According to the information of Bertalan Havasi, Deputy State Secretary heading the Press Office of the Prime Minister, Mr Orbán expressed his appreciation for the fact that Metropolitan Hilarion as head of external relations of the Russian Orthodox Church speaks up at the most reputable international forums in defence of the victims of the persecution of Christians and highlights the dangers of the loss of Christian roots.

At the meeting, the parties also discussed the details of the planned visit to Hungary of church leader Patriarch Kirill and the series of programmes Russian Church Cultural Days to be held in Hungary in November and December.

Metropolitan Hilarion thanked the Prime Minister for the ongoing and planned refurbishment of Orthodox churches in Hungary.

At the Friday meeting, the parties explored the possibilities of future cooperation in the interest of rescuing and strengthening persecuted Christian communities, the press chief said.

After the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén conferred upon the Metropolitan the decoration Middle Cross with Star of the Hungarian Order of Merit. According to the official reasoning, the church leader was given the decoration “in recognition of his work as a church leader who tirelessly preaches the history of Christianity, as well as its unique value and community creating potential, also reaching out to younger generations, his diplomatic work committed to the development of the international cooperation of Christian communities, and his advocacy of Hungary’s policy seeking to defend and support Christianity”.