On July 24, 2026, the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate hosted a meeting between Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the DECR, and a delegation of the Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Silouan of the Mountains of Lebanon, Metropolitan Anthony of Zahle and Baalbek, and Archimandrite Jeremiah (Azzam), a cleric of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Zahle, arrived in Russia on a visit.
The DECR Chairman warmly welcomed the guests, expressing his joy at their arrival in the Russian capital. Metropolitan Anthony, in particular, shared his memories of his visits to Lebanon, including the celebrations on the occasion of the consecration of the church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" in Zahle in May last year.
During the conversation, which took place in a fraternal atmosphere of mutual understanding, various humanitarian projects implemented jointly by the Russian and Antiochian Churches, as well as topical issues of inter-Orthodox relations, were discussed.
The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
On the part of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Great Antioch and All the East, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Deputy Chairman of the DECR, and Deacon Sergiy Monakhov, DECR staff member, were also present.