The Chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church's Department of the Russian Orthodox Church met with the Patriarch of Jerusalem in Jordan

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, paid a working visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. During the trip, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church took part in the grand opening of a new educational institution and held a number of high-level meetings with religious and state leaders of the region. In addition, Metropolitan Anthony held a separate meeting with Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem.

According to the official website of the OVCS Communication Service, the inauguration ceremony of the International Orthodox University took place on May 18, 2026 in the presence of King Abdullah II ibn Hussein al-Hashimi of Jordan. The educational institution is located on the site of the Baptism of the Lord near the Jordan River at the Patriarchal Monastery of St. Epiphany. In addition to theological specialties, the new university plans to teach a wide range of humanitarian disciplines.

During the visit, Metropolitan Anthony and Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, advisor to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, met with Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, chief advisor to the King of Jordan on religious issues. The parties discussed current problems of interreligious dialog, issues of pilgrimage to Jordanian shrines and the current situation of Christian communities in the Middle East. Special attention was paid to the role of Russia in the development of world culture.

The program of the stay also included a personal meeting of Metropolitan Anthony with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. During the conversation they discussed issues of inter-Orthodox and inter-confessional relations, as well as the difficulties faced by the Church of Jerusalem. The Chairman of the DECC conveyed to the Primate of the Jerusalem Church words of support and fraternal greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.