Beijing, May 10, 2013
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| Photo: K.Novotarsky/Patriarhia.ru |
Traveling with the Patriarch as part of his official delegation are Metropolitan Hilarion, Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations, Bishop Sergei, Administrative Secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate, Vladimir Legoida, Chairman of the Synodal Information Department, and other official representatives from the Moscow Patriarchate.
The delegation was met at Beijing’s Shoi Du airport by the Deputy Director of the State Department of Religious Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Chan Lei Bin, and the Extraordinary Plenipotentary Ambassador of China, A. I. Denisov.
Orthodoxy has had a presence in China for over 300 years, and has roots in Chinese spiritual culture. In 1957, the Russian Orthodox Church granted autonomy to the Chinese Orthodox Church, which was created through the efforts of Russian missionaries in China.
As part of the visit His Holiness will serve in the Harbin Church of the Protection and in the building of the former Cathedral in Shanghai, which is dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God, “Surety of Sinners”. He will also meet with Orthodox Christians on the territory of the Russian Embassy in Beijing, where the Church of the Dormition, restored with his direct assistance, is located. This church also houses the museum of the Russian Orthodox Mission in China.
The Novospassky Monastery choir is also traveling with His Holiness, and will be singing at all the Church services. The choir will also be giving concerts of Russian music, both religious and secular.
As part of the program, the Patriarch will be given the opportunity to meet with China’s State officials, leaders of religious communities, and the director of the State Department of Religious Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. He will also have a chance to see monuments of ancient Chinese culture, and to meet with Russians living in China.
In addition, the program will include a presentation of the Chinese edition of His Holiness’s book, Freedom and Responsibility: In Search of Harmony, Human Rights, and Personal Dignity, which was published through the joint efforts of the Department of Externa. Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Russo-Chinese Business Council.
