The Fifth Round of Theological Consultations Between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church Took Place in Egypt

DECR Communication Service, 02.05.2026.

From April 28 to May 1, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and His Holiness Coptic Patriarch Tawadros II, the fifth round of theological consultations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church took place at the Patriarchal and Synodal “Logos” Center of the Coptic Church in the Monastery of St. Paisius the Great in the Nitrian Desert (Egypt).

The participants from the Moscow Patriarchate included: Bishop Methodius of Yegoryevsk, Chairman of the Synodal Biblical-Theological Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church and co-chairman of the Working Group for bilateral theological consultations; Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), DECR Secretary for Inter-Christian Relations and Secretary of the Working Group; Priest Pavel Lizgunov, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the Moscow Theological Academy; Hegumen Adrian (Pashin), Head of the Department of Theology of the Moscow Theological Academy; Priest Dimitry Artyomkin, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Theology of the Moscow Theological Academy; Deacon Sergiy Panteleev, Associate Professor of the Department of Theology.

From the Coptic Church, the participants were: Bishop Kyrillos, Vicar of the Los Angeles Metropolis and Rector of the Sts. Cyril and Athanasius of Alexandria Coptic Theological Academy in the USA; Hieromonk Gregorios Ava Mina, Rector of the Coptic Theological Academy named after the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark at the “Logos” Center; Hieromonk Daoud el-Antony, representative of the Coptic Church in Russia; Hieromonk Kyrillos ElMacari, invited professor of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).

Additional experts also spoke during the fifth round of theological consultations. The Russian Orthodox Church was represented in this capacity by Monk Mark (Elimanov), Senior Lecturer of the Department of Theology of the Moscow Theological Academy, and I.A. Nikolaev, DECR consultant and postgraduate student of the University of Pisa. The Coptic Church was represented by Bishop Daniel, Chairman of the Patriarchal Commission for Monasteries and Monasticism; A. Milad, Patriarchal Advisor; and B. Soliman, Head of the Department of the Coptic Patriarchate for the Implementation of Church Projects.

During the meeting, in an atmosphere of constructive dialogue, four thematic reports prepared by members of the Working Group from the Moscow Patriarchate in fulfillment of previously reached agreements were considered:

1) “Divine Energies and the Dynamics of Theosis in the Teaching of St. Basil the Great” (Monk Mark (Elimanov));
2) “The Teaching on Theosis in Orthodox Theology: Key Aspects” (same author);
3) “Preliminary Results of the Chambésy Agreements of the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches” (Priest Pavel Lizgunov);
4) “Elements of the Christology of Severus of Antioch in the Light of Chalcedonian Theology” (Deacon Sergiy Panteleev).

Following the substantive discussion, an agreement was reached to establish two joint subgroups within the Working Group for the detailed study of the range of issues relating to the agenda of bilateral theological consultations.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a joint communiqué was adopted, in which the participants noted progress in the development of the consultations and expressed gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and His Holiness Coptic Patriarch Tawadros II for their leading role in consistently strengthening relations between the two Churches.

The next session is scheduled to be held in Russia in Autumn 2026.