After the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Resurrection of the Living at the Pokrovsky Stavropol Convent, on March 8, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with members of the delegation of the Malankara Church who arrived from India to Russia to celebrate the Day of Blessed Matrona's memory in the monastery's abbot building. 
The delegation attended a divine service held by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church on the day of the finding of the relics of this saint, whose veneration has been growing among Indian Christians in recent years. 
On the part of the Malankara Church, Metropolitan Juhanon Mar Demetrios of Delhi, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Geevargis Mar Julios of Kunnamkulam, and Priest Ashwin Fernandis, Executive Director of the DECR, took part in the meeting. 
In addition, Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), Secretary for Inter-Christian Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, and Hieromonk Mark (Akhmatkhanov), DECR officer, participated in the conversation on the part of the Russian Orthodox Church. 
Cordially welcoming the guests, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill stressed that it was becoming a good tradition for representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church to participate in church celebrations and commemorations, which further strengthened fraternal relations. 
His Holiness emphasized the importance of the fact that the Malankara Church, led by its Primate, has repeatedly raised its voice in defense of the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church. "Ukraine, a country that proclaims itself to be oriented towards Western values and, first of all, to respect human rights and religious freedom, is grossly violating them," said His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, noting that Western countries prefer to pay attention to human rights violations somewhere far away. And they usually don't make any comments about what is happening in Ukraine.
During the conversation, His Holiness the Patriarch noted the importance of the work of the Working Group on the Coordination of Bilateral Relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church and thanked Metropolitan Juhanon Mar Demetrios of Delhi for his participation in its work. 
Among the priority topics of cooperation were social and, in particular, hospital service, which occupy an important place in the activities of both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church. "As you know, the hospital of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, plays an important role in our Church, and the Multidisciplinary Hospital of St. Gregory's Medical Mission in Parumala, Kerala, is in your Church," His Holiness said. "I think that the exchange of experience between our medical institutions can have good consequences: everyone can learn something from the other's experience and thereby further develop their hospital and social services." 
During the current visit to Russia, representatives of the Malankara Church will also visit Smolensk. "I am very glad that you are coming to this wonderful, heroic city, which has always protected our country from invasions from the West. There is still a fortress wall around the old part of the city. Smolensk also has a wonderful cathedral with a long history. I am very glad that you will see this city," said His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, who headed the Smolensk department for a quarter of a century. 
For his part, Metropolitan Juhanon Mar Demetrios of Delhi, on behalf of the members of the delegation, expressed his joy at the opportunity to take part in the celebrations dedicated to the memory of Blessed Matrona of Moscow and attend the divine service conducted by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. 
"I first got acquainted with the life of St. Matrona of Moscow when I accompanied His Holiness Catholicos Basil Mar Thomas Matthew III during his visit to Moscow. Her simplicity, concern for the common man, holiness, and the ascetic nature of her life convinced her of the effectiveness of her intercession for the faithful," said Metropolitan Juhanon Mar Demetrios. "Therefore, we are filled with hope that our visit today will continue the good tradition of the presence of the hierarchs of the Malankara Church at the celebrations dedicated to the memory of Blessed Matrona." 
The head of the delegation conveyed greetings and warm wishes from the Primate of the Malankara Church to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, as well as to the entire Russian Orthodox Church and its episcopate. 
He expressed confidence that the Working Group would continue to work tirelessly, making efforts to advance the joint agenda in matters of familiarization with each other's monastic traditions, theological consultations, cultural exchanges, and cooperation in the field of social service, which would serve to further bring closer relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church. 
During the further conversation, the sides exchanged views on the topics raised and other issues of mutual interest.