HIS BEATITUDE THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM PARTICIPATES IN CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 70TH BIRTHDAY OF THE PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW
Responding to an invitation by Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia to participate in His 70th birthday, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem left Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, on Friday, the 5th/18th of November 2016, via Aeroflot airlines. He was accompanied by Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Hierodeacon Markos and the Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Nicosia, Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostra.
At His arrival at Moscow airport on the afternoon of Friday, His Beatitude was courteously welcomed by Archbishop Tikhon of Austria-Hungary, Archimandrite Theophanes – having served as Head of the Russian MISSIA in Jerusalem – Presbyter Nikolai Balasov, the representative of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Moscow, Archimandrite Stephanos, then by Archbishop Elisseos, former Head of the Russian MISSIA and current representative of the Patriarchate of Moscow in England, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokalamsk, and other Metropolitans and Priests.
During this first meeting at the VIP hall, the representatives of the Patriarchate of Moscow inquired His Beatitude about the ongoing restoration works on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre and He kindly replied. In the meantime Archbishop Savva of Poland arrived at the airport with Archbishop Paisios.
From there, Patriarch Theophilos was driven to Radisson Hotel. This completed the first day of His Beatitude’s visit to the Patriarchate of Moscow.
From the Secretariat-General