On 6 December 2017, at the Patriarchal and Synodal residence in St.
Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow
and All Russia met with the delegation of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
The delegation that had arrived in Moscow to take part in the
celebrations marking the centenary of the restoration of the
Patriarchate in the Russian Church included Metropolitan Gabriel of
Lovech, Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe, Metropolitan
Naum of Ruse, Metropolitan Kyprian of Stara Zagora, Bishop Gerasim of
Melnik, Archpriest Tsvetan (Ivanov), Archpriest Dimitar Dimitrov, Rev.
Ventsislav Pavlov, and Deacon Nedyalko Dimitrov. They were accompanied
by Archimandrite Theoktist (Dimitrov), representative of the Patriarch
of Bulgaria to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
Taking part in the meeting were also the following representatives of
the Russian Orthodox Church: Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk,
chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church
Relations; Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo-Zuyevo, chairman of the
Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Ministry; Archpriest
Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev),
representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the
Patriarch of Bulgaria; and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for
inter-Orthodox relations.
“I would like to thank His Holiness for sending such delegation. It
is a great joy to us to celebrate with you, brethren, the centenary of
such important historical event as the restoration of the Patriarchate
in the Russian Orthodox Church,” the Patriarch Kirill said, greeting the
guests, “It is already obvious that had not this event happened, little
would have been left of the Russian Church. Relying on this, we can
state that the institute of the Patriarchate in the Local Orthodox
Churches is very important. The Patriarch bears responsibility for the
unity, for defining the Church’s diverse interests, for strengthening
the church witness and enlightening the people of God.”
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill also mentioned yet another momentous date – the 140th
anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria which will be celebrated in
2018, and asked the members of the delegation to convey his gratitude to
His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte for the invitation to visit the
Bulgarian Church. “If the Lord gives me strength, I intend to visit the
blessed Bulgarian land,” His Holiness said.
The participants in the meeting discussed various issues on the pan-Orthodox agenda.
DECR Communication Service