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.