Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch expressed gratitude to Patriarch Kirill in summary of his visit to Moscow
His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, has sent a message to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, expressing gratitude for the hospitality accorded him during his recent visit to Moscow last December.
Mentioning his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, His Beatitude noted the important role played by the Russian Orthodox Church, Russia and her people in establishing peace in Syria. He writes that the Russian Church, in the person of her Primate, pastors and the good people, has always stood on the side of justice. The Russian Church, he writes, is tied with Christians in the East and the Church of Antioch by the bonds of deep historical relations the durability of which is manifested in the hardest times.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch also stressed that the stand taken on Syria by Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church ‘has relieved the suffering of many’.
His Beatitude described the position of the Moscow Patriarch in giving support to the Church of Antioch as the voice of truth and living conscience in the world which seeks and hopes for ‘peace from above’.
DECR Communication Service