On 10th anniversary of enthronement of Patriarch Kirill, Liturgy was celebrated at Church of Christ the Saviour with participation of Primates and representatives of Local Churches
On February 1, 2019, the 10th anniversary of the enthronement of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, he celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with Primates and representatives of Local Orthodox Churches, autonomous and self-governed Church members of the Moscow Patriarchate, as well as heads of metropolises, bishops and priests of the Russian Orthodox Church, at the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour.
The service was presided over by Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Patriarch Irenaeus of Serbia, Metropolitan Rostislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada.
They were assisted by the ROC Holy Synod members, including Metropolitan Onufriy of Kiev and All Ukraine; Metropolitan Vladimir of Moldova; Metropolitan Alexander of Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Vikentiy of Uzbekistan; Metropolitan Pavel, Patriarchal Exarch for Belarus; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, DECR chairman; Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York; Metropolitan Alexander of All Latvia; Metropolitan Eugene of All Estonia; Metropolitan Daniel of All Japan; and an assembly of hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Among the concelebrants were also heads and members of delegations of Local Orthodox Churches in holy orders from the Orthodox Churches of Alexandria, Antioch, Georgia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Lands and Slovakia, the USA, and Japan. There were also high church officials, heads of synodal department and Moscow Patriarchate representations abroad, abbots of monasteries, and clergy of the diocese of Moscow.
Present at the service were Apostolic Nuncio in Russia, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, a delegation of the Armenian Apostolic Church led by Archbishop Yeznik; a delegation of the World Council of Churches led by WCC General Secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit; and a delegation of the People’s Republic of China.
There were also high state officials, State Duma deputies, Moscow city officials and representatives of state and public organizations in Russia.
Among the worshippers were abbots and abbesses of monasteries, staff members of the synodal departments, representatives of Orthodox youth organizations and numerous believers.
The service was broadcast live by the Spas and Soyuz TV channels. It was also broadcast by the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church patriarchia.ru.
During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, petitions were lifted up for the unity of the Orthodox Church and safeguarding her against divisions and schisms. The litany included special petitions for His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
After the litany, Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna read a prayer for the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. After that, Patriarch Kirill said a prayer for peace in Ukraine. Exclamations and prayers were voiced in Church Slavonic, Arabic and English. The sermon before communion was delivered by Archbishop Anthony of Vienna and Budapest, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate.
After the liturgy, congratulations were extended to Patriarch Kirill by Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East. He presented Patriarch Kirill with a crozier made in Damascus.
Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine read out a congratulatory address from the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to Patriarch Kirill and presented him with a presentation cross and a set of two pectoral icons and a cross.
His Holiness Kirill addressed the participants in the service with a primatial homily.
Patriarchal Press Service
DECR Communication Service