Department for External Church Relations
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Governor of Hebron visits Metochion of Russian Ecclesiastical Mission
DECR Communication Service, 18/08/2025
On 16th August 2025, Mr Khaled Doudin, Governor of Hebron, visited the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission’s Metochion of the Holy Forefathers in Hebron. He was accompanied by representatives of the local authorities, security service and police. Mr Jihad Khair represented the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine.
Receiving the officials were Hieromonk Amvrosy (Ignatov), the Metochion sacristan, and Mr Yury Romashuk, representative of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission to the Palestinian National Authority, the Mission’s website reports.
The Governor and other officials who accompanied him inspected the territory of the Metochion damaged by the fire that had broken out on 15th August because of arson, as the police established.
A brief working meeting was held, during which the Governor of Hebron informed Hieromonk Amvrosy that four people had been detained during the investigation and that legal proceedings against them were under way. A decision was made to include the church, along with other buildings and the territory of the Metochion, in a protected zone by sending out additional night and daytime police and security patrols. The Governor confirmed that the law enforcement agencies were ready to defend the Metochion. Support was expressed for various measures aimed at preventing trespassing, such as building a higher fence and installing surveillance cameras.
According to Mr Jihad Khair, His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas and Dr Ramzi Khouri, Chairman of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, are ready to assist the Hebron Metochion in dealing with the aftermaths of the fire.
Mr Yury Romashuk, representative of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission to the Palestinian National Authority, thanked the officials and law enforcement agencies on behalf of the Head of the Mission, Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev), for their swift reaction and timely help. He conveyed gratitude from the Russian Orthodox Church to President Mahmoud Abbas, Dr Ramzi Khour, Chairman of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, Governor of Hebron Khaled Doudin, and the law enforcement bodies for their efforts.
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