Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk Awarded Honorary Doctorate by Russia’s Diplomatic Academy

DECR – OCP News Service – 15/06/2024

Moscow – Russia: On June 14, 2024, at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, a solemn ceremony was held to present a diploma and the robe of an honorary doctor of the academy to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The event was attended by the rector of this educational institution A.V. Yakovenko, adviser to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR deputy chairmen Archimandrite Filaret (Bulekov), Archpriest Nikolai Lishchenyuk and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, members of the Academic Council of the Academy, teachers and students of the university.

A.V. Yakovenko announced the decision of the Academic Council to award Metropolitan Anthony the title of honorary doctor “for his outstanding contribution to spiritual, moral, educational and peacekeeping activities for the benefit of the country, assistance and support in the development of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry.”

The rector also noted that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic Academy, as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have close relations with the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. In particular, mention was made of cooperation with the Church during the conduct of Higher Diplomatic Courses for newly appointed ambassadors and senior officials of the central apparatus of the Russian Foreign Ministry sent to serve abroad. Thus, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ meets and talks with the students of these courses.

Metropolitan Anthony was presented with the regalia of an honorary doctor – a diploma and a robe.

In his response, the DECR chairman emphasized that a great honor was given not only to him personally, but to the entire team of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. “In today’s event, I also see a high appreciation of the long history of good, constructive relations that have developed between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, including the Diplomatic Academy, with diplomats who perform ascetic service for the benefit of the Motherland in various parts of the world,” – the bishop emphasized.

Continuing his speech, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk told those present about external church activities in the current conditions, about challenges to the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church on its canonical territory. The archpastors paid special attention to the situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is undergoing unprecedented oppression by the current authorities of Ukraine. In addition, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations touched upon the difficult situation of Orthodox communities in the Baltic countries that have a canonical connection with the Russian Church.

At the end of his visit to the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Metropolitan Anthony left an entry in the Book of Honorable Guests.

Source:

OCP News Service and DECR