« On the day of his 76th birthday, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated the Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior »

On November 20, 2022, on the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who turned 76 on that day, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.

His Holiness was assisted by Permanent members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church - Metropolitan Varsonofy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, Patriarchal Vicar of the Moscow Metropolia Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsa and Kolomna, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl ;  members of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council, a host of bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The divine service was attended by representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches: Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), a representative of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia;  Archpriest Daniel Andreyuk, representative of the Orthodox Church in America.

Also co-serving with His Holiness were: Protopresbyter Vladimir Divakov, Secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in Moscow;  Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, dean of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior;  Archimandrite Alexy (Turikov), personal secretary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill;  Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, Advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia;  Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, Rector of the All-Church Graduate and Doctoral Studies named after Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius ;  governors of stavropegial monasteries, clergy of Moscow and the Moscow metropolia.

The patriarchal service was attended by Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation A.Yu. Kuznetsov;  Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District I.O.  Shchegolev;  State Secretary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus D.F.  Mezentsev;  Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Estate, Land and Property Relations, President of the Orthodox Inter-Parliamentary Assembly S.A. Gavrilov;  Chairman of the Defense Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation A.V.  Kartapolov;  Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for Construction, Housing and Communal Services S.A. Pakhomov;  First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation S.G. Obryvalin;  member of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, adviser to the mayor of Moscow, adviser to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia on construction issues, curator of the Program for the construction of Orthodox churches in Moscow V.I. Resin;  Head of Rospotrebnadzor A.Yu. Popova;  Chairman of the Moscow City Duma A.V. Shaposhnikov;  Head of the Odintsovo urban district of the Moscow region A.R. Ivanov;  Senior Vice President, Financial Director of PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel S.G.  Malyshev;  President of the Russian Association of Mineral Fertilizer Producers, member of the Bureau of the RSPP A.A. Guriev;  Vice-President of the Russian Union of Chemists A.G.  Guriev;  Chairman of the Supervisory Board of All-Russian Public Movement "Orthodox Russia" M.M.  Ivanov.

The divine service was also attended by Chairman of the Synodal Department for Relations of the Church with Society and the Media, acting Head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia V.R. Legoyda, clergy, abbesses of women's monasteries, monastics and laity who came to pray with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the birthday of His Holiness.

Liturgical chants were performed by the Patriarchal Choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior under the direction of I.B.Tolkachev and the brethren choir of the Holy Trinity St.Sergius Lavra under the direction of Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov).

The Patriarchal Divine Liturgy was  broadcast live on the Soyuz and Spas TV channels as well as on the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarchy.ru.

At the augmented litany, special petitions were lifted up:

'Again we pray to Thee, Our Lord and Saviour, that Thou wouldest hear the prayers of us Thine unworthy servants at this time of trials that has come upon Holy Rus', encompassed by enemies, and that Thou wouldest reveal Thy salvation. We pray Thee, O Lord, hearken and have mercy.'

'Again we pray that Thou wouldest look with  goodwill and mercy on the armed forces and on all the defenders of the Fatherland/motherland/homeland, and that Thou wouldest confirm us all in faith, oneness of mind and health and strength of spirit. We pray Thee, O Lord, hearken and mercifully have mercy.'

Also, special petitions were raised for the now honoured His Holiness Patriarch Kirill:

'Again we pray Thee, O Lord our God, that Thou wouldst hearken unto the voice of our supplication and prayers, and have mercy on Thy servant Patriarch Kirill, whom we honour today, through Thy grace and compassion, and fulfill all of his petitions, pardon all his transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary; let his prayers and alms be acceptable before the Throne of Thy dominion, and protect him from all enemies visible and invisible, from every temptation, harm and sorrow, and deliver him from ailments, and grant him health and length of days: let us all say, O Lord, hearken and have mercy.'

'And may this our thanksgiving be as sweet-smelling incense, as a fat whole burnt offering before the majesty of Thy glory, O all-gracious Master, and send Thou down always upon Thy servant Patriarch Kirill, whom we honour today, in that Thou art beneficent, Thy rich mercies and bounties; and deliver from all assaults of enemies, both visible and invisible, the Russian Church which he leads, and grant unto all people length of days, sinless and healthful, and increase in all virtue, we beseech Thee, O all bountiful King: mercifully hearken, and speedily show mercy.'

'Look down, O master Who lovest mankind, with Thy merciful eye upon Thy servant, the most Holy Patriarch Kirill: and hear our prayer which we offer with faith, for Thou Thyself hast said: whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them, and again: ask, and it will be given to you: for this cause we, although unworthy, hoping in Thy mercy, do ask: grant Thy goodness to Thy servant Patriarch Kirill, whom we honour today: and fulfill all his good desires, preserving him in peace, quietness, health and length of days all the days of his life: we all say, swiftly hearken and mecifully have mercy.'

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church read a prayer for Holy Rus'.

Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsa and Kolomna read a prayer of thanksgiving:

'O Lord Jesus Christ our God, the God of all mercies and bounties Whose mercy is immeasurable, and whose love for mankind is an unfathomable deep: falling down in adoration before Thy majesty, with fear and trembling, as unprofitable servants, and now humbly rendering thanks unto Thy loving-kindness for Thy benefits bestowed upon Thy Servant(s) (names), we glorify Thee, we praise Thee, we sing Thee and we magnify Thee as our Lord, and Master, and Benefactor; and again falling down before Thee, we humbly thank Thee, supplicating Thy boundless and inexpressible mercy. And in that Thou hast graciously vouchsafed to accept the petitions of Thy servants and to fulfill them, so also grant that henceforth thy Holy Church and this city may be delivered from every hostile assault, and may be vouchsafed peace and tranquillity, and that increasing in true love of Thee, and in all virtues, all Thy faithful people may receive Thy benefits; and that we may ever offer thanksgiving unto Thee, together with Thy Father, Who is from everlasting, and Thine all holy, and good, and life giving Spirit, God glorified in one essence; and that we may say exceeding good things and sing: Glory to Thee, O God our Benefactor, unto the ages of ages.'

At the litany for departed, petitions for the repose of the souls of the ever-memorable Archpriest Michael and Raisa, the pious parents of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, were also raised.

The third Sunday of November is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims which is celebrated annually, and which is part of the system of the UN international and world days. According to tradition, on this day, at the litany for the departed, prayers are raised  "for the repose of the souls of the departed servants of God, who suddenly died in traffic accidents."

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill read a prayer for the repose of the ever-memorable Archpriest Mikhail, Raisa, Priest Vasily, Paraskeva and “all those who suddenly died in traffic accidents.”

The sermon before communion was delivered by Archbishop Aksy of Podolsk and Lyubertsy.

At the end of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Varsonofy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga announced the congratulatory address of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on the occasion of the birthday of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and presented His Holiness with a cross and two panagias, as well as a bouquet of white roses.

Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District I.O. Shchegolev announced the congratulations of the President of Russia V.V. Putin to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

His Holiness Vladyka addressed those gathered in the Cathedral with the his hierarchal word.

At the end of the service, in the gallery of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Primate of the Russian Church was congratulated by the Head of the Patriarchal Volunteers movement M.G. Kuksov and members of the movement.

Then a solemn reception was held in the refectory chambers of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in honour of the birthday of His Holiness.

Patriarchia.ru/Souroz.org