Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk visits the Metropolis of Mount Lebanon

DECR Communication service, 31.10.2026.

On 31 October, the second day of its stay in Lebanon for the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church Metochion in Beirut, a delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate, headed by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, visited the Metropolis of Mount Lebanon, one of the largest Orthodox dioceses in the country.

The guests were warmly welcomed at the diocesan residence by Metropolitan Silouan of Mount Lebanon. He noted that the Antiochian and Russian Orthodox Churches serve as a bridge of friendship and mutual understanding between the Lebanese and Russian peoples, who are united by shared spiritual values. Metropolitan Silouan fondly recalled his visit to Russia, expressing his admiration for the beauty of Russian churches and holy sites. He expressed his wish for opportunities to study the Russian language in Lebanon and proposed organising joint theological and publishing projects. The hierarch also thanked the Russian Orthodox Church for its support and showed the guests the construction site of a new diocesan building.

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk thanked Metropolitan Silouan for his warm hospitality.

The DECR Chairman noted that the Antiochian Orthodox Church is one of the most ancient Churches and a Church of confessors of the faith that has endured many trials. "We love it for this. We are united by centuries-old fraternal relations," he emphasised. The hierarch spoke of the divisions existing in the contemporary Orthodox world and expressed his hope that friendly dialogue would be maintained. He also thanked Metropolitan Silouan for allowing the Russian community to celebrate services in the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, which will host the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church Metochion in Lebanon.

The meeting was also attended by the following representatives: from the Antiochian Orthodox Church: Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, Representative of the Patriarch of Antioch to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'; Priest George Freyha; and Priest Glassan Salloum; from the Russian Orthodox Church: Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, Advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Deputy Chairman of the DECR; Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), Representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' to the Patriarchal See of Antioch; and Priest Nikolai Vasin, Secretary to the DECR Chairman.

As a token of prayerful remembrance, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk presented Metropolitan Silouan with a panagia.

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Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk visits the Metropolis of Mount Lebanon

Patriarch

Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons