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On August 15, 2020, the first deputy head of the Russian Federation Ministry for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief, Col-Gen. A. Chupriyan and an Emercom delegation, during their stay in the Lebanese capital city affected by a destructive explosion, visited the church of St. John the Baptist – the Beirut representation of the Russian Orthodox Church. The guests were present at the prayer for the repose of the souls of the victims, which was said by the representation rector Archimandrite Philipp (Vasiltsev).

The delegation was accompanied by Russia’s ambassador to Lebanon A. Zasypkin.

Addressing the guests after the memorial prayer, Archimandrite Philipp said in particular, ‘From old times Russia has relieved the weak; she is always expected to offer protection. Here in Lebanon, Russia has once again reaffirmed this historical mission by sending her rescuers to Beirut’.

He reported that among the parishioners there were victims who were left without roof because of the explosion that happened on August 4 in Beirut’s seaport. ‘By God’s mercy nobody was killed or seriously wounded’, he noted.

Father Philipp presented the head of the delegation with an icon of the Annunciation and a porcelain icon lamp.

In his response, Col.-Gen. Chupriyan thanked Father Philipp for the prayer and warm welcome. ‘The Star of Bethlehem is the symbol of Russian Emercom. It is a star of hope and salvation under which we all were born’, he continued, ‘Russian rescuers love their motherland and are of benefit to people everywhere, including in Lebanon’.

Website of the ROC Beirut Representation

DECR Communication Service