Patriarch Kirill sends a message to the 5th Church Conference of Pilgrims’ Journey
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent the following message to the 5th Church Conference on Pilgrims’ Journey, which opened on November 25 at the Moscow Patriarchate’s Pilgrimage Center.
Most Reverend Archpastors,
Honorable Fathers,
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
I cordially greet you all as you have gathered at the Moscow Patriarchate’s Pilgrimage Center to take part in the work of the 5th Church Conference on Pilgrims’ Journey.
It is significant that during its work an exhibition has opened at the State Museum of History, devoted to the Millennium of Russian Orthodox Pilgrimage and called to relate the history and diversity of this old spiritual feat.
In the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, the pilgrimage tradition was interrupted twice, in the 13th century when there was a foreign invasion and in the 20th century when the Church was persecuted. For the last two decades, there have been considerable changes in the state, church and public life, and today we are glad to testify that the Orthodox pilgrimage has revived.
The aim of this Conference is not only to discuss the present state of the pilgrimage movement and propose new pilgrimage routes to holy places in Russia and Universal Orthodoxy, but also to unite the efforts of the Russian Orthodox Church and her sister Churches in this good task of the whole Church. I am confident that much more can be done to develop the age-old tradition of pilgrimage and therefore to strengthen Orthodox faith in people’s hearts.
I wish God’s help to the organizers and participants of the Conference in their work ahead.
+ Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia