Department for External Church Relations
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On Saint Nicholas’ Day the metropolitan of Mount Lebanon Silouan prayed together with the community of the Beirut metochion of the Russian Church.
Communications Service of the DECR, 20.12.2024.
On 19th December on Saint Nicholas Day the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Annunciation in Zal el-Dib in Lebanon was celebrated by the hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch the metropolitan of Mount Lebanon Silouan. Concelebrating with him was the dean of the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church archimandrite Philipp (Vasiltsev).
Praying at the service were the dean of the parish of the Annunciation in Zal el Dib archpriest Samir Houri, the Russian ambassador to Lebanon A. N. Rudakov and member of the coordinating council of Russian communities in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa S. Safo.
After the reading of the Gospel metropolitan Silouan delivered a sermon for the feast day.
At the litany of fervent supplication special petitions were offered up and the dean of the metochion read the prayer for Holy Russia.
After the dismissal at the Divine Liturgy bells were consecrated for the Church of the Annunciation where the community of the Beirut metochion of the Russian Orthodoxy Church gathers for worship with the blessing of metropolitan Silouan. The bells were cast in Russia according to the design of the chief bell-ringer of the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow I. V. Konovalov and under the auspices of the Moscow city government and department for external economic and international links, reports the website of the metochion.
In his greetings metropolitan Silouan thanked the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for his care for his foreign flock and emphasized the importance of cooperation and mutual aid between the fraternal Local Orthodox Churches of Antioch and Russia. He regarded the office for the consecration of the bells and their transfer to the Church of the Annunciation as a beneficent sign of this fraternal spiritual cooperation. It was noted that the newly-consecrated bells as a symbol of the Russian spiritual presence were important not only for the community of the Church of the Annunciation, but also for all Orthodox Christians.
In his reply archimandrite Philipp thanked metropolitan Silouan for the festive service, the blessing of the bells for the belfry of the church and his steadfast love and concern for the community of the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church. As a token of gratitude and in memory of the Liturgy the dean presented to the metropolitan of Mount Lebanon his portrait painted by the parishioner of the metochion and former student at the Sunday school Corinne Stefan.
After the service a modest reception was held in the parish hall of the church.
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