Patriarchate of Antioch marks 80th Anniversary of Russian Orthodox Church representation in Beirut

Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East received a delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church at Balamand on October 31, 2026, as part of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church’s representation in Beirut.

The delegation was led by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, accompanied by Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, adviser to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

Also attending the meeting were former Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin, President of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, and Alexander Rudakov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Lebanon.

Discussions focused on the longstanding historical and fraternal relations between the Patriarchate of Antioch and the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two Churches.

The participants also exchanged views on the current situation facing Christians and broader issues concerning relations among the Churches.

The anniversary celebrations continued with a joint musical evening at Balamand, featuring performances by the…