« Bishop of Sourozh Matthew took part in the opening of the International Christmas Readings in Moscow »

On January 27, 2019, on the 35th Sunday after Pentecost, the leave of the feast of the Epiphany, the day of commemoration of St. Nina Equal to the Apostles, Enlightener of Georgia, His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, in co-service of the hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, led the Divine liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. The Bishop Matthew of Sourozh took part in the service. The liturgy preceded the work of the XXVII International Christmas Educational Readings "Youth: Freedom and Responsibility".

The divine service was attended by I.O. Schegolev, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Central Federal District and S.А. Gavrilov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the development of civil society, responsible for the issues of public and religious associations.

Abesses of the women's convents, participants of the XXVII International Christmas Educational Readings were praying at the temple.

The liturgical chants were sung by the Patriarchal choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior Cathedral directed by choir master I.B. Tolkachev.

The service was broadcasted live on the Soyuz TV channel.

At the augmentedl litany, petitions were made for the unity of the Orthodox Church and the preservation of the Church from divisions and schisms.

After the augmented litany, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church offered a prayer for peace in Ukraine.

The sermon before the sacrament was delivered by Hieromonk Onisim (Bamblevsky), Chairman of the Department of Religious Education of the Moscow City Diocese, cleric of the Novospassky Stavropegical Monastery.

At the end of the Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill headed the glorification to the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Then the Primate of the Russian Church addressed the participants in the Divine Service with hierarchical message.

Taking into account the diligently archpastoral works and on the occasion of the 55th anniversary, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented a commemorative panagia to Metropolitan Mercury of Rostov and Novocherkassk, Chairman of the Organisational Committee of the International Christmas Readings, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Religious Education and Catechism.

“Once again I congratulate everyone with the feast! May God's blessing be upon all who will work in the coming days as part of our Christmas Educational Readings. This is a wonderful opportunity for each of us to listen to each other, analyze our own experience, and draw right conclusions, so that our common conciliar work in the field of religious education could be successful. May the Lord help you in all of this! Happy feast!”, said His Holiness in conclusion.

Immediately after the Patriarchal service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior aa well as at other venues in the capital, the sections work of the XXVII International Christmas Educational Readings "Youth: Freedom and Responsibility" has began. The forum will last until January 31.

On January 30, the VII Christmas Parliamentary meetings will be held at the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation as part of the Readings.

On January 31 and February 1, celebrations will be held in Moscow to mark the 10th anniversary of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church and election of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

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Patriarchia.ru/Sourozh.org