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On 13 November 2018, the 30th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia was celebrated at the Metochion of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Moscow.

Metropolitan Niphon celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Archangel Gabriel. Many parishioners, including natives of the Middle East region living in Moscow, came to the Metochion to pray together with its rector.

At the festive repast Hegumen Feofan (Lukianov), head of the Protocol section of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), read out greetings of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to Metropolitan Niphon. “The most wise Creator has deemed you to carry out responsible tasks of the representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. You have performed this service for many years and taught the people of God “to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Tim 2:22). Many people seeking spiritual advice, consolation and support come to you, a kind archpastor and experienced teacher of piety.”

Greetings from the DECR chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk were also read out. “By God’s Providence you have been in the assembly of bishops of the Holy Orthodox Church of Antioch for thirty years. While staying in the heart of Russia, its capital, you have been strengthening the centuries-old relations between the Patriarchates of the Great Antioch and Moscow by carrying out the noble and responsible diplomatic mission, thus building bridges of friendship between our Churches and uniting the faithful of Holy Russia with their fellow believers in the Christian East by spiritual ties.”