DECR vice-chairman meets with Special Representative of the French government

On October 4, 2016, Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations (DECR), met with Mr. Jean-Paul Chevenement, head of the Foundation for Islam in France and Special Representative of the French government to Russia for economic relations.

Taking part in the meeting were also Ms. M. Courant, counsellor of the French embassy in Russia, Ms. N. Chevenement, and interpreter Ms. T. Kaboulova. From the DECR side, there were I. Kashitsyn and Ms. O. Mazur, DECR staff members.

Archimandrite Philaret told the guest about the relations between the traditional religions in Russia, their history and present state, as well as contacts the Department for External Church Relations maintains with the Islamic world outside Russia. Special attention was given to the tragic situation of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa.

The sides also discussed such challenge of today as the spread of extremism and terrorism, problems of the socio-cultural integration of migrants, the crisis of morality in today’s world, as well as other issues of mutual concern.

Source: mospat.ru