Primate of Malankara Orthodox Church Arrives in Russia for Official Visit

DECR – OCP News Service – 04/09/2023

Moscow-Russia: His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews the Third, Catholicos-Moopan on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas and Malankara Metropolitan, commenced his official visit to Russia on September 3, 2023. Catholicos and his delegation arrived in Russia upon the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. They were warmly received at Moscow Domodedovo Airport by Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa and co-chairman of the Working Group on the coordination of bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church; Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), DECR Secretary for Inter-Christian Relations, and Secretary of the Working Group for Coordination of Bilateral Relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church; and Hierodeacon Peter (Akhmatkhanov).

The delegation from Malankara for the official visit includes 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 Zachariah Nicholovos of Northeast America (Co-Chairmen of the Working Group on Coordinating Bilateral Relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church), Metropolitan Abraham Stephanos of UK, Europe, and Africa, Rev. Fr. Ashwin Fernandez (Secretary of the Department of Ecumenical Relations), the Priest Trustee of the Church, Association Secretary, Principal, and Private secretaries to Catholicos.

The visit program includes negotiations with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, meetings with the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, the head of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Dionysius of the Resurrection, visits to churches and monasteries of Moscow and the St. Petersburg Metropolis.

Source:

OCP News Service