His Beatitude Metropolitan Rostislav venerates shrines in St. Petersburg

On August 31, 2016, His Beatitude Rostislav, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, who is on an official visit to the Russian Orthodox Church, visited monasteries and churches in the Metropolia of St. Petersburg.

The delegation accompanying the Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia includes Archbishop Michael of Prague and the Czech Lands, Archbishop George of Michalovce and Kosice, Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), rector of the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Archpriest Nikolay Lischenyuk, rector of the ROC Representation in Karlovy Vary, Hieromonk Alexander (Galushka), secretary of the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and Archdeacon Maxim Durila, Diocese of Presov.

The guests are accompanied by Bishop Tikhon of Podolsk, vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

A grand reception was given in honour of Metropolitan Rostislav at the St. Alexander Nevsky Laura. The Laura’s abbot, Bishop Nazary of Kronstadt presented the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia with an icon of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky with a part of his relics. Metropolitan Rostislav was presented with a pectoral icon made on the occasion of the 300^th anniversary of the St. Alexander Nevsky Laura.

After the reception, Metropolitan Rostislav and his official delegation visited the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan. The high guests were welcomed by the rector of the cathedral, Archpriest Pavel Krasnotsvetov.

His Beatitude venerated the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan, the main shrine of the church. Father Pavel told him the story of the icon, to which the pilgrimage of the faithful never ends. ‘There is a Russian proverb: nobody comes for water to an empty well’, he said, ‘We are asked whether there are miracles today. The miracle is that we are regenerating after the time of Soviet lawlessness’.

‘For me, the greatest miracle I have seen in the Russian Church is the faith, devotion and love of the Russian people, which I will remember forever’, Metropolitan Rostislav said.

As a token of the visit, His Beatitude was presented with an icon of Our Lady of Kazan. Then the choir of the clergy sang ‘Eternal Memory’ at the grave of Field-Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov.

From the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, the delegation went to the St. John Stauropegial Convent-on-the-Karpovka. At the gates, the guests were welcomed by Mother Superior Lyudmila (Voloshina) with sisters. Metropolitan Rostislav visited the church of St. John of Rila, in which he said a prayer to St. John of Kronstadt, who built this convent as a sign of his deep veneration of the ascetic from Rila. The high guest also visited the church of the Twelve Apostles.

The mother superior presented the Primate of the Church of the Czech Lands of Slovakia with an icon of St. John of Kronstadt.

Later that day, Metropolitan Rostislav visited the church of our Lady of Smolensk. His Beatitude and his delegation were welcomed by the rector of the church, Archpriest Victor Moskovsky, dean of the Vasileostrovsky district. Metropolitan Rostislav bowed before the venerated Icon of Our Lady of Smolensk.

Then, at the Chapel of the Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, Metropolitan Rostislav celebrated a thanksgiving. Father Victor presented him with an icon of the Blessed Xenia.

Metropolitan Rostislav, on his part, expressed gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia for the opportunity to visit the Russian Orthodox Church. He noted that the program of the visit began in the Convent of the Protecting Veil in Moscow, at the relics of the Blessed Matrona and ends at the relicts of the Blessed Xenia in St. Petersburg.

‘We also hold very dear these women of God, the holy women-starets of the Russian land’, the metropolitan said, ‘I am grateful that I can venerate the great shrines of Moscow and St. Petersburg’.

DECR Communication Service