On February 4, Bishop Konstantin of Zaraisk, acting Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, met with His Holiness Patriarch Tawadros II of the Coptic Church. The meeting took place at the Patriarchal Residence in Cairo.
Having conveyed to His Holiness Patriarch Tawadros greetings and best wishes from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, Bishop Konstantin noted that the Russian Orthodox Church regards the Coptic Church as one of its key partners on the African continent.
The Primate of the Coptic Church warmly welcomed the guest and asked him to convey his fraternal congratulations to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of his enthronement. As Patriarch Tawadros pointed out, the relationships between the two Churches have reached an unprecedentedly high level, thus setting an example to the entire Christendom.
The participants in the meeting discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest.
Representing the Russian Orthodox Church were also Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), secretary for inter-Christian relations of the Department for External Church Relations; Archpriest Alexy Mashkov, rector of the Moscow Patriarchate’s parishes in Egypt; and Mr Vladislav Dendyuk, assistant to Bishop Konstantin.
Taking part in the meeting on behalf of the Coptic Church was also Mrs. Barbara Soliman, Director of the Office for Church Projects.
That same day later, Bishop Konstantin visited the Cathedral of the Holy Apostle Mark located in the territory of the Patriarchal Residence and venerated the relics of the enlightener of the Egyptian land and Saint Athanasius of Alexandria. The archpastor also visited the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul whose parishioners had suffered martyrdom for Christ in 2016.
