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Rev. George Zavershinsky, communications director of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, attended St. Patrick’s Day events on 21 March 2010 in Moscow, on the invitation of the Irish Ambassador to Russia, H. E. Philip McDonagh. The celebrations began with the mass in the Catholic church of St. Luis, which was led by Archbishop Paolo Pezzi, ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow.

Among the worshippers were H. E. Philip McDonagh, Irish Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche as well as Irish businessmen and public figures in Russia.

In his address to the congregation, Archbishop Pezzi pointed to the special role St. Patrick played in the enlightenment of Ireland, reminding them of the figurative manner in which he used to preach. He is known in particular for interpreting the teaching on the Holy Trinity with the help of the trefoil, which was to become a symbol of Ireland.

After the mass, Mr. McDonagh greeted Minister Dick Roche, Father George and the congregation and reminded them that St. Patrick was a slave in Ireland, escaped from there but later inspiredly came back. As a bishop he united the Irish Church and, according to the ambassador, the success of his preaching on the redemptive mission of Christ was prompted by his personal experience of slavery and liberation.

DECR Communication Service