Department for External Church Relations
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Holy Synod considers it necessary to further bilateral projects with Ethiopian Church
DECR Communication Service, 12/03/2024
On 12th March 2024, after hearing a report by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed satisfaction with increased cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church carried out within the framework of the commission for dialogue between the two Churches.
The Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, set up by a decision of the Holy Synod of 14th July 2018, has the following priority tasks in its work: promoting the two Churches’ joint efforts in defending Christians, cooperating at various international platforms, upholding traditional moral values, sharing experience in the media sphere, providing pastoral care to compatriots in Ethiopia and Russia, cooperating in the diaspora, developing monastic contacts and pilgrimage projects, and collaborating in the academic, social and youth spheres.
The Commission held its first meeting in Addis Ababa on 21st – 25th January 2019, and the second meeting in Moscow on 11th – 16th February 2023.
The Holy Synod acknowledged the necessity to further the current bilateral projects and approved a new list of the Commission members representing the Russian Orthodox Church. It includes:
a) Bishop Kirill of Sergiyev Posad and Dmitrov, abbot the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra, rector of the Moscow Theological Academy – Commission co-chairman;
b) Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), Secretary for Inter-Christian Relations of the Department for External Church Relations – Commission secretary;
c) Abbess Yelisaveta (Pozdnyakova) of Ss. Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy;
d) Mr Vakhtang Kipshidze, deputy chairman of the Synodal Department for Church’s Relations with Society and Mass Media;
e) Mr Sergei Alferov, staff member of the Department for External Church Relations.
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