The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its Primate’s Name Day on the Sunday of Orthodoxy

In 2007 the Sunday of Orthodoxy fell on February 25, the commemoration day of St Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia, this being the Name Day of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

On February 24, His Holiness celebrated the All-Night Vigil in the Cathedral of the Epiphany where the relics of St Alexis repose. The relics were discovered during the reign of the Grand Prince of Moscow Vassily the Dark on 20 May 1431 and were kept in the Chudov monastery of the Moscow Kremlin till 1929, the year when the monastery was destroyed. The relics were kept in the Moscow Kremlin museums till 1947 and then were handed over to the Russian Orthodox Church at the request of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy I and transferred to the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Epiphany in Yelokhovo.

On February 25, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia officiated at the Divine Liturgy and the Office celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Concelebrating with His Holiness were permanent members of the Holy Synod, other archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church and representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches.

Metropolitan Vladimir of Ladoga and St Petersburg congratulated His Holiness Patriarch Alexy on his Name Day on behalf of the Synod and bishops of the Russian Church.

Archpriest Vladimir Bushuyev, rector of the Church of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God in Izmailovo, congratulated His Holiness the Patriarch on behalf of the Moscow clergy.

His Holiness expressed his thanks for greetings and prayerful wishes of many years and recalled the words of the Prophet and Psalmist David who prayed to God, saying, ‘Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days’ (Ps 39:4). The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said, ‘Even on the day of my election to the Patriarchal throne I realized that this cross had been placed on me in my declining years. The length of our life and ministry is God’s mystery. Let us thank the Lord for the innumerable mercies that He grants us in our lifetime.’

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy thanked the archpastors and pastors, the monastics and laymen for their prayerful support that he has felt during his Patriarchal ministry. ‘I hope for your prayers. All the time the Lord grants us we shall together make Holy Orthodoxy more strong and thank the Lord for our belonging to the Holy Orthodox Church. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ grants us His grace through His Church. It is from this source that we draw strength to perform our deeds to the glory of God and the glory of our suffering people who in spite of everything is coming back to the faith of Christ. May the Lord bless us all and our homeland and vouchsafe us to serve God, our Holy Church and the Russian people with honour and dignity.’