Visit of the Russian Orthodox Patriarch to the Holy Land

On November, 9, 2012, the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill, arrived for a visit to the Holy Land. The visit will last six days and during it he will meet with the civil authorities in Israel, the Palestinian Autonomy and Jordan and the heads of the religious communities.

On Friday, November 9, he made his official entry into the Old City of Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulcher. The following day, Saturday, November 10, he went to Bethlehem to pray in the Nativity Church and met with the head of the Palestinian Autonomy Abu Mazen.

On November 11, he visited Israeli President Shimon Peres and also met with the Chief Rabbis, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger and Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.

On November 12, the Patriarch will inaugurate the new Russian church, the Church of All Saints, in the Russian Orthodox monastery in Ein Karem. Following the ceremony, he will visit Yad VaShem.

On Tuesday, November 13, the Patriarch will visit Nazareth and the Galilee.

On Wednesday, November14, he will cross into Jordan and will meet there with King Abdullah II.

During his visit, the Patriarch's book, "Freedom and Responsibility" is being distributed in Hebrew translation.

View a series of videos on the visit of Patriarch Kirill here

View visit of Patriarch Kirill to Rabbi Shlomo Amar here