Pat. of Jerusalem Receives Met. of Volokolamsk
A Russian invitation led by Met. Anthony of Volokolamsk—Pat. Kirill's likely successor—invited Pat. Theophilos to a Divine Liturgy celebrating the centenary of the Russian Church and Monastery in Hebron.
JERUSALEM — On October 21, Pat. Theophilos welcomed Met. Anthony of Volokolamsk and Fr. Nikolay Balashov, representatives of Pat. Kirill of Moscow, the Orthodox Times reports. The delegation from Moscow invited His Beatitude to a Divine Liturgy celebrating the centenary of the Russian Church and Monastery in Hebron, near the Tombs of the Patriarchs, highlighting ongoing inter-church collaboration and shared commitment to preserving sacred sites.
Earlier, Pat. Theophilos of Jerusalem met with Father Francesco, Custos of the Holy Land, and Franciscan representatives, including Fathers Dobromir and Athanasios, alongside Armenian Patriarchate clergy at the Franciscan monastery.
Specialists from Sapientia University in Rome presented updates on the restoration of the Holy Church of the Resurrection, focusing on structural reinforcements and flooring repairs in the Heptakamaron, Rotunda, and Deposition areas. They detailed sponsorship funding and technical aspects of replacing damaged floor slabs.
Met. Anthony of Volokolamsk is viewed as a likely successor to Pat. Kirill.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Theophilos of Jerusalem greeted Kirill of Moscow after snubbing Bartholomew of Constantinople.
