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At night of 24 April 2011, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR) celebrated Midnight office, Paschal Matins and the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom at the Moscow church of the “Joy to All the Afflicted” Icon of the Mother of God.

Concelebrating were hieromonk Gabriel (Bunge) of the Korsun diocese, Rev. Dimitry Ageyev, assistant to the DECR chairman, and parish clergy.

The Moscow Synodal Choir conducted by the honoured artist of Russia Alexei Puzakov sang during the divine services.

The co-founder of the St. Gregory the Theologian Charity Foundation V. Yakunin with his wife, vice-president of the “Lukoil” Oil Company A. Matytsyn, and benefactors of the parish attended the service.

At midnight the archpastor, clerics and parishioners went by a procession of the cross around the church. By tradition, Metropolitan Hilarion read the Paschal Homily by St. John Chrysostom at Paschal Matins.

The Gospel at the Divine Liturgy was read in the Greek, Latin, Church Slavonic and Russian languages.

After the communion verse, hegumen Filaret (Tambovsky), a cleric of the church, read out the Paschal Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the archpastors, pastors, monastics and all the faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Some 600 people have partaken of the Holy Communion.

Metropolitan Hilarion blessed the Artos after the prayer before the ambo.

In his archpastoral homily, Metropolitan Hilarion cordially greeted parishioners and guests with Pascha, wished them joy in the Risen Saviour and asked them to convey this joyous feeling to their loved ones and “especially to those who feel themselves deprived or suffering.”

Representatives of the parish youth club congratulated Metropolitan Hilarion on the radiant feast of the Resurrection of Christ and gave him a present.