Patriarchate: Meeting with Moscow Patriarchate delegation focuses on situation in sensitive regions

A delegation from the Moscow Patriarchate visited the Georgian Patriarchate and was received by Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, and Metropolitan of Pitsunda and Tskhum-Abkhazia Shio III.

According to the Georgian Patriarchate, the delegation at the Patriarchal Residence included Metropolitan Anthony (Sevryuk) of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, Adviser to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Priest Nikolai Vasin, Assistant to the department’s chairman; and Vladimir Alexandrov, representative of the Moscow Patriarchate in Georgia.

The guests congratulated the head of the Georgian Church on his enthronement as patriarch and personally conveyed greetings from the Patriarch of Moscow. They also thanked the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia for receiving them.

The meeting was attended by Bishop Theodore (Chuadze), Auxiliary Bishop to the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and Metropolitan of Akhaltsikhe and Tao-Klarjeti; Metropolitan Gerasime (Sharashenidze) of Zugdidi and Tsaishi; Metropolitan Andria (Gvazava) of Gori and Ateni; Bishop Vakhtang (Liparteliani) of Nikortsminda; Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze of the Georgian Orthodox Church; Archpriest Mikael Botkoveli, Secretary to the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia; and Archpriest Andria Jaghmaidze, Head of the Patriarchate’s Public Relations Service.

According to the Georgian Patriarchate, the sides discussed relations between the two countries. Particular attention was paid to the situation in the ‘sensitive regions’ and possible ways of enabling the Georgian Orthodox Church to establish contact with local congregations.

At the end of the meeting, the sides exchanged symbolic gifts.