May 16, 2013
On 16 May 2013, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), arrived in Istanbul with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
He proceeded from the airport to the Consulate General of the Russian Federation and met with Consul General Alexei Yerkhov. Metropolitan Hilarion shared his impressions of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s visit to China. Issues of mutual interest on international agenda were discussed.
The programme of Metropolitan Hilarion’s stay to Istanbul includes participation in the conference on the 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan, a visit to the Patriarchate of Constantinople and a meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.
Metropolitan Hilarion is accompanied by archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, and Alexander Yershov, assistant to the DECR chairman.
Source: DECR
