Russian Russian Orthodox Church's Holy Synod meeting, held in Moscow on July 25, 2024, chaired by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, heard a report by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, on the fifth meeting of the Commission on Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Assyrian Church, held from June 17 to 21, 2024 in Saransk and Krasnoslobodsk The Church of the East.
The agreement on the establishment of the Commission was reached by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch of Assyria Mar Dynha IV during the visit of the Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East to Russia from May 26 to June 9, 2014.
The Commission noted the historical significance of the visits of the Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East, His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Ava III, to Russia from November 11 to 16, 2022 and from October 24 to November 1, 2023, and his meetings with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, during which decisions were made defining the agenda of the dialogue between the two Churches.
Since the previous meeting of the Commission, held in November 2019 in Thrissur, India, a number of bilateral initiatives have been successfully implemented.
The Commission presented proposals for further development of cooperation in relevant areas. The Assyrian side expressed its wish to resume bilateral theological consultations.
Russian Russian Orthodox Church Holy Synod took note of the report and pointed out the importance of resuming theological consultations with the Assyrian Church of the East, and recognized the successful work of the Commission on Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Assyrian Church of the East.
The importance of bilateral projects was also noted, including: coordination of interaction on inter-Christian and international platforms; cooperation in the media sphere; student exchange and academic cooperation; youth ministry; assistance in pastoral care of believers of the Assyrian Church of the East in Russia; humanitarian and social initiatives; cultural projects.