Catholicos-Patriarch of Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III Royel discusses Assyrian-Russian relations with Russian Consul General in Erbil, Kurdistan Region Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III Royel met with Maxim Rubin, the Consul General of the Russian Federation in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), to discuss a range of issues, including the historical ties between the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) and Russian peoples. The Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community has had a presence in Russia for over two centuries.

The discussion also covered the ongoing successful bilateral dialogue between the Assyrian Church of the East and the Russian Orthodox Church. Additionally, Consul General Rubin inquired about the current situation of Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) and Christian communities in Iraq and the broader region.

The Patriarch was accompanied by Archbishop Samano Odisho, the Patriarchal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Russia and priest of the Virgin Mary Church in Moscow, as well as Father Martin Nabil and Deacon Artur Avdishev.