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Metropolitan Kirill on visit to Italy

6.12.2007 · Архив 2005-2009, События  

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, arrived in Italy on December 3, on an invitation from Venice Mayor Massimo Cacciari.

He was met at Marco Polo airport by Rev. Alexy Yastrebov, rector of the Moscow Patriarchate Parish of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women in Venice, and representatives of the mayor’s office.

Upon his arrival in Venice he proceeded to Torcello Island to see its old Christian churches of St. Fosca and the Assumption with their beautiful medieval mosaics. He also visited Burano Island to venerate the relics of the Holy Protomartyr Barbara in the Church of St. Martin of Tura, to which her relics were brought by Venetians from Constantinople in 1003. After a brief prayer at the shrine, Metropolitan Kirill also venerated the relics of the Holy Bishop Alban, Deacon Urs and Dominique of the Desert, which rest in the same church.

On the same day the DECR head visited the Church of the Saviour in Venice to pray at the relics of the Holy Martyr Theodore Stratilates. After that he met with Mr. Eligio Paties, honorary consul of the Russian Federation in Venice.

On December 4, the Day of the Presentation of Our Lady to the Temple, Metropolitan Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women in Venice, which was founded five years ago. The small church could hardly accommodate all the faithful who came for the service not only from Venice but also various parts of Italy.

After the service, Father Alexy Yastrebov warmly thanked the archpastor for his visit to his church and common prayer as well as his continued concern for the faithful living in the far abroad. Metropolitan Kirill, on his part, congratulated the rector and the congregation on the 5th anniversary of the parish and gave them an Icon of Our Lady of Iveron.

A representative of the Patriarch of Venice also welcomed the metropolitan and presented him with a part of the relics of St. John the Merciful. In his response, the metropolitan said that he had asked the Patriarch of Venice to give a part of the relics of this saint to the church of St. John the Merciful in the diocese of St. Petersburg, whose rector, Archpriest Vasily Stoikov, professor emeritus of St. Petersburg Theological Academy, had requested him to approach the Patriarch of Venice. Cardinal Angelo Scola has complied with the request, and the shrine will be brought to St. Petersburg immediately.

Then Metropolitan Kirill familiarized himself with the photo display ‘The Orthodox Venice’ presenting the work of the parish in Venice and shared a brotherly meal with the parishioners.

On the same day he visited the churches keeping the relics of the Holy Martyrs Nicetas, Mary of Bethany and Lucia of Siracusa and the church of Frari where the great artist Tician is buried.

DECR Communication Service