Patriarchal visitations 

PATRIARCHAL VISITATIONS 

From April 25 to 27, 1997, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia was on a visit to Lithuania. Its purpose was to make a pastoral visitation to the Lithuanian diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and to take part in the events devoted to the 650th anniversary of the demise of Sts Anthony, John and Eustaphius of Vilna and the 400th anniversary of the Vilna Monastery of the Holy Spirit. 

The Patriarch had a meeting with Lithuanian President Brazauskas at the presidential palace. The president stressed that since 1990 when the independence of Lithuania was restored, the state has been returning the property confiscated under the Soviet power from all confessions including the Orthodox. In recognition of Patriarch Alexy’s efforts to strengthen friendship between Lithuania and Russia, the president awarded him the republic’s highest decoration, the Order of Great Prince Gyadiminas of Lithuania, Class I. 

In his response, Patriarch Alexy II gave a high assessment to the personal contribution made by President Brazauskas to the formation of the New Lithuania and the adoption of legislation regulating relations between various Christian confessionsin Lithuania. He presented to the president with a high decoration of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Order of St. Prince Daniel of Moscow, Class I.

His Holiness the Patriarch also had a meeting with Lithuanian prime minister Vagnorius during which he thanked the Lithuanian Government for its fair handling of religious and national minorities problems. 

Patriarch Alexy II laid wreaths at the graves of the Lithuanian freedom fighters and at the monument erected at the place where Soviet soldiers who died defending Vilnius from fascist invaders were buried. 

The church festivities were held at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on July 25 and 26. It was on July the 26, 1946, that the holy relics of the three saints of Vilna were brought back to Vilnius from Moscow where they had been kept since World War I. Patriarch Alexy officiated at All-night Vigil and celebrated the liturgy together with an assembly of archpastors. For the first time in the history of Orthodoxy in Lithuania the faithful lifted up prayers to God together with the Primate of their Church.

In his address to the congregation, His Holiness said in particular, “the people of God began to venerate Sts Anthony, John and Eustaphius after the martyrdom they suffered in 1347, which, according to tradition, occurred at a pagan temple near old Vilnius. The life of the Orthodox Church in Lithuania abounds in examples of human determination to stay faithful to the orthodox faith… The Orthodox Church in Lithuania has always stood side by side with the Lithuanian people, bearing their burdens. Thus, during the tragic events in Vilnius in 1991, the Russian Orthodox Church came out against violence and bloodshed. The Church has always risen in defence of those whole life is in danger. Without interfering in political passions, without taking sides in political confrontation, she raises her voice against every injustice, every falsehood and every violence. In January 1991 somebody wanted very much to present the developments as a result of a confrontation between the Russians and the Lithuanians. But the Russian Orthodox Church declared firmly that there was no confrontation whatsoever, there was no conflict: throughout the centuries the Russians have lived in peace and harmony with their Lithuanian brothers”. 

Present at the liturgy were Lithuanian President Brazauskas, Parliament Speaker Landsbergis, as well as Catholic clergy led by Archbishop Bachkis, Metropolitan of Vilnius and chairman of the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference.

Patriarch Alexy gave eucharistic vessels to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit for the memory of his visit to it. Archbishop Chrysostom of Vilna and Lithuania was decorated with the Order of St. Prince Daniel of Moscow in recognition of his archpastoral service. On behalf of the Orthodox faithful in Lithuania, Archbishop Chrysostom gave His Holiness an icon of Sts Anthony, John and Eustaphius of Vilna.

After the liturgy a cross-procession was led by His Holiness the Patriarch to the chapel in which the Ostrobramsky Icon of the Theotokos is kept in arch called “The Gates of Dawn”. It is venerated by both Orthodox and Catholic believers. Having venerated the icon, His Holiness addressed himself to the thousands of believers who filled the adjacent street. He said in particular, “Today the Lord for the first time has brought the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Lithuanian land. It is with reverence that I stepped on this soil where many generations of Christians, first of all Catholic and Orthodox, have glorified God, where Sts Martyrs Anthony, John and Eustaphius suffered martyrdom for Christ, where the grace of the Most Holy Theotokos has been repeatedly revealed. I am deeply moved by the warm and generous welcome you have given me. In this I see sincere feelings that the Lithuanian people have for the peoples of Russia and other CIS countries in which millions of Orthodox Christians live. I am especially gratified by the fact that the Orthodox faithful in Lithuania, who have traditionally stayed in the fold of the Moscow Patriarchate, enjoys love and respect in your country and have good relations with both the state power and other religious communities, above all the Roman Catholic Church. Lithuania was one of the first countries in our region to support traditional religious associations. This has created a peaceful religious climate in this country, marked with co-operation among the absolute majority of the believers”. Archbishop Audris Bachkis also addressed the congregation.

Later that day Russian Ambassador Constantine Mozel gave a reception in honour of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. After the reception the Russian Orthodox delegation visited St. Euphrocene cemetery to say a prayer for the rest of the souls of victims of fascism. At the memorial built there at 1997 on the funds provided by the Russian Embassy and the Russian Orthodox Church, the delegation and the congregation sang “Eternal Memory”. 

His Holiness the Patriarch began his third day in Lithuania with celebrating the liturgy at the 14th century cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos. In his address to the congregation, His Holiness said that he cherished the opportunity to pray in that church, “for it was consecrated 600 years ago by my patron saint, St. Alexis the Metropolitan of Moscow and the Miracle-worker of all Russia, whose holy name I bear as a monk “.

The last item on the patriarchal programme in Lithuania was a visit to the boarding school in New Vilnius near the capital. His Holiness the Patriarch was introduced to the life of the children. He also saw the museum containing shrines which children had brought from various pilgrimages and the Orthodox chapel in which the children, together with their pastors and teachers, lift up prayers to the Lord. 

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Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia was on a visit to the diocese of Yaroslavl from August 20 to 23, 1997, for the celebrations devoted to the 10th anniversary of the re-opening of the Tolga Convent of the Presentation of the Mother of God to the Temple.

The Tolga convent was re-opened in 1987 when the Church was preparing for the Millennium of the Baptism of Russia. At present there are 130 nuns directed by Mother Superior Varvara. The sisters seek to restore the old beauty of the convent. They fulfil various obediences in the church, a host bakery, an icon-painting shop and at a farm including a paltry-yard and several green-houses. There is a choir conductor class in which sisters teach music and theological subjects to girls from outside and other sisters. The mother superior and the sisters are praying that the miracle-working Icon of Our Lady of the Tolga, which is kept at a museum, may be returned to the convent. 

From the Tolga convent His Holiness went to Yaroslavl to bless the memorial emblem at installed at the walls of the cathedral of the Holy Transfiguration to commemorate the march of popular troops led by Minin and Pozharsky in 1612 from Yaroslavl on Moscow occupied by the Poles. His Holiness also saw the buildings which had been given by the city authorities to the Yaroslavl ruling bishop for his residence and office. 

Patriarch Alexy also visited several towns in the diocese. He celebrated the liturgy at the cathedral of the Dormition at the Rostov Kremlin and attended the opening celebrations devoted to the 1135th anniversary of Rostov. He concluded his stay in the Yaroslavl diocese with a visit to St. Nicholas convent at Pereyaslavl-Zalessky to venerate the Korsun Cross, one of the ancient local shrines. 

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Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia was on a visit to the Kazan diocese from August 31 to September 2, 1997. It became the 60th diocese visited by His Holiness for the seven years of his patriarchal office. The arrival of His Holiness became a genuine feast for people in Tatarstan. At the airport he was met an allembly of bishops, as well as Muslim clergy and government officials. 

During his stay in the Kazan diocese His Holiness officiated at divine services at the cathedrals of St. Nicholas and Sts Peter and Paul, visited the diocesan office and the pre-seminary, which has been opened in Kazan this year, as well as the monasteries of the Dormition and St. Raipha and the churches of the Yaroslavl Miracle-workers and St. Varvara.

On September 1, the Patriarch Alexy and the Mufti Galiullah of Tatarstan attended the oath-taking at the Kazan Higher Tank Commander College. On September 2, His Holiness had a talk with Tatarstan President Shaimiyev. Present at the meeting were Tatarstan Prime-minister Mukhametshin, State Council Chairman Likhachev, Council for Religious Affairs Chairman Nabiyev, Kazan Mayor Iskhakov and other high-ranking officials. Having noted the support given by Tatarstan leaders to the Kazan diocese, His Holiness decorated Mr. Shaimiyev and Mr. Likhachev with the Order of St. Prince Daniel of Moscow. Later that day, His Holiness visited the Tatarstan Muslim Board and had a talk with the Muslim clergy.