Russian Orthodox Church leader in Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 3 (UNI) Senior Russian Orthodox Church leader Metropolitan Kirill was accorded a warm reception on his arrival here today on a week-long visit to India.

He is the Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad and Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Replying to the felicitations offered at the reception, Metropolitan Kirill hoped that his visit would further strengthen the bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Indian Orthodox Church, besides those between the two countries.The reception was hosted by Delhi Metropolitan Job Mar Philexenos.

Bombay Diocesan Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, Dr P C Alexander, M P, and Dr Cherian Eapen spoke on the occasion. Russian Ambassador Vyacheslav I Trubinikov, Delhi Diocesan Secretary Rev M S Skariah Ramban,Church Managing Committee members Fr Philp M Samuel, Mr George Varghese and Diocesan Council members Fr M C Paulose, Fr Shaji Mathews, and Fr P A Philip were among those present.

Metropolitan Kirill will participate in a seminar here tomorrow on"Religions and Interfaith Interaction in Contemporary World", organised jointly by the Russian Embassy,Russian Centre of Science and Culture and Russian News Agency RIA Novosti.

He will visit Varanasi,Chennai and Kerala and interact with leaders of various faiths.In Kerala, he will visit Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Parumala.

UNI GV RP KN1746