Coptic Monastic Delegation Started Visit to Russia

DECR– OCP News Service – 24/08/2023

Moscow-Russia: Coptic monastic delegation with the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia as per the framework of the exchange of monastic delegations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church and with the blessings of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II started Visit to Russia on August 21, 2023. The delegation will be touring monasteries and churches in Russia till August 27, 2023.

The Coptic delegation was headed by His Grace Bishop Dioskoros, the bishop and abbot of St. John the Short Monastery in El Alamein (Matruh Governorate);  He is accompanied by His Grace Bishop Yusab, General Bishop of the Diocese of Luxor; His Grace Bishop Youakim, General Bishop of Esna and Armant, Luxor, and the Supervisor of the Monastery of St. Mutas al-Fakhouri, Basna;  His Eminence, Bishop Arsanios, the abbot of Saint Pachomius the Great Monastery (Aswan Governorate);  His Eminence Bishop Thomas, General Bishop for Monasteries Affairs, Father Ibram Emile, Patriarchal Vicar in Alexandria;  the monk Anthony Al-Bakhoumi;  the monk Cherubim Abba Paula;  Monk Peiman Abba Paulaa and Patriarchal Counselor Dr. Anton Milad.

At the international airport “Domodedovo” guests were met by the vicar of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, the abbot of Catherine’s stauropegial monastery, Bishop Tikhon of Vidnovsky; Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), Secretary of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate for Inter-Christian Relations; the representative of the Coptic Church in Russia, hieromonk Daoud el-Antoni; Hieromonk Agafangel (Davlatov), ​​representative of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism, resident of the Sretensky Stauropegial Monastery; DECR officer S.G. Alferov, representatives of the Coptic community of Moscow.

The visit program began with a visit to the Intercession Storobegyal Monastery, which became the place where the delegation stayed during their stay in Moscow.  A reception was held in the presence of the head of the monastery, St. Theophania (Maskina), upon the arrival of the delegation.

Source:
OCP News Service