On June 29, 2024, on the day of commemoration of the First-Christian Apostles Peter and Paul according to the New Julian calendar, at the invitation of Blessed Patriarch John X of Greater Antioch and All the East, the representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarchal Throne of Antioch archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev) took part in the Divine Liturgy at the Damascus Cathedral in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God.
Antiochian Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Antiochian Patriarchal Throne The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch John, accompanied by Metropolitan Ephrem of Tripoli, Metropolitan Ilia of Tyre and Sidon, Metropolitan James of Argentina, Metropolitan Damascene of Brazil, Metropolitan Ignatius of Western Europe, Metropolitan Anthony of Zahlei-Baalbek, Metropolitan Athanasius of Lattakia, Metropolitan Nicholas of Hamas (Epiphany), Metropolitan Gregory of Chomsk, Vicar Bishops Moses of Larissa, Moses of Daray, John of Sergiopolis, Bishop Roman of Seleucia, Secretary of the Holy Synod, Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archimandrite George (Yakub), Rector of the Patriarchal Monastery in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Balamand, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, and Archimandrite George (Yakub), Dean of the Holy Synod. Archimandrite Jacob (Khalil) of Balamand University, clergy from Damascus, Syrian and Lebanese dioceses of the Antiochian Orthodox Church.
The service was celebrated in Arabic, Church Slavonic, Greek, French and Portuguese, according to the Damascus, Syrian and Lebanese dioceses.
The service was conducted in Arabic, Church Slavonic, Greek, French and Portuguese, according to the website of the Representative Office of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus.
At the intercession, Archimandrite Philip presented Blessed Patriarch John with a holy panagia. Metropolitan Ephraim of Tripoli delivered a sermon on the theme of the feast.
After the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Patriarch John delivered his Most Reverend Address to the attending hierarchs, clergy, and the many worshipers, congratulating them on the Feast Day of the Holy First-Faithful Apostles Peter and Paul.
After the end of the service, a procession was held and the Syrian national anthem was sung.
On the same day, Archimandrite Philip attended a concert «Breath of Antioch» organized by the Antiochian Orthodox Church on the occasion of the day of celebration of the memory of its founders — the First-Faithful Apostles Peter and Paul. The concert program included joint performances of the Patriarchal Choir under the direction of Archimandrite Meletius (Shattahi) and the instrumental orchestra of the State Opera and Ballet Theater of Damascus under the direction of Andrei Al-Maaluli, who performed works by prominent composers of the Antiochian Church of the 19th and 20th centuries. The concert was attended by His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and the whole East, members of the Holy Synod of the Antioch Church, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Syria A.V. Efimov, numerous guests of the holiday.
EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
