Yesterday, during his two-day visit to the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Israel.
Yesterday, during his two-day visit to the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Israel.
Vladimir Putin visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, including the Aedicule, a small chapel built over the slab believed to have sealed Jesus Christ’s tomb until his resurrection.
This place is sacred for all Christians. This is where the Holy Fire occurs on Great Saturday before Easter.
The Tuesday of June 26 was one of few days when the service took place from 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. At the church entrance, Putin was greeted by Father Isidore, the church’s senior priest, Patriarch Theophilus III and other monks.
The President entered the church and knelt down at the Stone of Anointing. He then proceeded to the Aedicule and climbed to Calvary (Golgotha) where he also knelt down at the relics.
Afterwards, Putin exchanged gifts with the priests and presented them with the Icon of the Savior.
From the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the most sacred place for the Christian community, Putin proceeded to the Wailing Wall, the most sacred site recognized by the Jewish faith. He was accompanied by Chief Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar and Alexander Boroda, Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia.
The rabbis told the President about the history of the Wailing Wall, the only remaining fragment of the ancient Jewish temple built by Solomon and destroyed by the Babylonians to be later restored by Herod and again destroyed by the Roman Empire.
