Patriarch Kirill Meets with Indian Ambassador in Moscow

DECR – OCP News Service – 30/07/2024

Moscow – Russia: His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation, Vinay Kumar, on July 30, 2024. The meeting, held at the Patriarchal residence in the Danilov Stavropegic Monastery, focused on strengthening the historical ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Christian communities in India.

Patriarch Kirill highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two nations, emphasizing the shared values and mutual respect. He recalled his visit to India in 2006 and the significant role played by Indian Christians in the international arena, particularly mentioning Metropolitan Paulose Gregorius. The Patriarch expressed Russia’s positive attitude towards India and its Christian communities.

Ambassador Vinay Kumar expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and conveyed greetings from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He acknowledged the deep-rooted connection between the two nations and highlighted the substantial Christian population in India, including the ancient Malankara Orthodox Church. The ambassador emphasized the importance of cultural and intellectual exchange between the two countries, including interreligious cooperation.

Both leaders expressed their commitment to fostering stronger ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Christian communities in India, aiming to further develop cooperation in various fields, including education, humanitarian aid, and medicine.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on interreligious cooperation and other matters of mutual interest.

Source:

OCP News Service and DECR