Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem will be honoured with the Order of Friendship of the Russian Federation, one of the country’s highest state distinctions, by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The presidential decree, signed by Vladimir Putin on 17 November 2025, was published on the official online legal information portal.
According to the announcement, the distinction is awarded to Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem “for his significant contribution to the informational promotion of the events marking the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.”
Further details regarding the award ceremony are expected to be announced in the coming period by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Russian authorities.
This is not the first time Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem will meet the Russian president. In 2019, he met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, in the presence of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
Patriarch Theophilos was also the first Orthodox Primate to visit Moscow after the events that led to the severance in communion between Moscow and Constantinople. He had travelled to the Russian capital to receive the Patriarch Alexy II Award.
Moreover, Patriarch Theophilos had expressed his gratitude to the Russian president for his support of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, saying: “I wish to thank you on behalf of the Brotherhood for your concern, the protection you offer us, and your steadfast support, which has been decisive for safeguarding the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.”
