A Meeting of the Commission on International Cooperation of the Council under the President of Russia for Cooperation with Religious Associations Was Held

DECR Communication Service, 21.04.2026.

On April 21, 2026, a regular meeting of the Commission on International Cooperation of the Council under the President of Russia for Cooperation with Religious Associations was held at the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The meeting was chaired by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate and head of the Commission on International Cooperation. Among those taking part were: Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Foreign Policy V.P. Nazarenko; Referent of the Presidential Directorate for Domestic Policy, Executive Secretary of the Council (Deputy Chairman of the Commission) A.V. Tretyakov; Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar; Advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Archpriest Nikolai Balashov; Head of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Ezras Nersisyan; Presiding Bishop of the Russian United Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals) S.V. Ryakhovsky; Head of the Department for Cooperation with Religious Organizations of the Presidential Directorate for Domestic Policy E.V. Eremin; Special Representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in Ensuring the Right to Freedom of Religion M.M. Melekh; Deputy Chairman of the DECR Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov; DECR Secretary for Far Abroad Affairs and Secretary of the Commission Archpriest Sergiy Zvonaryov; Head of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia Mufti A.R. Krganov; Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation for International Affairs R.R. Abbyasov; DECR Secretary for Interreligious Relations Priest Ilya Kashitsyn; First Deputy Chairman of the Euro-Asia Division of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church O.Yu. Goncharov; Chief Adviser of the Department of the Presidential Directorate for Domestic Policy A.A. Terentyev; Director of the Institute of Theology of Saint Petersburg State University D.V. Shmonin; as well as other members of the Commission and invited officials.

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A Meeting of the Commission on International Cooperation of the Council under the President of Russia for Cooperation with Religious Associations Was Held

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons