His Holiness Patriarch Alexy arriving in the diocese of St. Petersburg

HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY ARRIVING IN THE DIOCESE OF ST. PETERSBURG

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia is on a visit to the diocese of St. Petersburg and the Valamo Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration from July 8 to 13, 2002.

In the evening of July 8, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church arrived at Pulkovo airport. He was met at the ladder by Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, Bishop Constantine of Tikhvin, rectors of churches in St. Petersburg, as well as St. Petersburg Mayor V. Yakovlev and Leningrad Regional Governor V. Serdyukov.

Answering questions from journalists at the airport, His Holiness noted the relationships of good cooperation established between the ROC diocese of St. Petersburg and the regional authorities in preparations for the 75th anniversary of the Leningrad Region and the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg to take place in a year’s time. “It is our common history and we share the joy of the city and region dwellers”, he said.

From the airport Patriarch Alexy proceeded to the Stauropegial Convent of St. John of Kronstadt. At the convent’s gates the First Hierarch was welcomed by the mother superior and sisters of the convent. His Holiness went down to the lower burial-vault of St. John of Kronstadt. He said a prayer to the saint and kissed his tomb. Addressing the sisters and pilgrims, His Holiness said, “The history of this cloister is passing before our mental eye. We remember the efforts St. John of Kronstadt exerted to build it. We believe that the saints who pursued their feats in the Northwest of Russia, namely, John of Kronstadt, Xenia of St. Petersburg, St. Sergius and Herman of Valamo, Arsenius of Konev, Alexander of Svir and other zealots of faith and devotion, prayerfully intercede for us before God. May their intercession strengthen us in our efforts to revive the desecrated shrines”.

His Holiness’s second day in St. Petersburg began with a visit to the Chapel of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg at the Cemetery of Our Lady of Smolensk, where he conducted a thanksgiving.

In the evening of July 9, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church is to leave for Valamo.