On May 22, the 5th Week after Easter, on Samaritan Day, the day of commemoration of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from the Lycian World to Bar (1087), at the invitation of Metropolitan Anthony of Zahle-Baalbek (Antiochian Orthodox Church), the community of the Russian Orthodox Church's compound in Beirut made a pilgrimage to the city of Zahle (Lebanon) and received participation in the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral.
The service was performed by Metropolitan Anthony of Zahleya-Baalbek in the co-service of the rector of the Russian Metochion Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev) and the clergy of the Zahleya-Baalbek Metropolia.
The hymns and prayers of the Liturgy were sung in Arabic and Church Slavonic.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Lebanese Republic A.N. Rudakov prayed at the service.
After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Anthony warmly welcomed the rector of the Beirut compound of the Russian Orthodox Church, Mr. Ambassador and members of the community.
In memory of the joint divine service, the hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Antioch presented Archimandrite Philip with a cross with ornaments.
In turn, Archimandrite Philip presented Metropolitan Anthony with a cross with ornaments as a memorial gift, thanking His Eminence cordially for the invitation to take part in the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Zahle on the day of commemoration of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Then a festive meal was held in the parish hall at the Metropolitan, during which Metropolitan Anthony congratulated the parishioner of the metochion – Natalia Maulya on her birthday and presented her with a memorable gift.
On the same day, the pilgrims returned to Beirut, the website of the Russian Orthodox Church's compound in Beirut reports.