« On the feast of the Meeting of the Lord, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh concelebrated His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow »

On February 15, 2022, on the feast of the Meeting of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.

On this feast, the Orthodox Youth Day is traditionally celebrated.

His Holiness was assisted by Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada; Bishop Roman of Serpukhov, abbot of the Vysotsky Stauropegial Monastery; Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, Dean of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior; Archimandrite Alexy (Turikov), personal secretary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and Moscow clergy.

Liturgical hymns were performed by the Patriarchal Choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior directed by choir master I.B. Tolkachev.

The chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for international affairs, L.E. Slutsky, was present at the Cathedral.

Soyuz and Spas TV channels, as well as Patriarchia.ru, the official portal of the Russian Orthodox Church, broadcasted live the festive Patriarchal service.

Prayer petitions for deliverance from the coronavirus infection were raised at the augmented litany.

After the augmented litany, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church offered up a prayer which is read during the spread of a harmful epidemic.

During the Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill ordained hierodeacon Platon (Kudlasevich), a resident of the Sretensky Stauropegial Monastery, Director of the publishing house of the Sretensky Monastery, to the rank of presbyter. 

The sermon before the Holy Communion was delivered by archpriest Viktor Gusev, cleric of the church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" in Chertanovo, Moscow.

At the end of the Liturgy, the glorification to the feast of the Presentation of the Lord was performed.

Then the Primate addressed the participants in the divine service with his Hierarchical speech.

In consideration of the diligent archpastoral ministry and in connection with the 50th jubilee, His Holiness Vladyka awarded Bishop Matthew of Sourozh with the Order of St.Seraphim of Sarov, III degree.

Presenting the award, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said: “Vladyka serves in Great Britain, carries out a very responsible obedience, gathers the flock, and, more recently, due to circumstances related to restrictions, which, unfortunately, representatives of the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church experience abroad and sometimes are not able to visit some countries, he also takes care of our flock in the United States.  May God give you strength, firmness in faith, in love for the Motherland, so that your word could be wise and, at the same time, full of spiritual power."

Patriarchia.ru/Sourozh.org

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