A meeting took place in Moscow between the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan Nektarios of Kerkyra

On August 18, 2026, a meeting took place in Moscow between Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and Metropolitan Nektarios of Kerkyra, Paxoi, and the Diapontia Islands. According to Orthodoxia News Agency, the Greek hierarch’s visit to Russia was connected with the transfer of the right hand of St. Spyridon of Trimythous to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Metropolitan Nektarios arrived in Moscow at the invitation of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and with the blessing of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church. During the meeting, Metropolitan Anthony expressed his deep gratitude to the guest for giving Russian believers the opportunity to venerate this great Christian relic, which is permanently enshrined on the island of Kerkyra.

The event was also attended by representatives of the Department for External Church Relations, the business community, and accompanying persons. The parties noted the significant spiritual importance of this event for strengthening ecclesiastical ties. The meeting concluded with a solemn veneration of the relic and a traditional exchange of commemorative gifts.

As a reminder, on July 22, 2026, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, concluded his visit to Cyprus, which took place with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. During the trip , the hierarch held a series of meetings with representatives of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus devoted to issues of interchurch relations.