Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, who is on a visit to Ethiopia, visited the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in Addis Ababa on June 3, 2026, where he met with the Primate of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Abuna Matthias.
Metropolitan Anthony conveyed to His Holiness the greetings and well-wishes of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
The interlocutors emphasized the traditionally fraternal nature of the ties between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Ethiopian Church, as well as the peoples of Russia and Ethiopia. Bishop Anthony thanked His Holiness Patriarch Abuna Matthias for effective bilateral cooperation on international platforms.
The successful work of the Commission for Dialogue between the two Churches was noted.
The Primate of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church drew attention to the importance of continuing student exchanges, which have historically been of particular importance in inter-church relations, the development of contacts between the monastics of the two Churches and cooperation in the field of ecclesiastical art.
During the long-term communication, many other issues related to bilateral relations and the role of traditional Christian Churches in the modern world were discussed.
The meeting was attended by: Archbishop Abuna Dioscoros, Secretary General of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church; Archbishop Abuna Seviros, Managing Director of the Ethiopian Patriarchate; Archbishop Abuna Seviros of Western Shoa; Archbishop Abuna Filipos of Southern Omo, Co-chairman of the Commission on Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Church; Senior Adviser to the Russian Embassy in Ethiopia A.S. Chesnakov; Secretary of the DECR for Inter-Christian Relations Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov) and the DECR chairman's assistant, Priest Alexander Ershov.
On the same day, Metropolitan Anthony met with Archbishop Abuna Dioskoros of Rayas at the Synodal Residence in Addis Ababa. Afterwards, Bishop Anthony held talks with Archbishop Abuna Seviros of Western Shoah at the Administrative Center of the Ethiopian Patriarchate. Archbishop Abuna Filipos of South Omo, permanent member of the Synod and Co-chairman of the Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Church, participated in both meetings.
The current development of cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was discussed in the context of decisions taken by the Primates and Holy Synods of both Churches and implemented within the framework of the activities of the Commission on Bilateral Cooperation.
Among the issues discussed were topics related to the dialogue between the Local Orthodox Churches and the Ancient Eastern Churches, various aspects of cooperation between Christian communities on the African continent, and a number of other topics.
Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov) and Priest Alexander Ershov also participated in the meetings.