His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-Night Vigil in Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on the eve of Dormition

DECR Communication Service, 27/08/2025

On 27^th August, the eve of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ celebrated the All-Night Vigil in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

Concelebrating with His Holiness were Metropolitan Grigory of Voskresensk, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Metropolitan Konstantin of Cairo and North Africa, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa; Bishop Alexy of Ramenskoye, personal secretary to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, adviser to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’; Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, sacristan of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour; and the Moscow clergy.

As reported by the Patriarchal Press Service, among His Holiness’s concelebrants were also members of a delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, which included Priest George Maximov, chairman of the Exarchate’s Missionary Department; Archpriest Tigriy Khachatryan, Exarch’s assistant for religious education and catechesis; church districts deans from South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi, Malawi, the Central African Republic, Rwanda, Madagascar, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso, as well as the Exarchate’s clerics serving in Angola, Gabon, Zambia, and Mauritius. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, thirty clerics – deans and senior priests – from 22 African countries are undertaking a pilgrimage to Russia from 21^st to 29^th August.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the Patriarchal and the Chamber Choirs of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The clergy choir conducted by Archpriest Andrei Marushchyak sang the Post-Gospel Sticheron, as well as the Kontakion and the Exapostilarion of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

The service was broadcast live on “Soyuz” and “Spas” TV channels.

During the Polyeleos, the Shroud of the Theotokos was brought out of the chancel.

At the end of the All-Night Vigil, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill delivered the following homily:

“Your Eminences and Your Graces, Fathers, Brothers and Sisters,

“I greet all of you on the great Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. It is often called a paschal feast, and, perhaps, of all the feasts dedicated to the Mother of God, this day is celebrated with the greatest solemnity. We believe that the Heavenly Queen has been with us as she was with our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who were fighting to preserve the Orthodox faith.

“In this splendid cathedral today we all together celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Mother of God and pray to her for peace in the whole world, the welfare of the holy Churches of God and, of course, for our Church the Martyr and Confessor, and our Homeland.

“Present here today are the clergymen of our Church, the Moscow Patriarchate, who serve on the African continent. The African Exarchate has been established, and is headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Konstantin, who is also present here and taking part in the divine service. I am especially pleased that our brothers the concelebrants who carry out their demanding service in Africa have an opportunity to pray in this magnificent church today.

“And it should be noted that Orthodox priests have a very difficult ministry. It requires fortitude, wisdom, loyalty to the Church and one’s people, as well as devotion to the Lord. So, I am happy to welcome today the delegation of the African clergy and hope that their prayer in this cathedral and their visits to the holy sites of the Russian Church will help them carry out their service on the African continent.

“I would also like to thank Metropolitan Konstantin, Patriarchal Exarch of All Africa, who works hard to make sure that the Orthodox faith is brought to many people on the African continent. Let us hope that our Lord will strengthen the Orthodox faith, in Africa included, and that many people will follow this salvific path leading to the Heavenly Kingdom and giving strength to overcome the life’s difficulties which, of course, are many in Africa as well.

“By the prayers of the Most Pure and Blessed Heavenly Queen, may the Lord preserve our country, our Church and her children, in whatever country or on whatever continent they live. May the Lord preserve our Church in Africa and help the servants of the Church who belong to the Moscow Patriarchate perform their ministry with zeal and dignity.

“I extend my festal greetings to you all! May God save you!”

Photo by the Patriarchal Press Service