On November 5, 2026, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem, who is on a visit to Russia, visited the Pokrovsky Stavropol Convent in Moscow, where he performed a prayer service at the relics of St. Blessed Matrona of Moscow.
The Primate of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church was accompanied by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, adviser to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Deputy Chairman of the DECR, and Archdeacon Mark (Henderson), cleric of the Jerusalem Church.
Abbess Feofania (Miskina), Abbess of the monastery, welcomed the distinguished guest at the monastery. She noted the special spiritual significance of the visit of the Primate of the Jerusalem Church and recalled that November 22 marks the 145th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Matrona of Moscow. This date also coincides with the anniversary of the Patriarchal enthronement of Theophilos III.
In prayerful memory, Abbess Theophania presented the Patriarch with an icon of the Blessed Matrona of Moscow, a rosary and a silver censer.
In response, Patriarch Theophilos III shared his personal memories of his first visit to the Pokrovsky Monastery. According to him, the icon of the Blessed Matrona, presented at that time, is still in his cell. The primate also told how, after returning from Moscow, he unexpectedly received a letter with a biography of the saint, taking it as a special sign of her spiritual patronage.
Addressing the audience, Patriarch Theophilus emphasized the importance of the veneration of saints and the prayerful unity of Orthodox Christians.
"In the holy city of Jerusalem, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we pray for the whole world and, of course, we offer a special prayer for our Orthodox brothers and sisters," His Beatitude said.
He also drew a spiritual parallel between the empty Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which bears witness to the Resurrection of Christ, and the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow, calling them a visible reminder of the coming universal resurrection.
The Primate of the Jerusalem Church noted that the main task of the Church is to help people in spiritual purification through prayer and participation in the Sacraments, primarily in the Holy Eucharist.
Patriarch Theophilus paid special attention to the need to preserve the purity of the Orthodox faith and bear witness to it in the modern world.
"In our time, which is marked by so many difficulties and temptations, people are looking for this light that cleanses the soul," His Beatitude emphasized.
Based on the materials of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.