His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia on a Visit to Estonia
1.10.2003 · English, Архив 2003
HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY II OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA BEGINS HIS VISIT TO ESTONIA
A visit of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia to Estonia will last from September 25 to 30, 2003. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church is accompanied by Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archishop Arseny of Istra, Bishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, clergymen and mother superiors of several convents.
It is for the first time in 10 years that Patriarch Alexy arrived in Estonia. Ten years ago he visited Tallinn, and Puhtica a year later. The primatial visit was delayed because of the problem of securing the rights of the believers of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOC MP). Only in the result of the long and difficult conversations with the President of Estonia, the Statute of the EOC MP was registered on 12 April 2002.
In October that same year a protocol of intent was signed, in which the leadership of the Estonian Republic and the authorities of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate established the main principles of the settlement of the long dispute about the church buildings, which were used by the EOC MP.
His Holiness arrived in Tallinn in the evening of September 25 and was met at the airport by Metropolitan Kornily of Tallinn and all Estonia, clergymen of the diocese, Minister of the Internal Affairs and Regional Policy of Estonia Yu.Yunapuu, Ambassador of Russia in Estonia K.K.Provalov, Ambassador of Estonia in Russia Karin Yaani, Chairperson of the Tallinn city assembly Maret Maripu, Director of the Department for Religious Organizations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Estonia Ilmo Au, deputies of the Tallinn city assembly and representatives of business circles.
After the solemn welcoming ceremony the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church met at dinner with Minister of the Internal Affairs of Estonia Ya.Yunapuu. They discussed the prospects of final settlement of the problems with the property of the Estonia Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. The Minister assured His Holiness the Patriarch in the good will of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Government of Estonia concerning the resolution of the problem.
On September 26 His Holiness will celebrate a Prayer service in the Cathedral of St.Alexander Nevsky in Tallinn. After it His Holiness Patriarch Alexy will conduct a Requiem service for his parents who are buried at the Alexander-Nevsly cemetery.
The programme of the primatial visit includes Divine services in the Cathedral of St.Alexander Nevsky in Tallinn and in the Convent of the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God in Puhtica.
Also planned are meetings with the leaders of the Estonian State, the Mayor of Tallinn, representatives of religious confessions, public circles and diplomats.
His Holiness will consecrate the foundation stone of a new Church dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God called ‘Quick to Hearken’ in Lasnamjae, a district of Tallinn.
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