Clergy representing the Russian and Antiochian Orthodox Churches celebrated a joint Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant under construction in southern Turkey.

The service was led by Bishop Pavel of Tartus and concelebrated by Antiochian Orthodox clergy, as well as Priest Georgy Sergeev, who ministers to the Moscow Patriarchate’s faithful in Turkey, and Hieromonk Pallady (Bystrov), who serves the Orthodox community at the nuclear power plant.

Following the service, Bishop Pavel conveyed greetings from Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East. In his address, he highlighted the longstanding historical ties between the Russian and Antiochian Orthodox Churches.

As an example of their historical cooperation, the bishop recalled the Russian Empire’s assistance in restoring the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Antioch following the devastating earthquake of 1872.

Bishop Pavel also presented the community with a copy of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, which had been brought from Russia following the cathedral’s restoration in the 19th century.

In return, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church presented the bishop with an icon of the Savior, painted by Svetlana Derin, a parishioner of the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen in Istanbul.

The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss the restoration of churches damaged by the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey in 2023. According to information about the meeting, the representatives considered possible ways to support the affected churches.

The joint service and subsequent discussions highlighted the continuing cooperation between the two Orthodox Churches, combining shared worship with efforts to preserve their historical and spiritual heritage and assist communities affected by natural disasters.