Representatives of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission congratulate Patriarch Theophilos on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of his enthronement.

DECR Communication service, 23.11.2025.

On 22^nd November the Greek Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly marked the twentieth anniversary of the enthronement of her Primate the Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine Theophilos III.

On behalf of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem attending the solemnities were its head archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev) and the Mission’s inmates hieromonk Pyotr (Borodulin), hieromonk Philotheos (Artyushin) and deacon Makary Petukhov, as well as the mother superior of the Gornei convent in Ein-Karem abbess Catherine (Chernyshev) with the convent’s sisters.

In honour of the occasion in the Great Throne Room of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem a festive reception was held which was honoured by the presence of the Russian ambassador to the state of Israel Anatoly Viktorov and his wife, the consul general of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. D. Angelopoulos, hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, heads of the representations of the Local Orthodox Churches in Jerusalem and public figures, as well as numerous representatives of the Greek, Russian and Arabic Orthodox communities in Jerusalem, reports the website of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission.

In his speech of congratulations the Russian ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Theophilos for his contribution towards the preservation of the status quo and interfaith balance in Jerusalem, the strengthening of the Christian presence in the Middle East and his care for the religious sites and holy places in the Holy Land. On 17^th November 2025 the Russian president Vladimir Putin issued a decree awarding the Order of Friendship to His Beatitude the Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine Theophilos III.

Then the head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission archimandrite Vassian read out a congratulatory address by His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill. He also conveyed to His Beatitude congratulations from the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Anthony. The representatives of the Mission presented the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with a gift of flowers and presents upon receiving his Primatial blessing.

Toward the end of the festivities His Beatitude addressed all those present and expressed his gratitude towards them.

At the conclusion of the festive reception Patriarch Theophilos invited all those present to the opening of the Museum of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which was currently holding an exhibition of Christian art from the tenth to the twentieth centuries. Among the items on display were ancient icons, including those with gold and silver frames with precious stones, a bronze statue of the risen Christ, gold and silver church items and ancient examples of episcopal vestments. One of the rare items of the museum is a Gospel book with a gold cover which was a gift from tsar Boris Godunov.

At the end of the official part of the event the guests were invited to a festive meal.

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Representatives of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission congratulate Patriarch Theophilos on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of his enthronement.

Patriarch

Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons