Strengthening Fraternal Ties: Patriarch Kirill Meets Malankara Delegation After Feast of St. Matrona

The meeting, held in the abbot’s building of the Pokrovsky Stavropegic Convent, followed the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Patriarch Kirill, which the Malankara delegation attended. The delegation, led by Metropolitan Yuhanon Demetrios of Delhi, President of the Department of Ecumenical Relations of the Malankara Orthodox Church, included Metropolitan Geevarghese Yulios of Kunnamkulam and Father Ashwin Fernandis, secretary to the Department of Ecumenical Relations.

Patriarch Kirill warmly welcomed the delegation, emphasizing the growing tradition of mutual participation in church celebrations and the strengthening of fraternal ties. He highlighted the recent awarding of the Order of Friendship to His Holiness Catholicos Marthoma Mathews III, underscoring the Catholicos’s crucial role in fostering relations between the two churches, and requested that his fraternal greetings be passed along.

Key discussions centered on the ongoing cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Church. Patriarch Kirill praised the Malankara Church’s unwavering support for the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church, noting the stark contrast between the proclaimed values of Western nations and their silence on the situation in Ukraine.

The meeting also addressed practical areas of collaboration, including social and hospital ministry, cultural exchanges, and theological consultations. Patriarch Kirill emphasized the importance of exchanging experiences between medical institutions, citing the prominent roles of St. Alexis Hospital in Moscow and St. Gregorios Hospital in Parumala, Kerala. He also spoke of the importance of the working group for the coordination of bilateral relations.

Metropolitan Yuhanon Demetrios expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to meet with Patriarch Kirill and conveyed greetings from Catholicos of Malankara. He emphasized the strong bond between the two churches and the deep sympathy of the Indian people for Russia. He highlighted the success of past medical team exchanges and expressed hope for continued collaboration. The Metropolitan also spoke of the deep impression that the choir visit to India made on the people.

The delegation confirmed the Malankara Orthodox Church’s commitment to continued dialogue and cooperation, focusing on the shared agenda of monastic traditions, theological consultations, cultural exchanges, and social service. The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on various topics of mutual interest, reaffirming the commitment to further strengthening the fraternal relations between the two churches.