On March 10, 2024, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the DECR, continued his visit to Lebanon and took part in the celebrations on the occasion of the small consecration of the temple in the Village of El Dib, which was transferred by Metropolitan Silouan of the Lebanese Mountains for the use of the Russian-speaking Orthodox believers of Lebanon.
Metropolitan Anthony led the consecration of the temple, after which, together with Metropolitan Silouan of the Mountains of Lebanon and 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 newly consecrated church.
The bishops were co-served by: Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Great Antioch and All the East, rector of the Russian Orthodox Church in Beirut; Archimandrite Serafim (Shemyatovsky), rector of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia in Moscow; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Deputy Chairman of the DECR, clergy of the Antioch and Moscow Patriarchates.
Prayers were performed in Arabic and Church Slavonic.
The church was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Lebanese Republic A.N. Rudakov, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon R. El Khoury, Executive Director of the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage E.I. Skopenko, Lebanese public and political figures, numerous compatriots.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Silouan of the Mountains of Lebanon greeted those present.
"The Antiochian Orthodox Church has brought together people from different countries belonging to different nationalities. But we are all one, we are all one in Christ, we partake from the same Chalice," Metropolitan Siluan testified.
He stressed that the restoration of the temple of Pity El Dib was the special care of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who took upon himself all the cares for its restoration. "Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, who is a bridge connecting the two Churches, contributed to this work on the restoration of the temple, and we are very happy to gather here all together," Metropolitan Siluan also said.
As a sign of gratitude, he presented Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, the head of the DECR, with a memorable gift.
In response, Metropolitan Anthony conveyed to the audience the blessing and congratulations on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, on whose behalf the delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church is currently in Lebanon.
"Today we became participants in a great celebration: we had the opportunity to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church, in which, thanks to you, dear Vladyka Siluan, your Russian flock living here in these parts will now be able to pray," said the head of the DECR.
For any believer who is far from his homeland, it is very important to have the opportunity to come to the temple of God, talk with a priest, take part in church sacraments and divine services, Metropolitan Anthony stressed. "You yourself have served abroad for many years and you know in what sometimes difficult conditions we have to perform divine services," he addressed Metropolitan Siluan. – Yes, sometimes we pray in majestic and beautiful churches, but often our priests and parishioners have to rent rooms that are completely unsuitable for worship, bring all the necessary utensils there, and immediately take them away after the service. Russian Russian community has the opportunity to feel at home in this church today in Beirut, thanks to you, Vladyka, and the Russian Orthodox Church appreciates your contribution with great gratitude."
Metropolitan Anthony also expressed special gratitude to the delegation of the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage present at the temple, who responded with great willingness to the request of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and took an active part in the restoration of this temple.
At the end of his speech, the head of the DECR thanked Metropolitan Siluan once again for caring for his multinational flock, a significant part of which are immigrants from the countries of the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate: "They see in you a caring and loving father. Now the temple has become another visible confirmation of your love." In prayerful memory of the consecration of the temple, Metropolitan Anthony presented the icon of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Antiochian community of the Annunciation Church, and also presented the Holy Panagia to Metropolitan Silouan of the Mountains of Lebanon.
Then a solemn reception was held, at which, in particular, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Lebanon, a journalist, and the head of the ITAR-TASS representative office in Lebanon, D.A. Zelenin, spoke.
Russian Russian Orthodox Church should become the spiritual center of the Russian-speaking church community: "Children from Lebanese-Russian families will be able to learn Russian in Sunday school, gain knowledge about history, geography, rich Russian literature and art."
"We know that there are quite a lot of people in Lebanon who are warm and friendly towards Russia. And we are sincerely grateful to them for these feelings, but it is one thing to express sympathy, and another to make concrete efforts to strengthen ties between our peoples and our Churches," said the head of the metochion. – Vladyka Siluan drew a project for the restoration of the temple building with his own hand and brought the matter to an end. The Russian Embassy in Beirut and the Department for External Church Relations in Moscow welcomed this project and coordinated efforts so that it could be successfully implemented."
On the same day, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk visited Zahle, where, together with Metropolitan Anthony of Zahle, Metropolitan Silouan of the Lebanese Mountains and Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, he performed a prayer service to the Most Holy Theotokos in the church under construction in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy", which is being built under the care of Metropolitan Niphon, a native of this city.
Then Metropolitan Niphon invited the hierarchs and their companions to lunch, which was also attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Lebanese Republic A.N. Rudakov, Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Lebanese Parliament E. Ferzli, Deputy of the Lebanese Parliament G. Hasbani, Secretary General of the Orthodox Council (Likaa Orthodoxy) Mr. Abu Fadel Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in Lebanon J. Sarraf, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Lebanon N. Nahas.