MOSCOW: February 14, 2018
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Moscow Mayor Sobyanin view an exhibit devoted to the Russian emigration

On February 2, 2018, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Mayor Sergei Sobyanin visited an exhibition organized by the Union of the Descendants of the Russians of Gallipoli: “God is With Us! May Russia Rise Again!” The event was held at Znamensky Church of Novospassky Stavropighial Monastery in the nation’s capital.

The show is devoted to members of the White Movement who continued to serve their Fatherland in the difficult conditions of life on the Gallipoli peninsula, staunchly preserving their ideals and traditions. A special section of the exhibit, “The Hodigitria of the Russian Diaspora,” is devoted to the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," its discovery and significance for the Russian emigration.

His Holiness and Mayor Sobyanin also inspected the renovation work being performed at the monastery, which is expected to be completed this year. “The entire monastery will be renovated in its entirety, so that it will bring delight to both worshipers and all Muscovites,” said Mayor Sobyanin.

His Grace Bishop Savva of Voskresensk, First Deputy Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate and Prior of the monastery, accompanied the lofty guests, along with other dignitaries.

In 1920-21, the peninsula of Gallipoli in today’s Turkey was a haven for members of General PN Wrangel’s White Army who evacuated from Crimea. On November 22, 1921, the Union of the Russians of Gallipoli was established.