Russian Cultural Center to Open in Jericho this Autumn
Speaking at the first conference of
Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill
expressed his hope that the Russian Cultural Center in Jericho would be
fully operational by autumn of this year.
“It
is clear that by this autumn, in time for the great anniversary of
Jericho, this cultural center will be built,” the patriarch said,
referring to the city’s upcoming celebrations of 10 centuries
since its founding. Patriarch Kirill noted that this will be “the first
major project in the Holy Lands implemented in the third millennium
with the active assistance of the Russian state.”
Chairman of the
Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society Sergei Stepashin is being closely
monitored and he has high hopes that Russian pilgrims will soon begin
traveling to Jericho. The Audit Chamber, which Stepashin
also heads, has reached an agreement with mayor of Jericho to place a
plaque near the Zacchaeus sycamore tree noting the participation of the Russian state.
The
patriarch also thanked the society for its effort to return
historically Russian facilities in the Holy Lands as well as for the
recent acquisition of a plot of land in Bethlehem where a cultural and
business center will be built.
Russkiy Mir Foundation Information Service
russkiymir.ru