Fiftieth anniversary of the ordained ministry of the representative of the Patriarch of Antioch at the Moscow Patriarchate Archbishop Nifon of Philippopolis celebrated in Lebanon

On 18 October 2009, the 50^th anniversary of the ordained ministry of the representative of the Patriarch of Antioch at the Moscow Patriarchal Throne Archbishop Nifon of Philippopolis was celebrated in Zahle, Lebanon. Taking part in the celebration was a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church composed of Archbishop Alexy of Orekhovo-Zuevo, envoy of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; archimandrite Alexander (Yelisov), repr4esentative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia at the Patriarch of Antioch; and archpriest Anatoly Yegorov, rector of the Russian parish in Beirut.

Metropolitan Spyridon of Zahle officiated at the Divine Liturgy in concelebration with Archbishop Alexy of Orekhovo-Zuevo, Archbishop Nifon of Philippopolis, Patriarchal Auxiliare Bishop Moises of Darayia, archimandrite Alexander (Yelisov), and the diocesan clergy.

Website of the Representation of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia at the Patriarch of Antioch report that taking part in the celebration were also representatives of state authority of Lebanon and Russia, Russian and Lebanese public, and local administration.