On the morning of Friday, 6th/19th September 2025, His Grace Bishop of Narva, Mr Lazaros, of the Russian Church of Estonia, visited His Beatitude, accompanied by the Head of the Russian Mission in Jerusalem (MISSIA), Archimandrite Vassianos, and by a small group of pilgrims.
His Eminence Lazaros thanked His Beatitude for the opportunity granted to him and to the Church by the guardianship of the Holy Shrines under the Patriarchate, enabling them to visit the Holy Sepulchre and the other shrines in the Holy Land, and he received the blessing of His Beatitude to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
His Beatitude likewise thanked Bishop Lazaros for his visit at a time of trials for the Patriarchate, particularly in the Holy Monastery of Saint Porphyrios in Gaza, and during a period when the Church of Estonia is also facing difficulties.
“These difficulties,” said His Beatitude, “we are able to overcome through our faith in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the edification and the salvation of our Christ-named flock.”
en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info