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On May 26, 2010, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, while on an official visit to the Russian Orthodox Church, said the lity for the repose of the soul at the grave of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia in the Yelokhovo Cathedral of the Epiphany.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople was accompanied by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, Bishop Tikhon of Podolsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s financial and economic administration, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman, and Rev. Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations.

At the entrance to the cathedral Patriarch Bartholomew was welcomed by the cathedral clergy and parishioners with a bouquet of white roses. The honorary rector of the cathedral, Protopresbyter Matfey Standniuk, presented him with a foldable icon and a pectoral icon. Having given his blessing to the faithful, His Holiness laid flowers at the grave of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II and said a prayer for the repose of his soul. He was assisted by ordained members of the Greek delegation.

Addressing the congregation after the service, His Holiness Bartholomew said:

I wished to come here to honour the memory of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II and pray together with you for the repose of his soul. He was a great Patriarch who was to carry out a hard work during his patriarchal office.

I always cherish his memory and his feat to protect the Church in those hard times. Pray always for the repose of the soul of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. I ask you also to pray for our patriarchate. May prayer be with you!

Then His Holiness and his delegation proceeded to the grave of His Holiness Patriarch Sergius and sang ‘Eternal Memory’ to him. They also venerated the shrines of the cathedral – the honorable relics of St. Alexis the Metropolitan of Kiev, Moscow and All Russia and the venerated copy of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan.

DECR Communication Service