MOSCOW: February 1, 2011
Divine Liturgy at Christ the Savior Cathedral Marks the Second Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill
 On February 1, 2011, Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow to mark the second anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was joined in the service by: His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine; other members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church; hierarchs of the Moscow Patriarchate present for the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church; representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches to the throne of the Moscow Patriarchate; Schema-archimandrite Ilii (Nozdrin); chairmen of the Synodal departments in the priestly rank; priors of stavropighial monasteries and clergymen of Moscow.
Also attending the service were: Mr AD Beglov, Vice President of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation; Mr VP Legoida, President of the Synodal Information Center; Mr VN Ganichev, President of the Union of Russian Writers; abbesses of various convents; members of Synodal and other ecclesiastical organs; representatives of parish councils; students of religious schools and honored guests.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill officiated in the vestments of enthronement, an exact replica of the staff of St Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, Wonder-worker of All Russia.
Singing at Divine Liturgy were the Choir of Christ the Savior Cathedral under Mr IV Tolkachev, the Synodal Choir under Mr AA Puzakov and Sretensky Monastery Choir under Mr NS Zhil.
During the minor entrance, His Holiness Vladyka elevated His Grace Bishop Nikon of Lipetsk and Eletsk to the rank of archbishop.
During Divine Liturgy, the passages “of gratitude” were read from the Epistle (Ephesians 5:9-21) and the Gospel (Luke 17:12-19); during the augmented litany, special entreaties for His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia were made.
After Liturgy, a moleben of gratitude was performed by His Eminence Metropolitan Philaret of Minsk and Slutsk, the Patriarchal Exarch of Belarus.
Thereupon, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of St Petersburg and Ladoga read a congratulatory speech on behalf of the members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church and presented His Holiness with a gift of a copy of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.
Protopriest Maxim Shevtsov, a cleric of the Cathedral, congratulate His Holiness on behalf of the Diocesan Council of the City of Moscow.
Protopriest Vladimir Divakov, Secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for Moscow, and other clergymen of the nation’s capital presented His Holiness with an altar-table cross.
President Dimitry Medvedev sent an anniversary greeting to His Holiness as well.
The Patriarch then addressed the gathered worshipers with a pontifical sermon.
In recognition of their earnest archpastoral labors, His Holiness granted medals to the following hierarchs:
- Towards the 70th birthday of His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, the Second Order of St Sergius of Radonezh;
- Towards the 50th birthday of His Eminence Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, the Second order of St Innokenty of Moscow;
- Towards the 50th birthday of His Grace Bishop Pitirim of Syktyvkarsk and Vorkutinsk, the Second Order of St Seraphim of Sarov;
- Towards the 60th birthday of His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Sendai and Eastern Japan, the Second Order of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow;
- Towards the 50th birthday of His Grace Bishop Seraphim of the Baltics, the Second Order of St Seraphim of Sarov;
- Towards the 60th birthday of His Grace Bishop George of Mayfield, the Second Order of St Seraphim of Sarov.
In conclusion, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill received congratulatory words from the clergy of Moscow.
Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
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