Moscow Patriarchate Delegation Meets with Antiochian Patriarch in Lebanon

DECR and OCP News Service – 27/01/2025

Balamand- Lebanon: On January 25th, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, visited the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology of the University of Balamand during his official trip to Lebanon.

During his visit, Metropolitan Anthony met with His Beatitude Patriarch John X of the Great Antioch and All the East. The meeting was also attended by several high-ranking officials from both Churches, including Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, adviser to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR deputy chairman; and Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ to the Patriarch of Antioch.

Metropolitan Anthony conveyed warm greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ to Patriarch John, expressing support for the Antiochian Church and its flock, particularly in light of the challenges facing Christians in the Middle East.

The meeting provided an opportunity for a wide-ranging discussion on issues of mutual concern, including the plight of Christians in various regions, prospects for strengthening cooperation between the Antiochian and Moscow Patriarchates, and the current state of inter-Orthodox and inter-Christian relations.

To commemorate the meeting, Metropolitan Anthony presented Patriarch John with a holy panagia.

Following the meeting, Patriarch John hosted a dinner in honor of the DECR chairman and the members of the Russian Church’s delegation.

Source:

OCP News Service and DECR