The Visit of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy to Estonia Continues
29.09.2003 · English, Архив 2003
THE VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY TO ESTONIA CONTINUES
The second day of the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II to Estonia began with the Prayer service in the Tallinn Cathedral of the Holy and Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky. Concelebrating with His Holiness were Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Metropolitan Kornily of Tallinn and All Estonia, Archbishop Arseny of Istra, Bishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, diocesan clergymen and the ordained members of the delegation. Attending the service were the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Estonia K.K.Provalov and the Ambassador of Estonia in Russia Karin Yaani.
Hundreds of believers have gathered in the cathedral and around it, as the largest Orthodox church in Estonia could not accommodate all the people who wished to attend the Patriarchal Divine service. The service was broadcast to large monitors, installed in the square in front of the cathedral.
The Estonian believers met His holiness with the tears of joy. Natural roses were put on the carpet in the church. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church venerated the Icon of the Assembly of the Estonian Saints painted especially for the primatial visit.
After the Divine service His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and Metropolitan Kornily of Tallinn and All Estonia exchanged the words of greeting.
After the Prayer service His Holiness Patriarch Alexy conducted a Requiem service at the tombs of his parents – Archpriest Mikhail and Yelena Iosifovna, who are buried at the Alexander-Nevsky cemetery. The maternal ancestors of the Patriarch are also buried here.
After the Requiem service the Primate thanked those who prayed with him for the rest of the souls of his parents, who gave him life and educated him in the spirit of Holy Orthodoxy. Many difficulties and suffering fell to their lot. It was impossible to put crosses on their tombs, as at those difficult times Christian tombs could be barbarously destroyed. His Holiness said that the tombs of the clergymen buried at the Alexander-Nevsky cemetery were ruined.
His Holiness reminded those present that he could not come to the tombs of his parents buried in the Estonian land for eleven years, and that was a heavy burden for his heart.
During the Requiem service His Holiness Patriarch Alexy offered up his prayers for the ever-memorable Archpastors of the Estonian Orthodox Church Archbishop Pavel (Dmitrovsky), Bishop Isidor (Bogoyavlensky), Archbishop Ioann (Alekseyev) – a predecessor of the Patriarch at the Estonian diocese, clergymen of the Estonian Orthodox Church and for all those buried at the Alexander-Nevsky cemetery. After that His Holiness proceeded to the tombs of the Estonian archpastors and said his prayers for them.
On September 26 His Holiness Patriarch Alexy met with the Prime Minister of Estonia Yu.Parts.
In the evening that same day, which was the eve of the feast of the Elevation of the Life-Creating Cross, the All-Night Vigil service will be celebrated in the Cathedral of St.Alexander Nevsky. On the day of the feast His Holiness will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral.
On September 28 the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church will visit the Convent of the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God in Puhtica and celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Convent.
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