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On July 20, 2010, at the airport of Odessa, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia told the mass media reporters about his pastoral visitation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Asked about the aim of the trip, His Holiness said,

‘It may sound strange to the secular press, but I do not set myself any aim. As Patriarch I visit dioceses and parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate, of the Russian Orthodox Church. Pastoral visitations always involve first of all prayer, worship, talks with believers and all those who wish to meet with me.

‘I had the best impressions of my visit to Ukraine last year. I have already had an opportunity to tell the mass media that it was perhaps the most vivid impression of my first year as Patriarch. Therefore I come again to this holy land with a special feeling and rejoice in the opportunity to celebrate together with His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir and hierarchs of our Church and the devout people’.

DECR Communication Service/Patriarchal Press Service