THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM & PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN DISCUSS PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS AND HOLY PLACES
On the 20th of November, while visiting Moscow to receive the prestigious Patriarch Alexy II Prize, His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, met with His Excellency President Vladimir Putin to discuss the condition of the Christians of the Holy Land.
His Beatitude has over recent years met with political and religious leaders across the globe, promoting the unity of the Church and the protection of Christians. His Beatitude and His Excellency the President spoke of the challenges facing Christians in the Holy Land, and the profound importance of unity as a living witness to the world.
His Beatitude expressed gratitude to His Excellency, President Putin, for his commitment to the Church in the Holy Land. In particular, Patriarch Theophilos praised the President for his crucial and generous assistance in the restoration of the Church of the Basilica of the Nativity; a holy place that every year receives thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world.
The Patriarch Alexy II Prize of the International Public Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations is awarded for “outstanding activities in strengthening the unity of the Orthodox Christian nations” and “for upholding and promoting Christian values in the life of society”.
From Secretariat-General