VISIT OF ARCHIMANDRITE SAMAHAH TO SYRIA AND LEBANON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R007100090006-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 7, 2000
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: February 27, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2000/05/18 : CIA-RDP..$
I~7R007100090006-2
CLASSIFICATION S1, T/COiTTROL U.S. OFFFICIALS ONLY
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
O FOR ATCO REPORT
COUNTRY Syria, ebanon/USSR
SUBJECT Visit of Archimandrito Sama.hah
to Syria and Lebanon
25X1A
25X1A
27 February 1951
NO. OF PAGES 1
the recent visit of Archimandrits Basilios Ssmahah
to Syria and Lebanon was made at the suggestion of the Russian Orthodox
Church in Moscowe The purpose of the trip was to obtain the financial
support of Greek Orthodox Patriarch Alexandros Tahen of Antioch for the
creation of a seminary in Moscow for Greek Orthodox priostso**
2. When Archimandrite Samahah's initial efforts to gain the Patriarch's
support were unsuccessful, he appealed to the Soviet Legation in Beirut
to bring pressure to bear on Patriarch Tahanm After referring the matter
to Mlosoow, the Soviet Legation told Archimandrite Samahah that the :Russian
Orthodox Church in Moscow was prepared to provide him with 300,000 rubles
against a promissory note signed by the Patriarch Alexandros Tahen,
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This project was successfully arranged, and Archimandrite Samaheah left
Damascus on 6 January to. return to Moscow, via I ran.
Comment Other reasons for Archimendrite Samahah's visit are
given
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