The Moscow Theological Academy located in the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius was visited by the delegation of the Roman Catholic Church headed by Archbishop of Paris Andre Vingt-Trois.

The guests were accompanied by Archbishop Innokenty of Korsun and Fr. Igor Vyzhanov, the secretary for inter-Christian affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, the Moscow Theological Academy press service reports.

After their visit to the Laura and the Church Archeology Study, the Academy invited the guest to dinner and a conversation about the current state of theology in Russia, theological education and the history of the Russian Church in the 20th century.

Members of the delegation also met with a group of students. During their conversation Andre Vingt-Trois stated the need to establish trust relations between the Western and Eastern Churches.

The head of French Catholics visits Russia on the invitation of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. Last year the Patriarch visited Paris where he had a warm reception from the Catholic party, and this is the return visit by the Cardinal.

The Moscow Theological Academy, the oldest school of higher education in Russia and the largest center of development of theology and theological education in the Russian Orthodox Church, was founded in 1685.

Source: Interfax-Religion