On November 6, 2021, Metropolitan Anthony of Korsun and Western Europe met with Metropolitan Ilia of Beirut as part of the festive program on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church in Beirut. The hierarchs spoke out for unity in the Orthodox Church and the strengthening of fraternal relations between the Moscow and Antiochian Patriarchates.
The meeting was also attended by the representative of the Patriarch of Antioch to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, the representative of the Patriarch of Serbia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Bishop Anthony of Moravich, the representative of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), rector of the Russian Orthodox Church in Beirut Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Lebanon Alexander Rudakov, Executive Director of the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage Egor Skopenko, Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy, Doctor of Theology Archpriest Vladislav Tsypin.
Metropolitan Elijah warmly welcomed the guests, emphasizing the importance of Metropolitan Anthony of Korsun and Western Europe's visit to Lebanon to maintain friendly ties. For his part, Bishop Anthony noted that he was visiting Lebanon for the first time and thanked Metropolitan Elijah for the opportunity to pray on Lebanese soil.
Vladyka Elijah spoke about the severe destruction in the city that occurred a year ago due to an explosion in the port. Then, in particular, his residence suffered, which was then restored with the participation of Russian philanthropists.
As a souvenir, Metropolitan Elijah presented the guests with a book by his spiritual mentor Saint Porphyry "Miracles of Love. Life and wisdom." Metropolitan Anthony presented the Lebanese archpastor with a panagia.
Then the guests who arrived to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church in Beirut visited St. George's Cathedral. According to legend, the temple was erected on the site of the murder of St. George the Victorious serpent. Under the cathedral there is a museum storing artifacts of the first centuries of our era, including Byzantine mosaics.