Taking part in the meeting on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church were Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR); archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; Rev. Mikhail Asmus, a DECR consultant, and deacon Anatoly Churiakov, a DECR interpreter.
The Commission of the Holy Kinot on Mt. Athos was represented by hieromonk Nikodemos of the Great Laura; hieromonk Antony of the Monastery of Iviron; monk Nikodemos of the Monastery of St. Paul; hieromonk Gabriel of the Monastery of Esphigmenou, and hieromonk Kyrion of the Roussikon.
The participants discussed the process of preparation for the 1000th anniversary of Russian monasticism on Mt. Athos and outlined steps for development of the Russian-Athonite relations.
In the evening, the participants visited the Museum of Russian icon, where they were welcomed by its director, Nikolai Zadorozhny, and met with Mr. Alexander Beglov, Presidential envoy in the Central Federal district.
After the meeting, in which Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk also took part, members of the commission visited the Metochion of Mt. Athos, venerated holy relics, and head a talk with the rector, hegumen Nikon (Smirnov). In the church dedicated to the Athonite saints, they sang hymns in the Greek language.
