JERUSALEM: 21 December 2023
Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky) meets with Russian Ambassador AD Vikotorov

On Thursday, 21 December, 2023, Russian Ambassador to Israel AD Viktorov received Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia).

Practical aspects of preserving and strengthening the Christian presence in the Holy Land in the interests of all Orthodox believers were discussed. Special attention was paid to the state of affairs around the project of the Nature and Parks Department of the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection to expand the area of the national park “Around the Walls of the Old City of Jerusalem,” including through the territory of the Mount of Olives, where Christian shrines and churches such as Ascension of the Lord and Gethsemane Convents are located. Anatoly Viktorov assured Archimandrite Roman of the invariability of the Russian line to defend the interfaith status quo that had developed in the Holy City.

During the conversation, a mutual desire was expressed to continue constructive church-diplomatic cooperation.

It was agreed to that they would remain in contact.