On Tuesday, April 2, Patriarch Theophilos III welcomed Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, at the Patriarchate’s headquarters in Jerusalem.
The Metropolitan was accompanied by Father Nikolai Balasov, the Head of the Russian MISSIA in Jerusalem Archimandrite Vassianos, the Deputy of Metropolitan Anthony Father Igor Iakimchuk, and the Metropolitan’s secretary deacon Nikolai Vasin, who were a special delegation on behalf of Patriarch Cyril of Moscow.
In recognition of the contribution of His Eminence to the unity of the Church, Patriarch Theophilos awarded him with the medal of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.
Metropolitan Anthony thanked Patriarch Theophilos for this decoration and emphasized the importance of the Patriarch’s work and support towards the unity of the Church, his support for the Moscow Patriarchate, and his commitment to the unity of the Orthodox Churches and for the Christians in the Holy Land.
During the meeting, Metropolitan Anthony conveyed the brotherly osculation of His Beatitude the Patriarch of Moscow Cyril, and his thanks for the letter of condolences regarding the recent terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow.
In return, Patriarch Theophilos asked to convey His brotherly greetings to the Patriarch of Moscow Cyril.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
