CONCILIATORY VISIT BY HIS BEATITUDE TO THE CHURCH OF RUSSIA
From the 6th October 2007 His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa has been on a conciliatory visit to the Church of Russia, accompanied by His Eminence Sergios Metropolitan of the Cape of Good Hope, His Grace Ignatios Bishop of Madagascar, the Very Reverend Archimandrites Niphon Tsavaris and Petros Parginos, as well as Messrs. Kamalakis and Nicholas Katsikas of the Patiarchate.
His Beatitude was welcomed at the Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow by His Beatitude Alexios II, patriarch of Moscow and All Russia as head of a multitude of Hierarchs and other clergy of the Russian Church. Also present were His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece in Russia Mr Elias Klis and the Charge d’ Affaires of the Egyptian Embassy in Moscow, Mr. Omar Abu Ais.
The two Primates immediately went to the Holy Monastery of St Daniel which is the seat of the Patriarchate of Moscow, where they discussed issues regarding the Orthodox Church.
In welcoming the Patriarch of the Alexandrian Church, the Moscow Patriarch mentioned the bonds of friendship and brotherly love going back many years with which the two churches are bound, emphasizing that “we follow with great interest and joy the rich missionary activities which are being developed by the Patriarchate of Alexandria in its efforts to evangelize the huge numbers of people and nationalities on the African continent”.
“I will continue to work towards peace in the Church and I will do it with all the strength of my humble heart, because the following times are difficult” replied His Beatitude Theodoros II, who, due to the expressions of concern of the Patriarch of Moscow regarding the “pressures which the Ecumenical patriarch is suffering”, in the country where he lives, declared his wholehearted support, respect and love for the Venerable person of His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios and the First Throne Church of Constantinople.
The Venerable Primates of Alexandria and Moscow also discussed the serious ecclesiastical problem which is causing concern in the local Church of the Ukraine, which His Beatitude Theodoros II is due to visit within the next few days. “I wish to demonstrate the Canonical order of the Church. It is through this that we travel through the historical passage of the centuries and it is this which we follow unequivocally. Wherever I can help, I will do so boldly”, said the Primate of the Missionary Church of St Mark. “We are grateful to the Alexandrian Church for its immutable, cogent and prudent attitude to this evil”, replied Patriarch Alexios II.
On 7th October 2007, His Beatitude Conducted the Divine Liturgy at the Dependency of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in the Russian capital. According to the programme, tomorrow 8th October, His Beatitude will lead the Patriarchal Concelebration together with Alexios, Patriarch of Moscow, at the Holy Lavra of St Sergius of Radonezh, and on the following Thursday he will speak at a big function taking place on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the proclamation of the autocephaly of the Russian Church.