Relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Alexandrian Orthodox Church during the patriarchate of Nicholas VI

This article analyzes ecclesiastical relations between the Orthodox Churches of Alexandria and Russia during the period of the Patriarchate of His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Nicholas VI of Alexandria, drawing on the data of the archives (the State Archive of the Russian Federation and the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate) and the testimonies of church gazettes (Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate in the first place). This historical period covers the time from 1968 to 1986 and represents the process of relationship stabilization, the growth of the quality of cultural and intellectual exchange between the Patriarchates. The early period of the Patriarchate of Nicholas VI was associated with the resolution of the consequences of the policy of his predecessor, Patriarch Christopher II, levelling intrigues among the clergy and overcoming the political crisis. In this regard, the early ecclesiastical-legal relations between the Russian and Alexandrian Churches were somewhat strained, but since 1971 the situation was changing in a completely positive direction. In the end, Patriarch Nicholas VI was able to gain great preferences and assistance from the Russian Orthodox Church, thanks to which the Patriarchate of Alexandria succeeded quite well to overcome the crisis in the Middle East in the 1970s - 80s.