On November 16, on the occasion of the feast of St. George the Victorious, Ambassador of Russia to Israel Anatoly Viktorov took part in the special service held by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine in the basilica of the city of Lod (formerly the city of Lydda), where the tomb of the Great Martyr is located.
In his address during the ceremonial reception organized by the Council of the Orthodox Community of the city, Anatoly Viktorov recalled the historical role and patronage of the Russian State in the Middle East. He emphasized that the efforts of Patriarch Theophilos III to strengthen the genuine Christian heritage and presence in the Holy Land are becoming especially relevant in the context of the ongoing aggravation of the security situation. He confirmed Russia’s commitment to protecting the interests of Christians in the Middle East. Pointed out the importance of maintaining inter-church dialogue for preserving the spiritual unity of the entire Orthodox world, especially in the context of the ongoing flagrant persecution of the canonical church in Ukraine by the Kiev regime.
The full text of Anatoly Viktorov’s address can be found at the link.
