Photo credit: tilisateur:Djampa - User:Djampa - Own work / commons.wikimedia.org (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society (IOPS) is celebrating its 140th anniversary on Friday, June 3, TASS reports. The IOPS was established by a decree of Emperor Alexander II. Today, the IOPS is an organization that enjoys the well-deserved authority of the international community. It is impossible to overestimate its contribution to the establishment of Russia's position in the Middle East and to the history of the Russian Orthodox presence in the biblical region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the IOPS on the anniversary. In his opinion, today the Society continues to play a significant role in the development and deepening of Russia's ties with the Holy Land in the spiritual and cultural spheres. Almost 150 years ago, the IOPS did a lot for pilgrimage to Christian shrines. It built temples and monasteries, schools and hospitals. Putin recalled that expeditions were carried out with his direct participation, and their results became the foundation for large-scale scientific research. The Russian president also highly evaluated the work that the Society is doing today, providing assistance to the population of Syria and Donbass.
Modern members of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society do not change the traditions of asceticism today, they continue to develop oriental studies, the head of state noted. The IOPS conducts large-scale work in the field of education, humanitarian, educational and charitable projects.
Russkiy Mir
