Rector and parishioners of the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus visited churches in the Syrian cities of Bloudan and Zabadani

DECR Communication service, 31.10.2022

On October 30th, at the invitation of Bishop Moses of Larissa, auxiliary Bishop of the Patriarch John X of Antioch and all the East, the representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev) took part in the Divine Liturgy at the church of St. George in Bloudan (Syria).

Archimandrite Procopius (Tayar) and Archpriest Simeon Ayuba, rector of the church of St. George, also concelebrated the Archpastor. The Liturgy was conducted in Arabic and Church Slavonic.

Attending the service were parishioners of the church of St. Ignatius the God-Bearer at the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus, states the website of the Representative Office.

In his hierarchal address, Bishop Moses warmly greeted the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate, emphasizing that the joint service of the Divine Liturgy is a visible indication of the unity of the Orthodox Church.

At the conclusion of the service, a brotherly tea party was held in the parish hall. Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev) warmly thanked Vladyka Moses for the invitation to attend the Divine Liturgy and expressed his spiritual joy of communion with the large Orthodox community of the church of St. George. This community, said Fr Philip, bears witness to Orthodoxy in the difficult circumstances in which the entire Syrian nation has found itself, having undergone difficult years of war trials. Father Philip also told the congregation about the practice of pastoral ministry in the Russian Orthodox Church and the current statistics of the number of parishes in Moscow in comparison with Soviet times.

Then a delegation from the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus, accompanied by Bishop Moses and Archpriest Simeon, visited the city of Zabadani and the church of the Dormition of the Mother of God. The Russian Orthodox Church, in agreement with His Beatitude, Patriarch John X, is taking part in the rebuilding of this church after the end of hostilities.

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Rector and parishioners of the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus visited churches in the Syrian cities of Bloudan and Zabadani

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons