Доклады Международного конгресса ИИСАА. Т. 1

II. Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia / Ближний Восток, Кавказ и Центральная Азия Доклады Международного конгресса по источниковедению и историографии стран Азии и Африки. Т. 1. 2020 267 III. Consequences of the travels The journeys of the Russian messengers to the East, as well as those of the Antiochian Patriarchs and prelates to Russia, had a positive impact on both parties. Their consequences — material, religious, cultural, artistic and moral, were the following: 1. Settling the debts of the Orthodox Patriarchate by the Russian Tzars in the 16 th and 17 th century; their donations of precious gifts to churches and convents in the East. 2. Strengthening the position of the Orthodox Christians in the East who endured the vexations of the Ottomans. 3. Reconstruction of the churches in the East and their decoration in the Russian style, especially in Damascus by Archdeacon Paul. Unfortunately, these churches together with other buildings were destroyed during the events of 1860 in Damascus. 4. Writing, translation and publication of the liturgical and historical books by Patriarch Makarius Ibn al-Za’īm. He composed five books during his first trip to Russia, and ten others during his second voyage. His son Paul also wrote a book on the first trip. 5. Participation in masses and ordinations of priests and deacons in Russia and other Christian countries, especially by Patriarch Makarius. 6. Support for the establishment of the Patriarchate of Moscow, by Patriarch Joachim. 7. Providing help in solving liturgical conflicts in Russia by participating in several synods like the one related to Nikon. 8. Participation in the discussions with the legate of the Pope of Rome on the issues of unification of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. 9. Strengthening relations between the Church of Antioch and Russia, despite the pressure from the Ottomans. Conclusion It is due to the above discussed journeys that relations between the Orthodox Church of Antioch and Russia were established and became stronger through the centuries. These relations reached their peak in the 19 th century when Russian officials took care of the Eastern Orthodox Christians by opening schools, hospitals, churches and other institutions, especially through the Palestinian Orthodox Society. Founded in 1882, it was financed by almost all the Russian people, and helped to drive out the poverty, ignorance and apostasy of the Orthodox Christians in Palestine, Syria and Lebanon.