Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the Athonite Representation Church in Moscow

On 9 August 2005 the Orthodox Church celebrated the 1700^th anniversary of the martyr’s death of St.Panteleimon the Healer. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the holy martyr Nicetas – the Representation Church of the Russian Monastery of St.Panteleimon on Mount Athos.

Concelebrating with His Holiness were Archbishop Evlogy of Vladimir and Suzdal, Bishop Alexander of Dmitrov, representative of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Moscow Archimandrite Ignatius (Karagozov) and representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church Archimandrite Anthony (Pantelic). Attending the service as an honorary guest was G.S.Poltavchenko, presidential representative in the Central Federal okrug of Russia.

The message of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia to archpastors, pastors, monastics and all the faithful of the Russian Orthodox church in connection with the 1700^th anniversary of the deed of St.Panteleimon, the Great Martyr and Healer, was read out at the Divine Liturgy.

After the Divine Liturgy kolivo was blessed according to the Athonite tradition. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia celebrated a prayer service before the icon with a particle of the relics of the saint in the Annunciation side-altar.

Rector of the representation church hegumen Nikon greeted the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and presented him with an icon of St.Panteleimon the Great Martyr with a stone and earth from the Holy Mount Athos.

His Holiness congratulated all the worshippers on the 1700^th anniversary of the martyr’s deed of St.Panteleimon and said:

‘Today is a special day, as we commemorate the events which took place in the distant year of 305, when the Holy and Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon died. Being a physician and healer, he was true to his vocation by the wondrous power of the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He suffered cruel torments for his firm faith in Christ the Saviour.

1700 years have passed, but the Orthodox people cherish the memory of the Holy and Great Martyr Panteleimon and venerate him. We remember how the faithful stood in long queues for many ours to venerate the righteous head of the saint when it was brought to Moscow and how much faith and hope they demonstrated when praying before it.

All of us are endure illness of body and soul, and with love, faith and hope we entreat prayers and intercession of the Great Martyr, physician and confessor, who healed illness and infirmities of people during his lifetime and helps all those who ask him even after his death as a martyr.

We think today about the Monastery of St.Panteleimon on Mount Athos where his righteous head reposes’.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy thanked the rector of the Athonite Representation Church for the icon of the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, congratulated those who took the Holy Communion and expressed his wish for the help of St.Panteleimon to strengthen all who in faith run to his intercession and believe in the power of is prayers before the Lord.

His Holiness presented honorary guests with the medals issued for the jubilee as a memento of the celebration of the 1700^th anniversary of the death of St.Panteleimon and gave small icons of the Great Martyr to all the worshippers as his blessing.