His Holiness Patriarch Alexy conducted a festive service at St. George’s on the Poklonnaya Hill and blessed the launching of an airborne procession with the cross

On May 6, The Commemoration Day of St. George the Conqueror, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and all Russia celebrated the divine liturgy and a thanksgiving at St. George’s on Poklonnaya Hill.

The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was assisted by Archbishop Alexy of Orekhovo-Zuevo, Bishop Alexander of Dmitrov, Archpriest Vladimir Divakov, dean of the central church district, Archpriest Georgy Studenov, dean of the Mikhailovky church district, Archpriest Sergiy Suzdaltsev, the first rector of St. George’s, and the present rector of St. George’s, Rev. Serafim Nedosekin. Among the worshippers were G. Poltavchenko, presidential envoy to Central Russia, and General V. Varennikov, president of the International League for Human Dignity and Security.

After the service, Father Serafim Nedosekin addressed His Holiness Patriarch Alexy, thanking him for his paternal care and presenting him with an Icon of the Saviour for prayerful memory.

In his response, His Holiness noted the significance of the prayerful intercession of St. George. Speaking about the coming Victory Day, His Holiness stressed that it was necessary to revere and honor the memory of those who defended the Fatherland and who gave their lives to deliver their people and country from fascism. He also expressed regret that the memory of those who fell in the war with fascism was not honored in a proper way in some places.

The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church congratulated G. Poltavchenko on his Name-Day and gave him a host. He also mentioned that Moscow Mayor Luzhkov was also celebrating his name-day that day.

His Holiness also gave his blessing upon the airborne procession with the cross that started that day to the Golden Ring cities in Russia and gave an icon of St. George to V. Varennikov as one of its initiators. The latter said the flight around Moscow with an icon of the heavenly protector of the city was made to imitate the flights made around Moscow with the miracle-working Icon of Our Lady of Tikhvin during the Great Patriotic War.

His Holiness Alexy congratulated the first rector of St. George’s, Archpriest Sergey Suzdaltsev, on the patronal feast, thanked him for his work and presented him with flowers. His Holiness also granted Rev. Serafim Nedosekin the right to wear a pectoral cross and expressed the hope that he, as a successor to the previous rector, would work hard for the benefit of the Parish of St. George.

Then V. Varennikov decorated the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the President Envoy for Central Russia with the Order of the International League for Human Dignity and Security. He said it was not accidental that the Commemoration Day of St. George and the Victory Day were so close in time. According to Gen. Varennikov, the intercession of St. George helped the Russian people to come victorious in the Great Patriotic War.

After the service, the participants in the procession with the cross moved to the helipad from this a MI-8 took off, carrying, along with the Icon of St. George, the Icon of Our Lady of Tikhvin and icons of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, the Righteous Fyodor Ushakov with parts of his relics and a cypress cross with parts of the Holy Cross.

DECR Communication Service