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His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East visited the Russian Orthodox Church at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia from January 25 to 30, 2014.

He was accompanied by Metropolitan Basilios of Akkar, Metropolitan Ephraim of Tripoli, Archbishop Nifon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch to the Patriarch of Moscow, archimandrite Philip (Yazigi), archimandrite Parthenios (Allati), archdeacon Gerasimos (Kabbas), and a group of Orthodox laymen.

Upon arrival in Moscow, Patriarch John X visited the Patriarchal and Synodal residence at St. Daniel’s Monastery and was welcomed by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The Primates proceeded to the Church of All Russian Saints. Patriarch John X led the prayer service; Patriarch Kirill prayed at the sanctuary.

On January 26, the 31st Sunday after Pentecost, the Primates celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. That same day they issued a common appeal to the Geneva II International Conference on Syria.

On January 27, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill led the opening ceremony of the 22nd International Educational Christmas Readings on ‘St. Sergius. Rus’. Heritage, Modern Times, Future.’ His Beatitude John X was the guest of honour of the Readings dedicated to the 700th birthday of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill delivered a report; His Beatitude Patriarch John X addressed the gathering at the State Kremlin Palace.

In the evening the Primates visited the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church of Antioch. After the prayer service His Beatitude Patriarch John X was honoured with the highest award of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society – ‘The Star of Bethlehem’ Order. A festive dinner in honour of His Beatitude followed.

On January 28, His Beatitude Patriarch John X visited the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius and the Moscow Theological Academy. That same day he met with Ms Valentina Matvienko, chair of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation. She presented ‘The Federation Council. 20 Years’ Medal to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch.

In the evening His Beatitude visited the Moscow Church of the “Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations and rector of the church presented a copy of the patronal icon to the high guests.

On January 29, Patriarch John X visited the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic.

That same day, he met with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the House of Receptions of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On January 30, His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East completed his primatial visit to the Russian Orthodox Church.