Mother superiors of Russian Orthodox convents make a pilgrimage to the abodes in Egypt

DECR Communication Service, 04.11.2022.

A group of mother superiors of the Russian Orthodox convents led by Bishop Leonty of Syzran and Shigony, made a pilgrimage to the monasteries and convents in Egypt fr om October 20 to 29, 2022. The pilgrimage was organized by the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism and the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR).

The group included nine mother superiors from Moscow, Moscow region, Belarus, Ulyanovsk, Krasnoslobodsk, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Sochi, and sisters from several convents.

Accompanying them were hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations; Dr. Anton Milad from the Coptic Church, counselor to Patriarch Tawadros II on the dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church; abbess Athanasia of the Convent of St. George the Great Martyr in Cairo, and hieromonk Pimen of the Monastery of St. Paul of Thebes.

The purpose of the pilgrimage was acquaintance with the holy sites of Christianity located in Egypt and the development of relations between Russian and Coptic monks and nuns.

Upon arrival in Сairo, members of the group were warmly welcomed by Bishop Daniel, abbot of the Monastery of St. Paul of Thebes, assistant to Patriarch Tawadros II on monasteries and monasticism.

The Coptic Church has 20 monasteries and 15 convents. During their stay in Egypt that lasted nine days, the guests visited 10 monasteries and 6 convents, including abodes in the Nitrian Desert. Also, they visited many historic sites, including places wh ere the holy Family stayed; learned about great Christian shrines, venerated relics and icons of the early Egyptian fathers – the founders of monasticism and monastic rules.

Divine Liturgies were celebrated at the Monastery of St. Paul of Thebes on October 22 and at the Monastery of St. Anthony the Great on October 23, at which Bishop Leonty was assisted by Archpriest Alexy Mashkov, a cleric of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa responsible for parishes in Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh.

Discussed at the meetings with abbots and brethren, abbesses and nuns, were issues pertaining to every aspect of life in Coptic abodes. An especially important was paid to the church in Salamut dedicated to the New Martyrs of Libya killed by terrorists in 2015.

Bishop Leonty and all members of the group expressed their gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for giving the blessing to make the pilgrimage that has helped to learn more about the life of Christians in Egypt and in monasteries and convents in particular.

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Mother superiors of Russian Orthodox convents make a pilgrimage to the abodes in Egypt

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons