Hebron Governor Major General Khaled Dudin received Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev), Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in the Holy Land, in the presence of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine.
The meeting was attended by Yuri Romashuk, Advisor to the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Palestine; Jihad Khair, member of the Presidential Committee, and Raed Hanania, Director of Public Relations and Media for the Committee.
Governor Dudin warmly welcomed the visiting delegation, highlighting the deep-rooted historical ties between Palestine and Russia. He praised the enduring spiritual and cultural role of the Russian Mission, particularly through the presence of the Russian Orthodox “Moskobiya” Church in Hebron, which he described as a symbol of peace, love, and a testament to the close relationship between the two peoples. The Governor also expressed appreciation for Russia’s consistent support of Palestinian national rights.
He reaffirmed the Palestinian leadership’s commitment, under President Mahmoud Abbas, to safeguarding church properties, legal wise and in terms of security. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening community partnerships with the Russian Church in the future.
Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev) reiterated the Russian Church’s full solidarity with the Palestinian people. He stated that the Church maintains a clear and unequivocal position against any attempts to sell church-owned properties or lands, reflecting an official position upheld at the highest levels of the Russian Orthodox Church and deeply rooted in the Church’s historic bond with Palestine.
Both sides underscored the critical need to protect Muslim and Christian holy sites in Hebron and across the Palestinian territories. They affirmed their commitment to continued coordination and cooperation, under the ongoing oversight of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs.
