MOROCCO: February 20, 2012
Archbishop Michael Celebrates Liturgy at Resurrection Church in the Capital of Morocco

On February 15, 2012, the feast day of the Meeting of the Lord, His Eminence Archbishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe celebrated Divine Liturgy at Resurrection of the Lord Russian Orthodox Church in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. He was joined by the parish rector, Priest Maksim Massalitine. This was the first time a hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia has performed divine services in this church in its 80-year history.

After Liturgy, Vladyka Michael shared a trapeza with the parishioners, during which he shared his recollections of one of his spiritual guides, Bishop Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky, 1909-2002), rector for many years of Dormition Church of the Russian Church Abroad in Casablanca. Bishop Mitrophan died on the very day of the Meeting of the Lord exactly ten years ago.

As reported by the website of Resurrection Church in Rabat, Archbishop Michael’s visit to Morocco from February 15-17 included tending to the pastoral ministry of the Russian Orthodox community in Casablanca, chaired an extraordinary meeting of the Parish Association of Dormition Church. The archpastor also met with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Morocco, BF Bolotin, and the Director of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Rabat, NV Sukhov.

On February 17, Archbishop Michael returned to Geneva.