Russian Orthodox Church Metropolitan to visit India

New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) Senior Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Cyril of Smolensk and Kalingrad is scheduled to visit India next month.

He will arrive here on December three and will travel to Kottayam in Kerala on December nine. This was disclosed during a luncheon hosted here today by Russian Federation Ambassador Vyacheslav.I.

Trubnikov in honour of His Holiness the Catholicos Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didimos I, supreme head of the Indian Orthodox Church, and his newly elected successor His Beatitude Paulose Mar Milithios.

The Ambassador called for efforts to strengthen the spiritual links between the Russian Orthodox Church and its Indian counterpart.

The Catholicos recalled his two visits to Russia and said the love and affection of the Russian people and their religious life had appeal him.

He said the Indian Orthodox Church was looking forward to the visit of Metropolitan Cyril and said the late Metropolitan Paulos Mar Gregorios played a vital role in cementing relations between the Indian and the Russian Orthodox Church.

UNI GV AK HT1658