Russia to restore church complex in Syrian city of Erbil
MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax) - Russia will continue restoring Christian sites in Syria, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia told the Patriarch John of Antioch and All the East.
"At your request, an important project will be implemented in the very near future: the restoration of the church complex in the city of Erbil and of a church in the town of Al-Zabadani near Damascus," Patriarch Kirill said at a meeting with John X in Moscow on Tuesday.
Russia also will help install necessary equipment at the patriarch's Al-Hosn hospital.
Restoration work in the ancient Orthodox Convent of Saint Thecla in Maaloula is nearing completion, Patriarch Kirill said.
"We hope that pilgrims will again be able to visit these places and rejoice at coming into contact with the spiritual and church tradition of your Church," he said.
Patriarch John X of Antioch has arrived in Russia on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Russian Church synod that elected the incumbent patriarch of Moscow.