Catholicos-Patriarch of Assyrian Church of the East Mor Awa meets with Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdanov and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

MOSCOW — During a tour to Russia, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mor Awa met with the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President’s Special Envoy to the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov on Monday.

Bogdanov praised the historical relation between the Assyrian Church of the East and Russia, and promised, on behalf of the government, to help support preserving the Christian presence in the Middle East, specifically Iraq, Iran and Syria.

His Holiness stressed that Russian representatives around the world are fully prepared to listen to the Assyrian Church of the East and meet its children needs.

Mor Awa, in turn, thanked Bogdanov and the Russian government for the humanitarian and political support it provides in order to preserve the Christian identity in the Middle East.

Mor Awa also met Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the Supreme Head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

They discussed the ongoing ordeal and challenges that faced the Christians of Iraq, Syria and other parts of the Middle East.

They agreed to continue cooperation and historical relations for the benefit of the two Churches through joint projects.