On 23 January 2014, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, met with H.E. Mr. Mahmoud ElDieb, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Russian Federation. The meeting took place at the DECR premises.
Greeting the guest, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed his appreciation of the relationships established between the people of Egypt and Russia. The DECR chairman noted that the Russian Church was concerned over the situation of the Coptic Christian community and expressed his hope that the Egyptian authorities would take all necessary measures to defend Christians from extremists’ attacks.
Mr. ElDieb handed over to Metropolitan Hilarion the message of greetings from Patriarch Theodoros II, the Primate of the Coptic Church, to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The Egyptian Ambassador expressed his appreciation to the Russian Orthodox Church for her efforts aimed at defending Christians in the Middle East.
During the meeting, Metropolitan Hilarion and Mr. Mahmoud ElDieb discussed a number of issues of mutual interest.
Source: DECR
