Christian World | Putin gave Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem the Order of Friendship at the Kremlin, where the patriarch offered to help efforts for peace

ACW | November 6, 2026 — Russian President Vladimir Putin met Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem at the Kremlin on Thursday, November 5, and awarded him Russia's Order of Friendship, Orthodox Times reported.

The award recognized the patriarch's contribution to strengthening friendship, cooperation and spiritual ties with Russia, the outlet said. Theophilos arrived in Moscow on November 4 at the invitation of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who also attended the Kremlin meeting, according to ProtoThema.

Theophilos told Putin he was ready to offer assistance and would encourage every effort toward peace, according to Orthodox Times, which published video of the meeting. Putin thanked the patriarch for his commitment to relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, the outlet said.

The Kremlin website referred to the war in Ukraine only as "the situation on Russia's western borders," Orthodox Times said. Theophilos had earlier said, after meeting US President Donald Trump, that he was ready to mediate on Ukraine and planned to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin, the outlet reported.

Kirill offered condolences over the October 23 attack near St. George's church in Jordan's Karak governorate, ProtoThema said, citing the Moscow Patriarchate. No response from Ukraine's government or the Orthodox Church of Ukraine appeared in published reports.

Background: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has invited the heads of the ancient Orthodox patriarchates to a meeting at the Phanar in Istanbul on November 30, according to Orthodox Times. ACW earlier reported that Jordan began the trial over the Karak church attack.

Why it matters: Theophilos III used the visit to raise the plight of Christian communities in the Middle East hit by war, instability and humanitarian crises, ProtoThema reported, citing the Moscow Patriarchate.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Orthodox Times — Jerusalem patriarch meets Putin; ProtoThema — Theophilos III meets Kirill and Putin

Photo: Orthodox Times