ROC DECR head discusses UOC persecution with Vatican Secretary

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and Holy See Secretary Paul Richard Gallagher. Photo: mospat.ru

In Moscow, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the ROC, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, held a meeting with the Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. The parties paid special attention to the difficult situation of the UOC.

The meeting on August 25, 2026, was also attended by Advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, and Deputy Chairman of the DECR, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov. Archbishop Giovanni D'Agnello, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Russian Federation, participated in the negotiations as part of the Catholic delegation.

The participants discussed a number of pressing issues of the current situation in the world. In particular, the Vatican representative was provided with information about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the state authorities of Ukraine.

As the SPJ reported, the UN reported violations of the rights of believers and religious communities in Ukraine, mentioning pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Read also