His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to visit the Russian Orthodox Church on 22-31 May 2010

His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople will arrive in Moscow on May 22 at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. He will be accompanied by a delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople consisting of Metropolitan Michael of Austria, Irinaios of Myriophyton and Peristasis, Emmanuel of France, general secretary of the Holy Synod archimandrite Elphidophoros, archimandrite Bessarion, archdeacon Maximos, and several laymen. The visit will last till May 31. The programme includes Moscow, the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius, the Monastery of the Transfiguration on Valaam, and St. Petersburg.

On May 23, the Day of the Holy Trinity, the two Patriarchs will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius.

On May 24, the Feast of the Holy Spirit and the commemoration day Ss. Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles, the Enlighteners of the Slavs, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. May 24 marks the Name Day of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. After the divine service, the Patriarchs will take part in the opening ceremony of the Days of Slavonic Literature and Culture. In the evening the high guests are invited to the concert to be performed at the State Kremlin Palace and to the reception given on behalf of the government of the Russian Federation.

On May 25, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I and his suite will visit the Moscow Kremlin to venerate holy relics in the Kremlin cathedrals. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill will receive the high delegation of the Church of Constantinople at his residence in Peredelkino in the afternoon.

On May 26, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew will meet with Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and with the faculty and students of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius Postgraduate and Doctoral School of the Russian Orthodox Church. The high guests will venerate holy relics of the Moscow churches and monasteries and will visit the St. Demetrius College of Nursing. In the evening, the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople will be received by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Russia H.E. Michalis Spinnelis.

In the morning of May 27, the delegation will meet with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleniponentiary of Turkey to Russia H.E. Halil Akinci. His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and his suite will depart for the Monastery of the Transfiguration on Valaam and stay there till morning of May 29. The abbot of the monastery Bishop Pankratiy of Troitsk will welcome the guests.

On May 29, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew will arrive in Kronstadt and be introduced to the restoration works at the Naval Cathedral. The guests will visit the State Hermitage and churches and monasteries of St. Petersburg. A reception will be given in honour of the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople at the St. Petersburg Metropolia.

On May 30, the Sunday of All Saints, the two Patriarchs and members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Isaac's Cathedral of St. Petersburg. His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew will visit the restored building of the Holy Governing Synod. A solemn reception in honour of the delegation will be given at St. Catherine's Palace in Tsarskoye Selo.

In the morning if May 31, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and his suite will leave for Istanbul.

Accreditation to events involving His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople can be obtained till 12.00 MSK on May 21 by Fax: (495) 637-43-18 or by e-mail at press@patriarchia.ru