Patriarch John X of Antioch and Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk discussed the situation of Christians in the Middle East and ties between the two Orthodox Churches.

Events marking the 80th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church’s compound in Beirut were held in Lebanon. On October 30, Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East met with Metropolitan Anthony, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, at the Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Balamand.

They discussed the situation of Christians in the region, relations between the Orthodox Churches and ways to strengthen cooperation. Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, an adviser to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, also took part in the meeting.

The following day, the Russian Church delegation visited the Metropolis of the Lebanese Mountains. Its head, Metropolitan Silouan, thanked the Russian Church for its support and proposed developing joint theological and publishing projects. He also noted the importance of church ties in strengthening friendship between the peoples of Russia and Lebanon.

The celebrations concluded with a joint performance by the Moscow Synodal Choir and the choir of the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology.

The Moscow Patriarchate’s compound in Beirut was established on May 15, 1946, following a 1945 visit to the Middle East by Alexy I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’. It was founded in response to the desire of Russian-speaking Orthodox residents of the Lebanese capital to have their own church community. Archimandrite Simeon (Nikitin) was its first rector.

The Russian community in Beirut does not have a separate church of its own. Services are held in churches provided by the Antiochian Orthodox Church, including the Church of the Annunciation of the Mother of God. The compound has become a spiritual and cultural center for Orthodox believers connected to the Russian church tradition.