Pat. John Conveys Solidarity with Canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr

DAMASCUS — Nativity was celebrated in Damascus with the participation of a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, highlighting continued ties between the Churches of Antioch and Moscow. Archimandrite Philip Vasiltshev, the Russian Church’s representative to the Patriarchal Throne of Antioch, attended the festive Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos, which was presided over by His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

During the service, Archimandrite Philip conveyed Nativity greetings to Patriarch John from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and from Met. Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations. He also presented the Antiochian primate with a pectoral icon of the Nativity of Christ.

Pat. John asked that his own greetings and New Year wishes be conveyed to Patriarch Kirill and expressed gratitude to the Russian Church for its continued support of the Orthodox Church of Antioch. He also voiced support for the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) and called for prayers for the faithful of Antioch.

Previously, the UOJ reported on the restoration of the Prophet Elias Church in Damascas, which had been hit earlier by a deadly attack. 

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