Damascus: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited Damascus, one of the oldest shrines of the Greek Orthodox Church, headquarters of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Damascus (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East). Patriarch John X welcomed the two heads of state, accompanied by high officials and clergymen.
The visit took place yesterday. Syrian media reports that the duo participated in a prayer for peace led by the Patriarch. Putin’s visit to Syria is also a surprise, as he visited the Russian Coptic Orthodox Church on Christmas Day, January 7.
Syria’s national news agency SANA (SNA) has released a picture of Putin wishing Christmas to Russian troops in Syria and the two leaders visiting Mariamite Cathedral. Putin also visited the site where John the Baptist was buried. The Russian President’s unexpected visit to Syria is particularly important in the context of tensions between Iran and the United States following the airstrikes.
