Deputy Head of Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (Israel) Hegumen Theophan Visits Jordan

Director of the Construction Site of the Russian Pilgrims’ House (pilgrims’ reception house) HE Mr. A.Y. Opria, Deputy Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem Hegumen Theophan, Manager of the Russian Pilgrims’ Hotel at the Baptism Site of Christ Mr. Oleg Romashuk, Deputy Chairman of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council Mr. V.A. Kononenko

From 24^th to 26^th April 2012, on the Russian-Jordanian Business Council’s invitation, Deputy Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem Hegumen Theophan paid a working visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

In order to discuss the matters concerning the development of the pilgrimage tourism between Russia, Israel and Jordan and in connection with an expected official opening of the Russian Pilgrims’ Hotel (the pilgrims’ reception house) in the sacred place of the Baptism of Christ on the river Jordan, Hegumen Theophan took part in a whole number of arranged by RJBC meetings: with Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board HE Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat at the Jordan Ministry of Tourism&Antiquities, Director of the Jordan National Park ‘The Baptism Site of Christ’ HE Mr. Dia Al-Madani, Consul of the Russian Federation in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Mr. R.A. Endovitsky, Director of the Construction Site of the Russian Pilgrims’ House (the pilgrims’ reception house) HE Mr. A.Y. Opria, the Director of the Jordan Customs Administration Department and others.

RJBC Deputy Chairman Mr. V.A. Kononenko, Director of the Jordan National Park ‘The Baptism Site of Christ’ HE Mr. Dia Al-Madani, Deputy Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem Hegumen Theophan, Manager of the Russian Pilgrims’ Hotel at the Baptism Site of Christ Mr. O. Romashuk

The abovementioned talks, which were constructive, businesslike and full of a friendly and cooperative spirit, covered, for the benefit of the both parties, the following points:

1. The possibilities to simplify the procedure of getting a license for pilgrimage activities in a Jordan’s territory.

2. The possibility to place in a Jordan’s territory an advertisement providing the information about the activities of the Pilgrims’ Hotel (the pilgrims’ reception house).

3. The possibilities to simplify a visa issuing procedures for the pilgrim tourists’ groups passing through the customs stations in Israel and Jordan.

4. The possibilities to grant a permit for free import of the commodities from Russia for the needs of the Russian Pilgrims’ Hotel.

5. A procedure of group visas obtaining, getting many-time passes and abidance by the rules of a controlled-access territory.

6. The possibilities to install closed circuit cameras in the territory of the Complex, to arrange security, to equip the premises for a border check-point and a medical clinic.

7. Questions about a life support of the Complex, etc.

Besides that, within the framework of the visit Deputy Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem Hegumen Theophan and Deputy Chairman of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council (RJBC), Chairman of the RJBC’s Commission for Tourism, Culture and Religion Mr. V.A. Kononenko visited the Russian Pilgrims’ Hotel (pilgrims’ reception house) constructed by ‘StroytransGas’ plc. under the instruction of the Affairs Management Department of the Russian Federation President’s Administration.

Director of the Construction Site of the Russian Pilgrims’ House HE Mr. A.Y. Opria, Deputy Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem Hegumen Theophan, RJBC Deputy Chairman Mr. V.A. Kononenko, Manager of the Russian Pilgrims’ Hotel at the Baptism Site of Christ Mr. O. Romashuk

First of all, the participants of the working session at the Russian Pilgrims’ Hotel devoted special attention to the inspection of the operational preparedness of the Complex’s life support systems including ventilation, air-conditioning, a fire-control unit system, water supply, water-drain pipes and electric power supply. Next, they checked the preparedness of the processing equipment for a refectory, availability of the necessary facilities for the dwelling units, administrative service rooms and personal service rooms. Lastly, the parties evaluated the quality of the done construction works, finishing works and beautification of the territory.

To sum up, it should be noted that all the meetings were well-organized and held in a high businesslike approach; and received a full backing from the official state structures of Jordan. Hegumen Theophan expressed his gratitude to the Russian-Jordanian Business Council and personally to Deputy Chairman of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council Mr. V.A. Kononenko for the official invitation to visit Jordan and for a whole number of arranged successful meetings with the officials of the state structures and departments of Jordan. In addition, Hegumen Theophan emphasized the key importance of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council’s activities in the coordination of the Russian-Jordanian projects in a Jordan’s territory.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council Mr. V.A. Kononenko, on his side, stressed that thanks to Hegumen Theophan’s personal participation in all the meetings the format of the talks and the list of discussed questions enable to hope not only for further close and fruitful cooperation but also a total support in this direction from the official state departments and state structures of Jordan.

The Russian Federation Consul in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Mr. R.A. Endovitsky, Deputy Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem Hegumen Theophan, RJBC Deputy Chairman Mr. V.A. Kononenko

Manager of the Russian Pilgrims’ Hotel at the Baptism Site of Christ Mr. O. Romashuk, Deputy Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem Hegumen Theophan, RJBC Deputy Chairman Mr. V.A. Kononenko, Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board HE Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat

An award presentation ceremony: Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board HE Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat is being presented with the Medal ‘For Contribution to Development of Economic and Friendly Relations between Russia and Jordan’

Deputy Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem Hegumen Theophan in the sacred place of the Baptism of Christ on the river Jordan (at the Russian pilgrims’ reception house)