4. February 2019 - 12:17
In a great hall of the State Kremlin Palace a solemn academy on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Local Assembly of the Russian Orthodox Church and the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was held on 31 January 2019.
The President of the Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Putin and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill participated in the solemn rite as well as high-ranking delegations of the Local Orthodox Churches, among which some of them were headed by primates of these Churches such as: Patriarch John of Antioch and All the Orient, Serbian Patriarch Irinej, Metropolitan Rastislav of Czech Lands and Slovakia and Metropolitan Tihon of All America and Canada.
The concert was attended also by mmebers of the Serbian Orthodox Church delegation: Bishop Irinej of Backa, Bishop Antonije of Moravica - head of the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the Moscow Patriarchate, Bishop Stefan of Remesiana - Vicar of the Serbian Patriarch, Bishop Isihije of Mohacs - Vicar Bishop of the Bishop of Backa, archpriest Vladan Simic - Secretary of the Bishop of Backa, and hypodeacon Dejan Nakic, personal secretary of the Serbian Patriarch.
The celebrations were also attended by representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the World Council of Churches headed by the Secretary General Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, president of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Caucasus with a delegation of Azerbaijan and the delegation of the People’s Republic of China.
Among the attendees at the celebration there were also President of the Republic of Moldova I. N. Dodon, President of the Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation V.I. Matvienko; President of the State Duma Vladimir Volodin; General Procurator of the Russian Federation J.J. Chaika; Mayor of Moscow S.S. Sobyanin; acting deputy of the Governor of St. Petersburg A.D. Beglov; wife of the President of the Government of the Russian Federation D.A. Medvedev, Mrs. Svetlana Medvedeva; and also prominent representatives of the President of the Russian Federation in the federal districts of Russia, high representatives of the state authorities, parliamentarians, members of the diplomatic corps, scientific and cultural workers and other invitees.
A documentary Voyage, directed by E. Tuhareli was shown, whereupon President Mr. Vladimir Putin addressed the huge audience, greeting at first the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Patriarchal enthronement.
His Holiness Kirill held a solemn speech.
A festive concert followed – a united choir of the Russian Orthodox Church consisting of 700 singers performed a magnificent program.
After the artistic rite, in the premises of the Cathedral church of Christ the Saviour a reception was held.
Source: Patriarchia.ru (English translation by Info Service of the SOC)
