Patriarch Kirill and Coptic Delegation Mark 10th Anniversary of Dialogue Commission

Patriarch Kirill welcomed the delegation, which included Metropolitan Serapion of Los Angeles, the Coptic co-chairman of the Commission, and members from both the Moscow Patriarchate and the Coptic Church. The Patriarch praised the “very friendly, fraternal and reliable” relationship between the two Churches, noting that the Commission’s work has significantly strengthened bilateral contacts.

The meeting took place on the feast day of St. Pimen the Great, an important figure in Egyptian monasticism revered in Russia. Patriarch Kirill asked Metropolitan Serapion to convey his fraternal love to His Holiness Patriarch Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Church.

The Patriarch highlighted several key areas of successful cooperation, including:

• Monastic and Student Exchange: The annual mutual visits of monastics and student exchanges have contributed to mutual understanding and spiritual enrichment. A recent visit by a Coptic monastic delegation to Russia concluded just before the meeting.
• Theological Dialogue: Patriarch Kirill expressed a “very positive attitude” toward the results of the theological dialogue, stating that it can contribute to a closer theological and spiritual relationship between the Churches.
• Mutual Pastoral Support: The Patriarch noted with gratitude the Coptic Church’s benevolent hospitality toward Russian Orthodox believers in Egypt, particularly in Cairo and Hurghada, and the Russian Orthodox Church’s reciprocal support for Coptic parishes in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

In his remarks, Metropolitan Serapion conveyed greetings and good wishes from Patriarch Tawadros II and expressed solidarity with the Russian Orthodox Church regarding the persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He also highlighted the importance of the Commission’s work in achieving the “God-ordained goal—the unity of Christians.”

The meeting concluded with Patriarch Kirill presenting awards to several members of the Commission from both sides in recognition of their contributions to developing the friendly relations between the two Churches.

A significant part of the bilateral relations has been the exchange of monastic visits. From August 31 to September 8, a Coptic monastic delegation, led by Bishop Stefan of Beb and El-Fashn, completed a pilgrimage to Russia. The group visited monasteries and churches in Moscow, the Nizhny Novgorod diocese, and other regions, venerating holy sites such as the Donskoy Icon of the Mother of God. The visit concluded just before the Commission’s anniversary meeting, reinforcing the spiritual and fraternal bonds between the two Churches.