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December 4, 2017 – After the meeting with His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and the Primates and head of the delegations of Local Orthodox Church, who had come to Moscow for the celebrations marking the centenary of the restoration of Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had a talk with His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch, at his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo.

Welcoming the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch, the head of the Russian State said, ‘Your Beatitude, I am very much pleased to meet with you separately. We have just talked in a broader group with representatives of other Orthodox Churches. Nevertheless, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the situation of Christians, with the Orthodox Christians, in Syria proper’.

In his response, His Beatitude John X thanked the head of the Russian State, saying, (interpreted from the Russian translation) ‘Mr. President, I am very grateful to you for the promise you made. I mean the promise to meet with me both in a larger group with other Patriarchs and now, despite this late hour. I appreciate your readiness to meet with me. I would like once again to express my profound gratitude to you personally and to Russia for everything you have been doing in the Middle East and in Syria, in particular’, the official portal of the Moscow Patriarchate has reported with reference to kremlin.ru

DECR Communication Service

Photos from kremlin.ru