Agents of the Russian Federation retain their grip over the Patriarch of Jerusalem, holding meetings almost every month to slow down the process of recognition of the OCU by the Jerusalem Church.
The Russian side is exploiting the existing problems with extremists in Jerusalem to offer “protection” and, accordingly, to seek from the Jerusalem Patriarchate decisions favorable to Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church.
On June 7, Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov was received by Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem. The meeting was attended by the head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Alexander (Yelisov) and the treasurer of the RІM, hieromonk Athanasius (Bukin), the ROC press service reports.
During the meeting, the topic of state-confessional cooperation in the context of strengthening the spiritual unity of Orthodox believers was discussed.
“The importance of preserving the historically established religious status quo in Israel was noted. Attention was also paid to ensuring the inviolability of the Orthodox religious sites of the Holy Land, including in light of Ateret Beloved’s claims to pilgrimages near the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City on the Pilgrimage Route to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Russian side has expressed strong support for the position of the Jerusalem Patriarchate on the issue,” the ROC said.
According to the press service of the Russian Embassy, Viktorov stressed the constant commitment of the Russian Federation to “protection of Christians in the Middle East.”
In early June, the Patriarch of Jerusalem addressed EU officials over problems with extremists. In April, U.S. senators paid a visit to the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Persecution of the Jerusalem Church in Jerusalem
Given the historical past, when KGB agents operated under the guise of priests, it can be assumed that the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem is not only performing its direct duties, but is pursuing the Kremlin’s geopolitical interests.
Religious expert Oleksandr Yefremenko spoke about the peacekeeping and occupation activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
It should be recalled that the ROC helps the Jerusalem Patriarchate to build a church. Russia uses the Patriarch of Jerusalem as a tool to oppose the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch. To this end, Patriarch Theophilus in February 2021, presumably under pressure from Moscow, called for a re-run of the non-canonical Amman meeting, although last year’s “Amman” meeting failed, which was recognized even by Russian experts.
In mid-June 2021, Russian Ambassador Viktorov and FSB envoys had already met with the Patriarch of Jerusalem. After that, Russian experts spoke again about Amman 2.0. Later, a similar meeting took place on July 22, 2021 and September 15, 2021.
According to Metropolitan Epifaniy, the recognition of the OCU is being considered by the Jerusalem Orthodox Church. On November 29, 2021, the Patriarch of Jerusalem visited the Primate of the Greek Church, who recognized the OCU.
