His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expresses support for the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem at a time of armed conflict in the Holy Land.

DECR Communication service, 26.10.2023

“I am especially concerned over the many new conflicts which have arisen with renewed force in the eastern mediterranean,” noted His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' when speaking on 25th October 2023 at the Saint Catherine Hall of the Moscow Kremlin at a meeting between the Russian President Vladimir Putin and representatives of Russia’s religious communities.

His Holiness reminded those present that the attention of the faithful of the Abrahamic religious traditions has been focused on this region for centuries. Jerusalem was and remains a holy city for both Christians, Jews and Muslims.

“The Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, which attends to the spiritual needs of Christians living on both sides of the conflict, holds to a position which is both principled and consistent, which is that civilians should never be the target of military assault and they should be given all help and support,” the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church emphasized. Turning to the Russian head of state, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said: “I would like together with you, Your Excellency, as well as with my brothers gathered here today and who are participating in this conversation, to express our joint support for the efforts of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, headed by Patriarch Theophilos, and call upon all not to weaken in their prayer and our further common efforts in establishing a lasting and just peace in the Holy Land.”

“The Holy Land is our common spiritual, cultural and historical treasure, and it is for this reason that peace in the Holy Land is our common responsibility and concern,” said His Holiness.

In addition, His Holiness emphasized that any strikes upon civilian institutions and religious holy sites were worthy of utmost condemnation, noting with regret that in recent days there had been media confirmation that this was happening. As is well known, as a result of recent military action in the Gaza Strip the Church of Saint Porphyrius suffered significant damage, bringing many victims in its wake. On 20th October His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill sent a letter to His Beatitude the Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine Theophilos III expressing his concern and condolences with regard to what had happened.

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His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expresses support for the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem at a time of armed conflict in the Holy Land.

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