MOSCOW, November 6, 2026 (WAFA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin received His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, at the Kremlin on Nov. 5 to discuss peace efforts and the indigenous Christian presence in the Holy Land, the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem said.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia attended.

President Putin also awarded His Beatitude Theophilos III the Order of Friendship for strengthening friendship, cooperation and spiritual ties with Russia.

The Patriarch accepted the honor as recognition of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Mother of Churches, its pastoral ministry and its guardianship of the holy sites.

Patriarch Theophilos III thanked President Putin for supporting the historic Status Quo arrangements governing Jerusalem’s holy sites. The Russian president reaffirmed support for the Patriarchate’s work to help indigenous Christian communities remain in the Holy Land and protect their sacred places.

Separately, Patriarchs Theophilos III and Kirill discussed preparations for celebrations commemorating Christ’s baptism in Jordan in 2030.

They also discussed relations between their churches, challenges in inter-Orthodox relations, and the situation of Christians in the Middle East.

T.R.