Department for External Church Relations
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Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church takes part in Patriarchal services on the Triumph of Orthodoxy Sunday in Damascus
DECR Communication Service, 02.03.2026.
On March 1, the First Sunday of Lent when the Triumph of Orthodoxy is celebrated, Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, took part in Matins and the Divine Liturgy at the invitation of His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. The services were celebrated at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Damascus.
The Divine Liturgy was led by His Beatitude Patriarch John X. Assisting him were Bishop Romanos of Seleucia, chief secretary of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Antioch; Bishop Moussa of Daraya; Bishop John of Sergiopolis; Archimandrite Paul, elected and nominated as Bishop of Tarsus; Archimandrite Philip; and the clergy of the cathedral.
Among those praying in the church were H.E. Emmanouel Kakavelakis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hellenic Republic to the Syrian Arab Republic; Colonel Andrei V. Bodredinov, Defence Attaché at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Syrian Arab Republic; and parishioners of the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Metochion’s website reports.
Following the communion hymn, Bishop Romanos of Seleucia delivered a sermon on the feast.
At the end of the service, Archimandrite Philip warmly congratulated His Beatitude Patriarch John X on the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy and presented him with a memorable gift.
Patriarch
Department Chairman
Sermons
24.01.2021
06.11.2020