DECR Chairman meets with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem

DECR Communication Service, 22.10.2025.

On the evening of October 20, 2025, the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, arrived in Israel on a working visit with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’.

Metropolitan Anthony was accompanied by Advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR Deputy Chairmen Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov) and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, and the DECR Chairman’s Secretary Priest Nikolai Vasin.

The following day, Metropolitan Anthony and his entourage visited the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, where they were received by His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine. Also taking part in the meeting were the Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeev), and representatives of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem: Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Secretary-General of the Holy Synod, and Patriarchal Archdeacon Mark (Henderson).

During the meeting, which took place in a warm and cordial atmosphere, the parties discussed the situation in the Holy Land, current issues of inter-Orthodox and international relations, and a wide range of matters of mutual interest.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants exchanged commemorative gifts.

That same day, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and his companions made a pilgrimage to the holy sites of the Holy City. In particular, they visited the the Holy Sepulchre (Church of the Resurrection of Christ), the Tomb of the Most Holy Theotokos in Gethsemane, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Russian Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene Equal-to-the-Apostles in Gethsemane, the Russian Convent of the Ascension of the Saviour on the Mount of Olives, and the site of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Print publication

DECR Chairman meets with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons