Patriarch Alexii Ii Hopes For Restoration Of Peace On Holy Land Of Israel And Palestine

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexii II hopes for the restoration of peace on the Holy Land of Israel and Palestine, reports the RIA Novosti correspondent. In a conversation with journalists, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said that "with pain at heart we take every worsening of the situation in the Holy Land -- terrorist acts which have provoked the military confrontation and missile and bomb attacks which have been dealt on Palestinian towns". "We hope and pray to God to bestow peace on the Holy Land, peace which He brought to Earth by the nativity of Christ in Bethlehem", said the patriarch. Alexii II expressed the hope that by Christmas Russians will be able to make a pilgrimage to the city of Bethlehem and bow to the place of Nativity of Christ. Because the situation in the Middle East is worsening, for many pilgrims the road to the holy places has been closed. "I hope that good reason will win", said the patriarch.