His Holiness the Patriarch serves at the Kremlin Cathedral of Archangel Michael

HIS HOLINESS THE PATRIARCH SERVES AT THE KREMLIN CATHEDRAL OF ARCHANGEL MICHAEL

On November 21, the Day of the Synaxis of Archangel Michael and Other Heavenly Hosts, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy and conducted a thanksgiving at the Kremlin Cathedral of Archangel Michael.

Many Orthodox military, who celebrate St. Michael as the heavenly patron of the Russian Army, worshipped and communicated in this church on that day. Among them were commanders, senior officers, rank and file, war veterans and families of dead servicemen.

After the service, His Holiness the Patriarch presented the military with decorations. Among those decorated were the Landing Troops Chief Commander Gen. Col. Shpak, the Defense Ministery press-secretary Shatalov, the Landing Troops Reconnaissance Regiment Commander Col. Kalygin, Federal Guards Directorate “A” head Col. Plyakov, St. Michael Union chairman, Maj. Siluyanov, and Military Artists head Mr. Sytov, who participated in the painting of the Church of Christ the Saviour.

“We live at a difficult time when the Russian soldiers have to defend the sacred borders of the Fatherland from the threat coming from terrorists seeking to shake the internal peace and tranquility in our country”, said the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

His Holiness made a special mention of the Russian landing troops and gave to Gen. Col. Shpak a icon of the Holy Prophet Elijah, on whose commemoration day the landing troops were founded. “Today we prayed for the rest of the souls of those who died in action, among them a son of Gen. Col. Shpak”, His Holiness the Patriarch noted.