Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate

The Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate (DECR) (Russian: Отде́л вне́шних церко́вных свя́зей Моско́вского патриарха́та (ОВЦС); until August 2000: Department for External Church Relations, Russian: Отдел внешних церковных сношений) is one of the synodal institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church. It was established on 4 April 1946. Since 31 March 2009, the chairman of the DECR is Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev).

Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate

The Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate (DECR) (Russian: Отде́л вне́шних церко́вных свя́зей Моско́вского патриарха́та (ОВЦС); until August 2000: Department for External Church Relations, Russian: Отдел внешних церковных сношений) is one of the synodal institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church. It was established on 4 April 1946. Since 31 March 2009, the chairman of the DECR is Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev).