His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates divine service at the Moscow State University church on the commemoration day of St. Tatiana

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On 25 January 2010, the commemoration day of the holy martyr Tatiana, patroness of Russian students, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church of the Moscow State University.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church were metropolitan Nicholas of Akhalkalak and Kumurdoi, Georgian Orthodox Church; archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for external church relations and rector of the Ss Cyril and Methodius Post-Graduate and Doctoral Programme of the Russian Orthodox Church; archbishop Yevgeny of Vereya, chairman of the Education Committee at the Holy Synod and rector of the Moscow theological academy and seminary; bishop Ignaty of Bronnitsy; archpriest Vladimir Divakov, secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov), rector of the Sretenskaya theological seminary: archpriest Maxim Kozlov, rector of the University Church if St. Tatiana; archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR deputy chairman; archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov, rector of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Humanitarian University; archpriest Vladimir Chuvikin, rector of the Pererva theological seminary; archpriest Alexander Abramov, acting representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA; hieromonk Philipp (Ryabykh), DECR deputy chairman; priest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR acting secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; and clerics of the church. Praying at the divine service was bishop Sergy of Solnechnogorsk, head of Moscow Patriarchate administrative secretariat.

Attending the festive liturgy were the rector of the Moscow State University Victor Sadovnichy, its faculty, students, and graduates, as well guests.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill elevated hieromonk Philipp (Ryabykh) to the rank of hegumen in consideration of his zealous ministry to the Church of God.

After the divine service the clergy sang magnification to the Holy Martyr Tatiana. Rector of the church archpriest Maxim Kozlov thanked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for sharing the joy of the feast with clerics and parishioners by celebrating the festive divine service. Rector of the University Victor Sadovnichy and students greeted the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Rector Sadovnichiy said that this day marked the 255^th anniversary of the Moscow University and the 15^th anniversary of the revival of the Church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana. "We are standing on the same ground," the head of the Moscow State University added, "we bring up and educate young people." He proposed to conclude an agreement of cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Union of Rectors. "This agreement could enhance the level of partnership between the Church and higher education establishments in educating the youth," he noted.

Rector Sadovnichy congratulated His Holiness on the forthcoming anniversary of his enthronement at the Moscow Patriarchal throne and presented the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church with an icon of the Holy Martyr Tatiana with border scenes depicting the University buildings on Vorobyovy Gory and in Mokhovaya Str.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill greeted all those present with the dedication day of the Church of St. Tatiana and noted the rector's contribution to the development of cooperation between the academic community and the Russian Orthodox Church. "We express profound gratitude to you as to a renowned Russian scientist and organizer of the high school, as a man who has built a bridge from it to the Orthodox Church. May God grant prosperity to the University," His Holiness said.

His Holiness presented the university community with an icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir for commemoration in prayer.