Metropolitan Hilarion completes his visit to France

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's department for external church relations, took part on 2 March 2010 in the inauguration of the Holy Rus exhibition at the Louvre, which was opened by the Presidents of Russia and France. The idea to organize this exhibition was supported by the late Patriarch Alexy II in 2008 during a visit of Louvre Director Henri Loyrette to Moscow.

The exhibits brought from famous museum collections in Russia include icons, canvasses and manuscripts covering the period from the Baptism of Russia to the rule of Emperor Peter the Great. Speaking at the opening ceremony, French President Nicolas Sarkozy stressed that for his country ‘it is an honour to host the treasures of Rus'. The exhibition will be opened for the public on March 5.

In the evening of March 2, Metropolitan Hilarion was present at the official dinner given by the President of France in honour of the head of the Russian State. On March 3, the DECR chairman returned to Moscow.

Source: DECR Communication Service