COMMUNIQUE
on the Meeting of Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Members of the Synod of Bishops and President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir V. Putin

A meeting took place in the Consulate of the Russian Federation in New York on 24 September between the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, members of the Synod of Bishops and President V.V. Putin of the Russian Federation.

Participating in the meeting were Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and Great Britain, Bishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan, Protopriests Nikolai Artemov and Peter Holodny, as well as the Prior of the stavropighial Monastery of the Meeting of Our Lord in Moscow, Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov).

The paths of the Russian Church in the tragic 20th century were discussed, the relationship between the Orthodox Church and the government in present-day Russia, and the perspectives for a constructive dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. A letter from Patriarch Alexy II to Metropolitan Laurus was presented, which contained an invitation to visit Moscow. The invitation was accepted with gratitude.

This meeting was the result of a long process of relations between members of the Russian Church in Russia and abroad. The invitation to this meeting was expressed also during President Putin's first visit to the USA in 2001. With the blessing of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia during presidential visits to the USA and Germany, brief meetings were held between bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the President of the Russian Federation.

The matters discussed during this meeting will be presented for consideration at the forthcoming All-Diaspora Clergy Conference and Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to be held in December.