Future external church relations experts on a visit to DECR

DECR Communication Service, 14.03.2023.

On March 14, a group of students of the Ss Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Post-Graduate Studies visited the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR).

The visit was a part of the special study course “Theological Dialogue with the Ancient Oriental Churches” carried out by the Chair of Church and Practical Disciplines of the Institute together with the DECR.

Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations, greeted the guests on behalf of the DECR chairman, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, and told them about the key focus areas of the Department's work, one of which is cooperation with the Ancient Oriental Churches that have maintained friendly relations with Russian Orthodoxy for centuries and unite tens of millions of faithful living in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and the South Caucasus. The Russian Church develops top level relations with all Christian communities and fruitful cooperation in various areas pertaining to the Church’s ministry in the modern world. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ pays special attention to this cooperation which is being extended and therefore needs new external church relations experts, including those in Oriental studies.

The students were joined at the meeting by DECR staff members Sergey Alferov, “Theological Dialogue with the Ancient Oriental Churches’ course teacher, and Danil Arakelyan, and the invited experts, Rev. Arseny Israelyan and subdeacon Vartan Pogosyan from the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Print publication

Future external church relations experts on a visit to DECR

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons