The 17th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia celebrated in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Festive divine service was celebrated in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on 10 June 2007, the Sunday of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Russia and the anniversary day of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with Metropolitan Vladimir of St Petersburg and Ladoga; Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna; Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for external church relations; Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Job of Chelyabinsk and Zlatoust; Metropolitan Ireney of Dnepropetrovsk and Pavlograd; Metropolitan Valentin of Orenburg and Buzuluk; Metropolitan Varnava of Cheboksary and Chuvashia; Metropolitan Isidore of Yekaterinodar and Kuban; Metropolitan Methody of Astana and Alma-Ata; Metropolitan Sergy of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk, other archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church and representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches.

After the Divine Liturgy His Holiness the Patriarch celebrated a prayer service before the shrine with the relics of St Luke, Apostle and Evangelists, which were brought to Moscow from the Holy Mount Athos the day before.

Metropolitan Vladimir of St Petersburg and Ladoga read out a welcoming address of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church issued on the occasion of the 17^th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, saying in particular:

“Today we are looking with our mind’s eyes to the time when the Chief Shepherd and Accomplisher of our salvation our Lord Jesus Christ heeded to the prayers of the people of God and has granted the Russian Church its wise helmsmen, a man of ardent prayer, intercessor and primate who always cares for the good of the Church. You are a good pastor who wholeheartedly cares for the many-million flock entrusted to you, an enlightener and preacher, who tirelessly proclaims the truth of Christ, an experienced helmsman who confidently steers the church in the turbulent sea of life dispelling many temptations of the present time. Only God knows about your labours done for the construction of the new church buildings and rebuilding of those ruined during the trials of godless time, for the revival of monastic life, for dynamic development of theological and spiritual education, for the opportunity for the clergymen to always offer up prayers to the Lord and bring the bloodless sacrifice of gratitude in the numerous sanctuaries.’

Metropolitan Vladimir congratulated His Holiness the Patriarch on the anniversary of his primatial ministry on behalf of the archpastors, clergymen, monastics and laymen of the Russian Orthodox Church, saying: ‘We always pray the All-Generous God to prolong your life in peace, good health and prosperity so that all of us could have spiritual edification from our inspiring first hierarch who, according to Holy Scriptures, does his best to present himself ‘to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.’ (2 Tim 2:15).

Metropolitan Vladimir presented His Holiness Patriarch Alexy with a Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

Archpriest Nikolai Inozemtsev greeted His Holiness the Patriarch on behalf of the clergymen of the Moscow diocese, saying: ‘Today, on the anniversary of your enthronement as a Moscow Primate, we, your flock, with one mouth and one hearts offer our prayers to the Source of our salvation and inexhaustible grace asking him to support the labours of his faithful servant – His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.’ Fr Nikolai made a gift to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church on behalf of the Moscow clergymen – an icon of St Luke, the Apostle and Evangelist.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy thanked Metropolitan Vladimir and archpriest Nik9olai Inozemtsev for their warm greetings and addressed the audience, saying:

“We have experienced many difficulties and trials and have entered the 21^st century and the third millennium from the Nativity of Christ with hope. We hope that the new age and the new millennium would be creative, peaceful and prosperous for our homeland and our much-suffered people. I thank the Lord for all his mercies and gracious help conducive to our spiritual growth and the growth of the Church of Christ during seventeen years of our ministry. I thank all those who have revived the Church of Christ by their work.’

The Patriarch also thanked all Orthodox believers ‘who by their prayers, attention and support help Us and all archpastors and pastors of the Russian Orthodox Church to perform the ministry to which the Lord has called us’ and wished them God’s blessings, good health, strength, mercy and help from God.’

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy said, ‘God is with us. Therefore we do not fear any difficulties and trials.’ He congratulated all those present on the feast day of All the Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Russia noting that ‘we have an opportunity to venerate the holy relics of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke, who wrote a Holy Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles.’

‘St Luke was as a physician and an Apostle of Christ who preached the Word of God. May he strengthen us in the Orthodox faith, heal us through his prayers from the illness of our souls and bodies and help us live with Christian dignity,’ the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said in conclusion.