Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk visits Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral

The head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk, came today in an official visit to the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and  the state of Montenegro. 

At the Podgorica airport Metropolitan Hilarion was welcomed by His Eminence Amfilohije Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral and the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Podgorica Mr. Andrei Nesterenko.

Their Eminences Metropolitans Hilarion and Amfilohije firstly visited the Cathedral church of the Ascension of Christ in Podgorica. Following that they discussed with the Montenegrin President Mr. Filip Vujanovic and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Milan Rocen on the theme of the relations of the Church and the state in MontenegroВисокопреосвештена господа митрополити Иларион и Амфилохије прво су посјетили Саборни храм Васкрсења Христовог у Подгорици. 

His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion mentioned during the talks an experience of the Russian Orthodox Church in a process of the disintegration of the former Soviet Union as a possible guide mark in solving problems in the church-state relations in Montenegro and repetead the support of the Moscow Patriarchate to the canonical Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral as a legitimate representative of Orthodoxy in Montenegro.

Their Eminences Metropolitans Hilarion and Amfilohije will talk tomorrow in Podgorica at 2 pm, with the Montenegrin Prime Minister Mr. Igor Luksic.

Their Eminences Metropolitan Hilarion and Amfilohije will then, from  3 to 4  pm held a mutual press conference at the Press Center in Podgorica, at 27a Marshal Tito Blvd.

Source: Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral