Bilateral Meeting Between Patriarch Kirill and Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews the Third Convened in Moscow

DECR – OCP News Service – 06/09/2023

Moscow – Russia: His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia received His Holiness Catholicos His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews the Third at Patriarchal chambers of the faceted chamber in the Kremlin on 06 September 2023.

The delegation from Malnkara Included Metropolitan Zachariah Nicholovos of Northeast America (Co-Chairmen of the Working Group on Coordinating Bilateral Relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Church), Metropolitan Yuhanon Chrisostomos of Niranam and Secretary of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Youhanon Demetrios of Delhi and President of the Department of Ecumenical Relations, Metropolitan Abraham Stephanos of UK, Europe, and Africa, Rev. Fr. Ashwin Fernandez (Secretary of the Department of Ecumenical Relations), Chobishop Philip Thomas, Rev Fr. Dr. Johns Abraham, Rev Fr. Saji Varghese, Rev Fr. Baiju Johnson, Biju Oomen, Jacob Matthew, Kevin George Koshy.

From the side of the Russian Orthodox Church, the following took part in the negotiations: Metropolitan Dionysius of the Resurrection, manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, co-chairman of the Working Group on the coordination of bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Church; Archimandrite Filaret (Bulekov), Deputy Chairman of the DECR; Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), Secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations for Inter-Christian Relations, Secretary of the Working Group for Coordination of Bilateral Relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church; Hierodeacon Peter (Akhmatkhanov), DECR employee.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church cordially welcomed Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews the Third, emphasizing that the relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Church have deep historical roots. “Together we belong to the great spiritual tradition of the Christian East. Relations between our Churches have advanced significantly thanks to such historical figures as Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad and Novgorod and Negotiations Held Between Primates of Russian Orthodox Church and Malankara Orthodox Church, an outstanding hierarch and theologian,” said His Holiness, addressing the distinguished guest.

Patriarch Kirill recalled that he first met with Metropolitan Paulose Gregorious in 1968 in Uppsala at the IV General Assembly of the World Council of Churches. “Even then he showed himself to be an outstanding theologian and religious leader. But I especially remember his contribution to the work of the V General Assembly, which took place in Nairobi in 1975,” noted His Holiness, testifying that since then relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Church have begun to actively develop.

Highly appreciating the level of fraternal relations that have always existed between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Church of India, His Holiness expressed the hope that bilateral cooperation between both Churches will continue to be successfully implemented.

“We value our common past, which is mutually enriching, but we would like both the present and the future to be no less significant for our Churches,” added Patriarch Kirill. “And, of course, we are open to various kinds of joint actions, including, I would like to repeat my invitation for your students to study at our educational institutions.”

The Primate of the Russian Church also noted the high level of interstate ties between Russia and India. “Russia and India are civilizations with a great culture, with enormous intellectual, human and cultural potential. Modern Russia and India are real partners who do not seek to profit from each other, do not seek to exploit each other’s weaknesses but interact absolutely honestly in the field of politics and economics. Therefore, we have a positive factor for the development, including of bilateral religious relations,” stated Patriarch Kirill.

For his part, His Holiness Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews the Third thanked the Primate of the Russian Church for his hospitality. “I am very pleased to be here today,” he addressed Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’. – This brings back memories of the time spent in Leningrad, when you, Your Holiness, were the rector of the Leningrad Theological Academy. I remember my years of study very well. That was the first time I was abroad, and Russia was the first country I visited. Russia became my second homeland and remains so to this day.”

The distinguished guest testified that the veneration of the saints of the Russian Orthodox Church, in particular, the Monk Seraphim of Sarov and the Blessed Matrona of Moscow, is growing in India. “My predecessor, His Holiness the Catholicos of ever-memorable Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, especially deeply revered Saint Matrona of Moscow. There are many other hierarchs and priests, as well as laity, who have come to venerate Saint Matrona,” said His Holiness the Catholicos.

“We also honor the memory of Professor Nikolai Zernov, who became a kind of bridge between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ancient Eastern Churches. During my studies in Leningrad, I also met Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov), ​​who made an indelible impression on me,” said the Primate of the Malankara Orthodox Church.

His Holiness the Catholicos expressed gratitude to the Russian Orthodox Church for the bilateral dialogue, an important component of which is the successfully implemented academic cooperation: currently two representatives of the Malankara Orthodox Church are students at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy.

Patriarch Kirill thanked the honored guest for the kind words, in particular, noting that the Russian Orthodox Church is looking for like-minded people all over the world in order to protect enduring spiritual and moral values ​​together. His Holiness Vladyka stressed that the dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Church of India, which “is based on the commonality of spiritual values ​​and, especially, on the commonality of popular piety, has every opportunity to be successful.”

“We need to develop bilateral relations through the interaction and cooperation of our theological schools, the exchange of our pastoral practices. Many priests of the Russian Orthodox Church would be interested in your pastoral experience, especially in the provinces, in villages, and in those places where life is very difficult for people. I believe that representatives of the Malankara Orthodox Church would also be interested in getting acquainted with our pastoral work – not only in Moscow and St. Petersburg but also to see how this is happening in the vastness of Russia. I am confident that such an exchange of experience can be useful for both Churches,” summed up the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Then the conversation continued on a wide range of issues. At the end of the reception, the parties exchanged memorable gifts.

Source:
OCP News Service