Department for External Church Relations
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DECR chairman awarded honorary doctorate by Diplomatic Academy of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
DECR Communication Service, 14/06/2024
On 14th June 2024, a ceremony of awarding the diploma and the gown of Honorary Doctor of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, took place at the Diplomatic Academy.
Among those attending the event were Mr Alexander Yakovenko, rector of the Diplomatic Academy; Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, adviser to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’; Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), Archpriest Nikolai Lishchenyuk and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk – DECR deputy chairmen; members of the Academic Board, faculty and students of the Diplomatic Academy.
Mr Alexander Yakovenko read out a resolution of the Academic Board to confer the honorary doctorate on Metropolitan Anthony “for his outstanding contribution to religious and moral, educational, as well as peace-making work for the good of the country, his assistance and support in ensuring further progress in the activities of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
As the rector also pointed out, the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Diplomatic Academy as its part maintain a close liaison with the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. He mentioned, in particular, cooperation with the Church in organizing the Higher Diplomatic Courses for ambassadors appointed to work abroad and senior staff members of the Foreign Ministry central bodies. As part of the course, students have an opportunity to meet and talk with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’.
The DECR chairman said that the great honour was bestowed not only on him personally but also on the entire staff of the Department for External Church Relations. “In today’s award I also see a sign of high appreciation of the long-standing good and constructive relations established between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, including the Diplomatic Academy and diplomats carrying out their selfless service for the benefit of their homeland in various parts of the world,” he added.
In his speech, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk dwelt on external church activities in the current circumstances and on challenges facing the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church in its canonical territory. The DECR chairman focused, among other matters, on the plight of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is suffering unprecedented persecutions from the current authorities of Ukraine, and on a complicated situation of the Orthodox communities in the Baltic countries that have canonical affiliation with the Russian Church.
To conclude his visit to the Diplomatic Academy, Metropolitan Anthony made an entry in the Distinguished Visitors’ Book.
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