On 5 December 2017, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All
Russia had a brotherly talk with His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of
Alexandria and All Africa at the Patriarchal residence located in St.
Daniel’s stavropegic monastery.
The delegation which accompanies him includes Metropolitan Seraphim
of Zimbabwe and Angola, Metropolitan Meletios of Carthage, and
Metropolitan Athanasios of Kyrene, representative of the Patriarch of
Alexandria and All Africa to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
Attending the meeting on the part of the Russian Orthodox Church were
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow
Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR);
Archbishop Leonid of Vladikavkaz and Alania; archpriest Nikolai
Balashov, DECR deputy chairman; archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR
secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; and Rev. Viktor Kulaga,
representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the
Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.
The Primates of the Orthodox Churches of Alexandria and Russia prayed
at the domestic church consecrated in honour of all saints of the
Russian Church.
His Holiness Kirill addressed the high guest saying: “Your Beatitude,
it is a special joy to meet You in the spiritual and administrative
centre of the Russian Orthodox Church at St. Daniel’s monastery. At the
domestic church here we nominate new bishops and meet the heads of the
Local Orthodox Churches with doxology. Today, after a short prayer
service we prayed for You, Your Beatitude, for your bishops and your
faithful. We highly appreciate your labours. You are performing your
patriarchal ministry with patience, generosity and love in difficult
conditions. Historically, you care for the north of Africa – Egypt, but
God has willed that missionary work among the African people would also
need your energy and wisdom. We thank You for Your work aimed at the
strengthening of the Orthodox faith of the African tribes.”
The Primate of the Russian Church also noted with gratitude an
important part played by His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore II in the
pan-Orthodox family: “…Thanks to your good character and loving heart
you find correct words to comfort people and to support and strengthen
peaceful fraternal relations with the Primates of the Churches even in
difficult situations.”
His Holiness expressed his joy over that fact that the Primate of the
Orthodox Church of Alexandria officiated at the historical divine
service celebrated at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on December 4
in commemoration of the centenary of the restoration of Patriarchate in
the Russian Church. St. Tikhon was enthroned on the feast day of the
Entrance into the Temple of the Birth-giver of God, and may the Lord
strengthen you and your flock in the apostolic ministry to which He has
called you.”
His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros expressed profound gratitude to the
Russian Orthodox Church on behalf the fraternal Church of Alexandria
and recalled his ministry at the metochion in Odessa and his visit to
Moscow at the time when St.Daniel’s monastery was only coming to life.
Patriarch of Alexandria called his participation together with
brothers from other Orthodox Churches in the festivities marking the
centenary of the Local Council and election of Patriarch Tikhon a great
blessing and thanked the Moscow Patriarchate for its aid to the Orthodox
Christians in Alexandria.
The main topic of the talks was the situation of persecuted
Christians in the Middle East and North Africa. People learn from the
mass media about horrific terror attacks in Syria, Iraq, Egypt and
Libya, but terrible events in other countries on the African continent
are sometimes forgotten, such as over nine hundred Christians killed in
Nigeria or persecution and execution of Christians in Tanzania, Sudan,
Somalia and the Central African Republic.
‘We understand the difficulties of your archpastoral ministry under
these circumstances,” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said. He assured the
high guest in support and willingness to cooperate and asked him for
information of the cases of attacks against Christians so that the
Russian Church could also spread this information throughout the world
because as many people as possible must know that Christians are the
most persecuted religious group in the world in the 21st
century,” the Primate of the Russian Church underscored and reminded his
audience that she had not stopped talking about the persecution of
Christians in different regions of the world during last decade at the
UN, the World Council of Churches and other organizations, but often
heard that not only Christians were suffering. Patriarch Kirill believes
that an important part in the change in attitude to the tragic
situation of Christians in different countries of the world was played
by his meeting with Pope Frances.
“You are performing your missionary ministry in difficult conditions.
It is filled with God’s grace, but it runs human risks. We
wholeheartedly wish you God’s aid and are willing to hold your hands
with the staff of a missionary and preacher travelling all over the
continent of Africa,” His Holiness told His Beatitude.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria said that he was
leaving Moscow with the renewed strength after experiencing the joy of
praying at the Divine Liturgy and our talks.
He explained the difficult situation in which Christians live and
minister and added that the Muslims of the region fell great injustice
as their name is denigrated being linked with the notion of terror.
Patriarch Theodoros spoke about great pain of the inhabitants of Egypt,
Christians and Muslims alike, which they felt over 320 victims of the
terror attack in Bir-al-Abed in the north of the Sinai Peninsula known
for Mount Sinai where the Lord appeared to Moses. “There is Saint
Catherine monastery there which has given an example of love among
representatives of the two religions for many centuries… Our hearts are
filled with anxiety, and we hope that the Lord will give heed to our
prayers.”
Patriarch of Alexandria informed of the recent bombing of an Orthodox
church in Benghazi, Libya, and added that Metropolitan Meletios of
Carthage takes spiritual care for this region of North Africa with the
territories of Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania, Algeria and Libya.
He is convinced that oil and weapons cause the conflicts. “We are
confronted with new situations, and unexpected transformation of the
existing order. Our Church is trying to do anything she can for people
living in fifty-four countries in our jurisdiction,” said Patriarch
Theodoros and mentioned the Church’s aid to the refugees in Sudan where
they have fled from Syria. “There are many Christians among them,” he
added.
His Beatitude also spoke about the challenges and problems in the
life of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and continued to say: “I foresee a
day when Orthodoxy on the continent of Africa will become very strong.
My life in Africa has taught me to look ahead, and I always ask the Lord
to bless our work.”
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