The memory of Hieromartyr Ignatius the God‑Bearer is prayerfully honoured in Damascus

DECR Communication Service, 04.01.2026.

On January 3, the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus commemorated its heavenly patron, Hieromartyr Ignatius the God‑Bearer. The celebration of the feast was transferred from the previous day.

Bishop Moses of Larissa officiated at Matins and the Divine Liturgy at the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church with the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East. Assisting the hierarch were Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ to the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and protodeacon Athanasius Bitar.

Among those praying at the divine service was Colonel Andrei V. Bodredinov, Defence Attaché at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The divine service was celebrated in Church Slavonic and Arabic.

After the dismissal, a glorification hymn was sung to the feast of Hieromartyr Ignatius the God‑Bearer.

In his salutary address at the end of the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Moses of Larissa warmly greeted Archimandrite Philip and the parishioners and conveyed the blessing of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch to them.

In his response, Archimandrite Philip warmly thanked Bishop Moses for concelebration and asked him to convey his sincere gratitude to His Beatitude Patriarch John X for his attention to and care for the community of the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Archimandrite Philip presented Bishop Moses with a censer as a memento of the service.

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The memory of Hieromartyr Ignatius the God‑Bearer is prayerfully honoured in Damascus

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons