Department for External Church Relations
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Reception marking the anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s enthronement takes place at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
On 31st January 2020, a reception marking the 11th anniversary of enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia took place in the Refectory Chambers of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.
Prior to the reception the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church received greetings from the Russian senior officials, heads of non-governmental organizations, and public and cultural figures.
Extending their congratulations to His Holiness were also representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches: Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis of the Orthodox Church of Antioch, Bishop Antonije of Moravica of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Archimandrite Stefan (Dispirakis) of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky) of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk of the Orthodox Church in America, and many other clergymen.
Among those who delivered speeches at the festal reception were Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Patriarchal Vicar for the Moscow diocese; Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; and Grand Mufti Talgat Tajuddin, chairman of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed all those present, saying in particular: “I would like to cordially thank all of you for your kind words. I thank those who have attended this reception today and shared with me recollections of the 11 years of my ministry at the Patriarchal See of Moscow.”
“By appealing to the human spirit the Church attends to the most important matter. We perform this ministry with complete humility, with respect for everything that is happening in our society and in our state. However, at the same time we are aware of our special responsibility before God for the state of mind, for the state of spirit of our people. And if our spirit is strong, if external circumstances are incapable of destroying our internal spiritual identity, then we can accomplish a lot,” His Holiness said.
“Therefore, my only real dream is that we all may work together in order to strengthen spiritual foundations of our life and that our homeland may thrive,” Patriarch Kirill added.
Invited to the reception were members of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church; representatives of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and the Presidential Administration; heads and members of the Russian Government and the Federation Council; deputies of the State Duma; representatives of the judicial authorities and of the authorities of Moscow and the Moscow Region; heads of republics and governors; heads of government-owned corporations; heads of church institutions; clergy of Moscow and the Moscow Region; representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches; spiritual leaders of the traditional religions of Russia; representatives of international organizations; ambassadors and staff members of diplomatic missions; representatives of non-governmental and charitable organizations and of the World Russian People’s Council; as well as scholars, education workers, medical professionals, cultural figures, sportspersons, entrepreneurs, representatives of the armed forces and of the mass media and publishing houses.
Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia/
DECR Communication Service
Patriarch
Department Chairman
Sermons
24.01.2021
06.11.2020