The Day of the Baptism of the Lord at the Damascus representation of the Russian Orthodox Church
On 18-19 January 2020, the celebrations commemorating the Baptism of the Lord were held at the Damascus representation of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The festive divine services were celebrated by Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russian to the Patriarchate of Great Antioch and All the East. They were attended by Russia’s ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic A. Yefimov, the embassy senior counsellor A. Bagdatyev, staff members of the diplomatic mission, Russian students studying in Syria and Lebanon and the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church residing in Damascus and its neighbourhoods.
On January 18, after the Great Blessing of Water, Mr. A. Yefimov presented Hegumen Arseny with the Medal of the of the Syrian Arab Republic “Сomradeship-in-Arms” awarded him by Syrian Defence Minister Ali Ayyoub.
On the eve of Theophany, Father Arseny visited the Russian military units deployed in Damascus and outside it to bless water and greet the military on the feast.
Damascus Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church
DECR Communication Service