Patriarchate of Constantinople delegation take part in the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture and Patriarch’s name-day celebration

May 22, 2015 – A delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople arrived in Moscow for the celebrations devoted to the Day of Slavonic Literature and Culture and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and Russia’s name-day.

The delegation was led by Metropolitan Methodios of Boston. He was accompanied by Archimandrite Nathanael (Symeonidis). At the airport they were welcomed by Rev. Mikhail Asmus, a DECR consultant, and S. Monakhov, a DECR staff member.

On the Day of Ss Cyril and Methodius, the guests from the Patriarchate of Constantinople concelebrated the Divine Liturgy together with the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, an assembly of the Moscow Patriarchate bishops and clergy and representatives of other Local Orthodox Churches at the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour. After the festive concert on Red Square, Patriarch Kirill received the delegation in audience at the patriarchal chambers of the Church of Christ the Saviour.

During the grand reception, Metropolitan Methodios read out a message to the Primate of the Russian Church from His Holiness Bartholomew, Patriarch of Constantinople. Patriarch Kirill, on his part, thanked Patriarch Bartholomew and reminded the gathering of the historical circumstances in which St. Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, had sent Cyril and Methodius on two missions to the Slavs.

On May 25, the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, met with the Church of Constantinople delegation in his office. They discussed a number of issues concerning common Orthodox affairs.

During their stay in the fold of the Russian Orthodox Church, the guests from the Patriarchate of Constantinople venerated the shrines in St. Sergius’ Laura of the Holy Trinity, St. Daniel’s Monastery, the Monastery of Our Lady of the Don and other monasteries in Moscow, visited Moscow Theological Schools and Sretensky Seminary as well as the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

Source: Moscow Patriarchate