations between Orthodox Churches and the Protestant community as a whole.

Ambassador Rumyantsev informed the DECR chairman about problems Russian compatriots encountered in Finland. The metropolitan inquired about the situation around Russian citizen Irina Antonova who is to be deported to Russia by the Finnish court decision.

They also discussed prospects for building a new church for the growing Orthodox community of Russian citizens in Helsinki.

In conclusion of the meeting, Metropolitan Hilarion presented Mr. Rumyantsev with a copy of his book ‘Patriarch Kirill: Life and Worldview’. The ambassador presented His Eminence with a copy of the monograph ‘The Grand Duchy of Finland’ devoted to the history of Finland when it was part of the Russian Empire from 1809 to 1917.

DECR Communication Service

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Metropolitan Hilarion meets with Russian ambassador in Finland

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons