On 20 November 2019, H.E.Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, met with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The meeting took place at the Patriarchal Chambers of the Moscow Kremlin.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem has arrived in Russia to attend the awards ceremony of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations. The head of the state congratulated His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III on winning the prize of Patriarch Alexy II “For Outstanding Activity in Strengthening Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations and for Consolidation and Promotion of Christian Values in Society.’
His Beatitude Theophilus III briefed President Putin on the latest legal developments and international efforts by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem to prevent the acquisition of Orthodox real estate by extremist settler groups in Jaffa Gate,Jerusalem. Stressing that more efforts for international support is needed for the rights to be restored.
His Beatitude has over recent years met with political and religious leaders across the globe, promoting the unity of the Church and the protection of Christians. His Beatitude and His Excellency the President spoke of the challenges facing Christians in the Holy Land, and the profound importance of unity as a living witness to the world.
His Beatitude expressed gratitude to His Excellency, President Putin, for his commitment to the Church in the Holy Land. In particular, Patriarch Theophilos praised the President for his crucial and generous assistance in the restoration of the Church of the Basilica of the Nativity; a holy place that every year receives thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world.
At the ceremony of The Patriarch Alexy II Prize of the International Public Foundation, His Beatitude Theophilos III, “We accept this prize in humility on behalf of the Church of Jerusalem. For it is the mission of our Patriarchate, that is the Church of Jerusalem, which has been founded upon the redeeming blood of Christ, to be the focus of unity for the Orthodox faithful, and it is our vocation, as those to whom the diakonia of the Holy Sites has been entrusted by Divine Providence, to ensure that they remain places of religious devotion and worship that are accessible to all.”
