Over 5 thsd people came to the first patriarchal prayer for new school year at Christ the Savior Cathedral

On Tuesday morning, over 5 thousand schoolchildren, students, their parents and teachers have come to a prayer service dedicated to the beginning of a new school year first time ever conducted by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

"We'll pray for your successes," the Patriarch said before he began.

During the service, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church prayed to St. Sergius of Radonezh, who is believed to help in learning, and told that when he was a child, going to school he always prayed before the icon of St. Sergius.

After the service, the Patriarch congratulated pupils and teachers on the new school year and wished them "strength of reason, strength of will and strength of feelings."

Patriarch Kirill urged schoolchildren and students laying hopes on prayer, "not relax their own efforts" as when we neglect work, "the Lord won't respond to our prayers so that not to encourage our weakness and imperfections."

Pupils and students from secular and Orthodox educational establishments attended the service.

After the prayer service, priests sprinkled them with holy water and conveyed them icons with patriarchal blessing.

Source: Interfax religion