The Russian Orthodox Church. Department for External Church Relations
On 5 December 2017, at the Patriarchal residence in St. Daniel’s
Monastery in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All
Russia met with His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the
East.
The delegation accompanying the Patriarch of Antioch includes
Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of
Antioch to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan
Basilios of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, Archimandrite
Parthenios (Allati), Archdeacon Gerasimos (Kabbas), Mr. Georges
Ghandour, Mr. Georges Nahas, Mr. Hassan Risheh, Mr. Husam Salibi, and
Ms. Lea Adel.
Representing the Russian Orthodox Church were Metropolitan Hilarion
of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for
External Church Relations; Archbishop Feofilakt of Pyatigorsk and
Cherkessk; Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; Hegumen
Arseny (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All
Russia to the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East; and Archpriest Igor
Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-orthodox relations.
Before the meeting, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said a moleben at
the residence chapel and greeted the Primate of the Orthodox Church of
Antioch and all those present, saying in particular:
“We are glad that at this difficult time, especially for the Orthodox
Church of Antioch, our relations have become even more dynamic than in
the recent past. Our cooperation today is aimed at healing the wounds
inflicted to the pious Orthodox Syrian people, as well as the wounds of
other Orthodox Christians suffering greatly at the hands of terrorists.”
His Beatitude Patriarch John said in response, “I thank God the Lord
that our delegation and I have had the opportunity to attend the
celebrations marking the centenary of the restoration of the
Patriarchate in the Russian Church.”
Patriarch John thanked the Russian Orthodox Church for the support
that she renders to the Church of Antioch, which is experiencing great
difficulties these days. “We appreciate the humanitarian aid that the
Russian Federation sends to our brothers in Syria,” the Primate of the
Church of Antioch said.
During the meeting that followed His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said in particular:
“The event, the centenary of which we are celebrating, changed the
course of history of the Russian Orthodox Church: at, perhaps, the
hardest moment of our national history, the miracle of the restoration
of the Patriarchal ministry occured.”
“The persecutions that the Russian Church had endured made us
sensitive to the sufferings of our brothers and sisters, wherever they
are,” His Holiness added and expressed profound condolences to His
Beatitude John and all the Syrian people, Christians in Syria, Iraq and
Lebanon, as well as to all those who are under the omophorion of the
Primate of the Church of Antioch, over the death and suffering of people
who for the name of Christ had been killed or driven away from their
native lands.
As His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia reminded
all those present, during the meeting of the Primates and
representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches with the Russian
President Vladimir Putin, which took place in Moscow four years ago, all
the Primates were unanimous in asking the head of the Russian state to
defend Christians in the Middle East. “You know that Russia has
interfered in a very serious and dangerous conflict in Syria at the
request of this country’s legitimate government. Of course, it was very
important to destroy terrorism, which threatens not only Syria, but the
entire Middle East and other countries, including Russia. However, the
Russian President has always remembered about the unanimous request made
to Russia by the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches to physically
defend Christians in the Middle East,” His Holiness continued, “As is
known, almost the entire territory of Syria has been liberated due to
the actions of, among others, the Russian armed forces… Pinning our
hopes on God, we are waiting for the soonest cessation of the war and
the soonest return of people to their homes.”
“Today the Russian Orthodox Church strives to do all she can to help
those who have suffered in the hardest conflict, by the presence of
terrorists in the territory of Syria,” Patriarch Kirill said. He
reminded those present about the fundraising campaigns organized at the
Russian churches with the view of rendering humanitarian aid to the
population of Syria affected by the armed conflict.
For instance, the aid was delivered to the needy families and pupils
of Sunday schools in Mahardah, Marmarita, Maaloula and Latakia. This May
the Patriarchal Al-Hosn Hospital received over two tonnes of medical
equipment, including refrigeration equipment and medical supplies, His
Holiness noted.
As the Primate of the Russian Church pointed out, in rendering
humanitarian aid to the population of this region, the Church actively
cooperates with the governmental and non-governmental institutions.
His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East thanked
the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church for the invitation to attend
the Moscow celebrations, as well as for particular attention devoted to
the delegation of the Church of Antioch and for the solidarity with
those who had endured great suffering.
His Beatitude also emphasized the significance of the meeting with
the head of the Russian state that had taken place the day before,
noting that it was important for all the Primates of the Local Orthodox
Churches to meet with the President of Russia, for that meeting was yet
another manifestation of the aid and support which Russia renders to
Christians in different countries. “We have also noted that His
Excellency the President pays much attention to the situation of
Christians in the entire Middle East, including Syria and Lebanon,”
Patriarch John added.
The Primate of the Church of Antioch also expressed his gratitude for
the organization of his separate meeting with the head of the Russian
state, during which they discussed the issues of providing aid to the
Christians facing very hard problems.
His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East expressed
his appreciation for the efforts of the Russian Orthodox Church and her
Primate aimed at rendering assistance to the Christians in Syria.
The participants in the meeting also discussed various issues of bilateral and pan-Orthodox cooperation.
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