On December 4, 2024, on the feast of the Entrance of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple, the representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Archangel Gabriel in Moscow, accompanied by clerics of the sub-church of the Antiochian Orthodox Church. On this day, Vladyka Nifon celebrated his 83rd birthday. Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk sent heartfelt congratulations to Metropolitan Nifon.
Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk.
In the evening, a reception was held at the Antiochian Palace to celebrate the abbot's birthday.
Metropolitan Nifon was greeted by the Advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Protopriest Nikolai Balashov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia M.L. Bogdanov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lebanese Republic to the Russian Federation Shawki Bou Nassar, and representatives of the Russian and Lebanese public.
Metropolitan Nifon was greeted by representatives of the Russian and Lebanese public.
Protopriest Nicholas Balashov, congratulating the representative of the Patriarchate of Antioch on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, noted the outstanding achievements of Metropolitan Niphon during the 47 years of his pastoral and church-diplomatic ministry in Moscow and the high authority he had earned, recalling the 65th anniversary of his priestly ministry celebrated this year. Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis has always worked to strengthen Orthodox unity and friendship among peoples, he has been a good shepherd to many faithful and a wise spiritual mentor not only for Orthodox Christians, but also for many generations of diplomats from various countries, Father Nicholas said, concluding by wishing Vladyka Nifon a just peace in his homeland in war-torn Lebanon.
Ambassadors from Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Colombia, Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the Arab League, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Yemen were also among the participants in the reception, Metropolitan Nifon thanked all those who shared in this celebration, representatives of public organizations, the executive director of the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage, E.I. Skopenko, clergy and parishioners of the churchyard.
Metropolitan Nifon in his closing remarks thanked all those who shared this celebration with him. «The celebration for me is about thanking God for His gifts that prolong the days of my life, to glorify His Name by doing good deeds and with great hope to live on a peaceful planet where love for God and neighbor are the main two commandments» — said the hierarch.
Metropolitan Niphon said.
The Vladyka noted: «Sixty-five years of my life I have been privileged to serve the Church, which was and is for me the whole world. Of these 47 years were devoted to my church service in the Soviet Union and Russia, and I admire the traditions and spirituality of the Orthodox Russians. I have experienced many challenges, difficulties and trials, met Church leaders, country leaders, politicians, diplomats, believers and non-believers, rich and poor; so I became one of those who witnessed history. By God's mercy I bore the cross prepared for me, and at the end of my life, by God's will, I successfully built a church in my hometown in honor of the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary "Joy Unexpected", fulfilling the Thus his dream». Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis also mentioned that the consecration of this church in the Lebanese city of Zahle is expected to take place on May 18, 2025.
EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
