Jerusalem Patriarch Theophilos III has met with Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan to discuss the life and ministry of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church amid the ongoing crisis in the region.

The meeting took place at the patriarch’s residence during Metropolitan Kirill’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land, undertaken with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. According to the Jerusalem Patriarchate, the talks focused on the challenges facing the Church as conflict continues to affect the wider region.

Patriarch Theophilos spoke about the Church’s mission in the context of a difficult humanitarian situation that persists despite a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip reached in late 2025. He said the Jerusalem Church continues its spiritual, social, and humanitarian work, providing support to civilians affected by the conflict.

The head of the Jerusalem Church emphasized that in times of war, participation in worship and the sacraments remains especially important for believers, regardless of where they live or the external circumstances they face.

In recent weeks, the situation in Gaza has again deteriorated. Local authorities report that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes in late January. Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the terms of the ceasefire.

Against this backdrop, a significant humanitarian development has been the partial reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Authorities have reportedly allowed limited departures from the enclave, including for the sick and wounded in need of medical treatment abroad.

In December 2025, Patriarch Theophilos III and the heads of Christian Churches in the Holy Land appealed to Israeli authorities to allow children from Gaza suffering from leukemia to travel for treatment at Jerusalem’s Augusta Victoria Hospital. In a joint statement, the Churches said the hospital was ready to accept patients and cover all associated costs. While the initiative was not fully implemented at the time, the reopening of the crossing has created new opportunities for the evacuation of patients.

Representatives of the Jerusalem Patriarchate and the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission also attended the meeting. Following the talks, Metropolitan Kirill visited the Monastery of Saints Constantine and Helena, which is under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.