Patriarch of Antioch: Brotherhood between Antioch and Moscow cannot be broken

Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East reaffirmed the historic spiritual ties between the Patriarchates of Antioch and Moscow in a message delivered on November 1, 2026, during the Divine Liturgy marking the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church’s representation in Lebanon.

Although unable to attend in person, Patriarch John emphasized his spiritual presence through prayer and reflected on the centuries-old relationship between the two Churches.

He recalled that the bonds between Antioch and Russia predate the establishment of the Russian representation in Beirut in May 1946, highlighting Antioch’s historical contribution to the spread of Christianity in Kyiv and the establishment of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The Patriarch also praised Russia’s educational and charitable contributions to the Middle East, noting that, beginning in 1882, the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society established more than 70 schools in Lebanon and Syria, educating approximately 10,000 children.

He described the Russian Orthodox representation in Beirut as a spiritual home for Russian-speaking Orthodox Christians who have made Lebanon their second homeland.…