Russian Orthodox Church

«Department for External Church Relations»

1 June 2025 year 15:24

Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk meets with the Assyrian Patriarch

On May 31, a meeting took place in Moscow between Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III of the Assyrian Church of the East.

30 May 2025 year 14:43

Head of the Assyrian Church of the East arrives in Russia for official visit

On May 30, His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III, Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East, arrived in Russia at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'. The primary purpose of the visit is pastoral: to conduct hierarchical services for Assyrian believers in Russia, over whom the Patriarch himself exercises archpastoral care.

26 May 2025 year 11:43

DECR Chairman celebrates Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Rome

The occasion also marked the 25th anniversary of the return of one of the oldest Russian Orthodox parishes in Italy from the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople — which the community had been forced to join in the 20th century — back to the Russian Orthodox Church.

24 May 2025 year 15:26

A moleben was served before the relics of St. Cyril Equal-to-the-Apostles in Rome

On May 24, the feast day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles and Enlighteners of the Slavs, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, served a moleben at the Basilica of St. Clement in Rome.

19 May 2025 year 12:18

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk takes part in the consecration of a church in Zahle, Lebanon

On 18th May, during his work trip to Lebanon, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, took part in the celebrations marking the great consecration of the Church of the “Unexpected Joy” Icon of the Mother of God in the city of Zahlé.

18 May 2025 year 16:36

DECR chairman visits Archdioceses of Zahle and Beirut of Antiochian Patriarchate

On 17th May, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, who had arrived in Lebanon to take part in the consecration of the Church of the “Unexpected Joy” Icon of the Mother of God in Zahlé, visited the Archdiocese of Zahlé.

18 May 2025 year 13:07

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with the head of the Maronite Church

On 16th May, while in Lebanon with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, met with the Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Al-Rai.

18 May 2025 year 11:36

DECR chairman meets with President of Lebanon

On 16th May, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, while in Lebanon with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, met with the President of the Republic of Lebanon, Mr Michel Aoun.

17 May 2025 year 11:43

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk begins his work trip to Lebanon

On 16th May, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, arrived in Beirut with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’.

12 May 2025 year 15:11

DECR chairman meets with a bishop of the Orthodox Church of Antioch

On 12th May, on the premises of the Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, DECR chairman, met with Bishop Demetri of Safita, who had arrived in Russia on a pilgrimage visit.

28 April 2025 year 11:27

Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk celebrates Divine Liturgy at the church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr in Rome

On April 27, Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations—who is visiting Italy and the Vatican on a working trip with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'—celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr in Rome.

25 April 2025 year 18:50

DECR Chairman attends farewell ceremony for Pope Francis

On April 25, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, visited St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, where the coffin containing the body of the late Pope Francis lies in repose.

25 April 2025 year 17:08

DECR Chairman meets with Russian Ambassador to Italy

On April 25, a meeting took place between Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and Alexey V. Paramonov, Ambassador of Russia to Italy, at Villa Abamelek in Rome.

25 April 2025 year 10:07

DECR Chairman begins his visit to Italy and the Vatican

On 24 April, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, arrived in Rome.

24 April 2025 year 11:03

First Hierarch of the Serbian Church visits Donskoy Monastery in Moscow

His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia visited the Stavropegial Donskoy Monastery in Moscow on April 23. His Holiness was accompanied by members of the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church who had arrived in Moscow.