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On 27 August 2018, the eve of the Feast of the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the All-Night Vigil at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

Concelebrating with His Holiness were: Archbishop Amvrosy of Vereya, rector of the Moscow Theological Academy; Archbishop Sergy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Secretariat; Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, sacristan of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour; Hegumen Peter (Yeremeyev), abbot of the Vysokopetrovsky Stavropegic Monastery; Priest Nikolai Stolbikov, foreign students specialist of the Khabarovsk Theological Seminary; th DRPK graduates of the Khabarovsk Theological Seminary – Priest Vladimir Jang, Deacon Basil Hwang, Deacon Paul Pak and Deacon George Yun; as well as the Moscow clergy.

During the Polyeleos, a shroud depicting the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos was brought out of the sanctuary.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill anointed the worshipers with oil.

Among those present were attendees of the 4th Summer Institute for representatives of the Roman Catholic Church organized by Ss. Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies. The delegation led by Msgr. Didier Berthet, Bishop of Saint-Dié-des-Vosges (France), president of the Council for Promoting Christian Unity of the Bishops’ Conference of France, included 12 representatives of clergy and academic community of the Roman Catholic Church.

After the All-Night Vigil, in the Red Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, His Holiness met with the delegation of the Roman Catholic Church. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church noted an important role of such projects as Summer Institutes. “I consider these exchanges to be a matter of great significance. Representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate visit Rome, and you come to us. May God ordain that these trips help us understand each other, experience each other’s piety and faith,” His Holiness said.

Patriarchal Press Service/

DECR Communication Service