On June 3, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and at the invitation of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, arrived in Addis Ababa, the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
At the airport, the hierarch was met by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ethiopia, Ye.E. Terekhin, and the Senior Adviser to the Embassy, A.S. Chesnakov.
Upon arrival, Metropolitan Anthony headed to the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Kyddist Selassie), the main church of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church located in the center of Addis Ababa. At the entrance to the cathedral, the guest was met by Archbishop Abuna Filipos of South Omo, Co-chairman of the Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Church, Father Daniel Seifemihael, representative of the Ethiopian Patriarchate, and the clergy of the cathedral.
The DECR Chairman visited the tomb of the last Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I (1930-1974) and his wife, located in the left aisle of the temple, as well as the museum dedicated to the life and ministry of this sovereign. On the territory adjacent to the cathedral, Bishop Anthony visited the burial sites of the Primates of the Ethiopian Church and the memorial of the Ethiopian New Martyrs who suffered for their faith in the 20th century.
During the three-day visit, Metropolitan Anthony will hold meetings with His Holiness Patriarch Abuna Matthias and members of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the leadership of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and compatriots. The DECR Chairman will visit temples and monasteries of the Ethiopian Church, its main higher educational institution, the University of the Holy Trinity, as well as the Russian Red Cross Hospital located in the capital of this country, one of the oldest Russian medical institutions on the African continent.
Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk is accompanied by Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), DECR Secretary for Inter-Christian Relations, and Priest Alexander Yershov, DECR Assistant Chairman.