OCA Representative in Moscow participates in meeting with US Ambassador and Russian Patriarch on eve of President Obama’s visit to Russia
Archimandrite Zacchaeus, Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Russian Orthodox Church, attended a meeting between His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus and His Excellency, Mr. John Beyrle, the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Russian Federation, on Friday, July 3, 2009, on the eve of US President Obama’s visit to Russia.
The meeting was held at Patriarch Kirill’s working residence on Chisty Lane, Moscow.
Patriarch Kirill opened the meeting by cordially welcoming Ambassador Beyrle to the Patriarchate and stating his pleasure for the opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest. Patriarch Kirill was clear in stating that he sees much more in common between the peoples of Russia and the US than many might notice from the usual comments made during various political announcements. He also reminded the Ambassador that Orthodox Christianity was brought to the North American continent by the labors of Russian Orthodox Missionaries. Likewise, according to the Patriarch, the existence of the Russian Orthodox Church on the North American continent allowed for the development of relations between Orthodoxy and other confessions and religions in the US, even during the most difficult times of the Cold War. Finally, he stated that he is confident in the fact that good relations between religious leaders of the two countries would also positively affect the relations between the two nations.
When the subject of the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America was brought up, Patriarch Kirill stated that he greatly appreciates the presence of Archimandrite Zacchaeus in Moscow in his capacity as Representative of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church in America. Ambassador Beyrle responded by stating that Father Zacchaeus is also a good friend of the US Embassy community and Ambassador.
The Ambassador began his remarks by thanking Patriarch Kirill for the warm welcome and explained that from his point of view as well, there is much that the US and Russia share in common, including the strong commitment to religion among the people of both nations. The Ambassador noted that 91% of Americans believe in God or some kind of “higher power,” 74% of Americans are deeply convinced that God exists, and more than half of all Americans pray to God daily.
After delivering their official remarks, the Patriarch and Ambassador continued in a lively discussion conducted in a spirit of mutual respect and common understanding.
Also participating in the meeting were His Grace, Bishop Mark of Egorevsk and Head of the Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate for Parishes and Organizations Abroad; the Very Rev. Nicholas Balashov, Deputy Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate [DECR MP]; Mr. Kyle Hatcher, First Secretary of the US Embassy in Moscow; and the Rev. Sergei Zvonarev, Acting Secretary for issues concerning the far abroad of the DECR MP.