Russian Orthodox Church

«Department for External Church Relations»

25 August 2025 year 17:18

DECR representative takes part in International Summer School "Bolgar Dialogue of Cultures"

On August 21, the Bolgar Islamic Academy (BIA) in the city of Bolgar hosted the 8th International Summer School “Bolgar Dialogue of Cultures” on “Islamic Cultural Heritage: History and Modernity.” The event was organized by the BIA and the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic world."

13 August 2025 year 13:44

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with Primate of Albanian Orthodox Church

On 11th August, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, arrived in Albania on a working visit.

26 July 2025 year 17:38

DECR Chairman meets with Russian Ambassador to the Vatican

On July 26, a meeting took place at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr in Rome between Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and I.D. Soltanovsky, Russia’s Ambassador to the Vatican.

26 July 2025 year 15:15

Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk meets with Pope Leo XIV

On July 26, 2025, a meeting took place at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican between Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and Pope Leo XIV.

24 July 2025 year 11:14

Working Group for Coordinating Bilateral Relations between Russian and Malankara Churches holds its 4th meeting

On 18th – 19th July, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and His Holiness Catholiocs Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the Working Group for Coordinating Bilateral Relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church held its 4th meeting at the Moscow Theological Academy.

19 July 2025 year 10:05

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill receives a delegation of the Malankara Church of India

On 18th July, in the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ received a delegation of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

13 July 2025 year 12:10

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk leads celebrations at Moscow Metochion of Serbian Orthodox Church on its patronal feast

On 12th July, commemoration day of the Holy Glorious and All-Praised Peter and Paul, Leaders of the Apostles, the Moscow Metochion of the Serbian Orthodox Church celebrated its patronal feast.

11 July 2025 year 15:32

DECR deputy chairman meets with Syrian Chargе d'Affaires Ad Interim to Russia

On 11th July, at the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), DECR deputy chairman, met with Mr Abderazzak Ismail, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Syrian Arab Republic to Russia.

2 July 2025 year 19:07

Editorial board of Church and Time journal meets in Moscow

On 1st July, the editorial board of the Church and Time journal held its regular meeting on the premises of the Education Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church in St. Andrew’s Stavropegic Monastery in Moscow.

1 July 2025 year 12:54

DECR Chairman: the politicization of the World Council of Churches puts its future under threat

[Interview]

The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches has concluded its work in Johannesburg, with the Russian Orthodox Church consistently participating in its sessions.

18 June 2025 year 14:11

Delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate participates in the work of the WCC Central Committee in South Africa

On June 18, a session of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches began in Johannesburg, South Africa.

18 June 2025 year 10:19

DECR Chairman meets with Russian Ambassador to South Africa

On June 17, a meeting took place in Pretoria between Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and His Excellency R.E. Ambarov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of South Africa.

17 June 2025 year 14:21

DECR representative participates in opening of World Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots Abroad

On June 17, the opening session of the World Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots Living Abroad took place at the Museum of Victory in Moscow.

17 June 2025 year 10:14

DECR Chairman arrives in South Africa

On June 16, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa.

4 June 2025 year 11:33

Religions Working Group of Petersburg Dialogue Forum holds its meeting in Tashkent

On 3rd June, the Religions Working Group of the Petersburg Dialogue Forum held its regular meeting in the capital of Uzbekistan. It focused on the topic entitled “Social Activity As an Instrument of Interfaith Cooperation and Dialogue.”