His Holiness Patriarch Kirill lays flowers at the tomb of the first president of Uzbekistan

On 30 September 2017 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the tomb of the first President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov at the cemetery near the Hazret-Hyzr Mosque and the Shah-i-Zindah architectural ensemble in Samarkand.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church laid flowers at the tomb and visited the Ulugh Beg Observatory and the Gur-i-Amir mausoleum.

After seeing these historical sites His Holiness attended the reception given in his honour by the local administration of the Samarkand region.

After the reception His Holiness visited the Bibi-Khanym Mosque built in 1399-1404 and restored in the late 20^th century. and then His Holiness the Tilya-Kori Madrasa at the Registan Square from where he proceeded to the Cathedral of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, to officiate at the All-Night Vigil.