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30th anniversary of Metropolitan Kirill’s episcopal ministry was celebrated in Smolensk

13.03.2006 · Архив 2005-2009, События  

On Sunday of Orthodoxy, 12 March 2006, the 30th anniversary of episcopal ministry of Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad was celebrated in Smolensk.

On Saturday Metropolitan Kirill officiated at the All-Night Vigil Service in the Smolensk Cathedral church of the Assumption. Concelebrating were Archbishop Varfolomey of Rovno and Ostrog, Bishop Mark of Yegorievsk, Bishop Ignaty of Vyazma and clergymen of the Smolensk and Kaliningrad diocese.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Smolensk Cathedral church of the Assumption on Sunday by Metropolitan Kirill, Archbishop Varfolomey of Rovno and Ostrog, Bishop Serafim of Baltiisk, Bishop Mark of Yegorievsk, Bishop Ignaty of Vyazma, clergymen of the Smolensk and Kaliningrad diocese and ordained staff members of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations.

After the Divine Liturgy and the Office of the Triumph of Orthodoxy traditionally celebrated on this day, DECR deputy chairman Bishop Mark of Yegorievsk read out a welcoming address from His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia. Bishop Mark greeted Metropolitan Kirill on behalf of the DECR staff members and presented him with an episcopal staff – a symbol of episcopal ministry. Bishop Ignaty of Vyazma, a vicar bishop of the Smolensk diocese, congratulated Metropolitan Kirill on behalf of the Smolensk and Kaliningrad clergymen. Metropolitan Kirill thanked the hierarchs for greetings and addressed the worshippers.

A festive reception was held on the premises of the Smolensk diocesan administration. Archbishop Varfolomey of Rovno and Ostrog, Bishop Seraphim of Baltiisk and Governor of the Smolensk region V.N. Maslov congratulated Metropolitan Kirill. Chief of the Department for relations with pubic organizations and religious associations Ms. M.N.Belogubova read out a welcoming address from presidential representative in the Central Federal District G.S.Poltavchenko. Chairman of the Smolensk Regional Duma V.N.Anisimov, head of the Smolensk city administration V.N.Khaletsky, deputy head of the World Russian People’s Council and chairman of the Russian Writers’ Union V.N. Ganichev also congratulated Metropolitan Kirill.