Primates of the Orthodox Churches of Constantinople and Russia celebrate on the Day of the Holy Spirit

On Saturday, May 22, 2010, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived at the Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, Russia, where he was greeted by His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia; Metropolitan Hilarion, Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations; together with other members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as clergy and faithful.

Also welcoming His All Holiness were several diplomats, including representatives from the Russian Federation, military contingents, the Ambassador of Greece in Moscow, and a representative from the Turkish Embassy.

On 23 May 2010, the Day of Pentecost, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was met at the Cathedral of the Trinity by Archbishop Yevgeny of Vereya, chairman of the Education Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church and rector of the Moscow Theological schools; Archbishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, abbot of the Laura, with the brethren; chairman of the Synodal Information Department V. Legoida, and Mayor of Sergiev Posad Nikolai Maslov. His Holiness venerated the relics of St. Sergius and greeted worshippers with the feast.

His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople was met at the holy gates of the monastery by Archbishop Yevgeny of Vereya, Archbishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, head of the Sergiev Posad district V. Korotkov, brethren of the monastery, and students of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary.

His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew was accompanied by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations and members of the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, including Metropolitans Michael of Austria, Irinaios of Myriophyton and Peristasis, Emmanuel of France, general secretary of the Holy Synod archimandrite Elphidophoros (Lambriniadis), archimandrite Bessarion (Comzias), and archdeacon Maximos (Vgenopoulos).

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople proceeded to the Cathedral of the Trinity where the precious relics of St. Sergius repose. Patriarch Bartholomew and members of the delegation venerated the relics.

The Primates were vested for celebration at the Patriarchal residence and proceeded to the Cathedral of the Dormition. They blessed worshippers gathered on the monastery’s square.

Concelebrating with His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill were members of the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, including the DECR Chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Education Committee and Rector of the Moscow Theological schools Archbishop Yevgeny of Vereya, abbot of the Laura Archbishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, Chairman of the Finance and Economic Department of the Moscow Patriarchate Bishop Tikhon of Podolsk, as well as DECR deputy chairman archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR secretary for Inter-Orthodox relations Rev. Igor Yakimchuk, head of the Patriarch’s Secretariat hieromonk Antony (Sevryuk), and ordained monks of the Laura.

Attending the service that has gathered numerous pilgrims were representatives of state authorities and benefactors.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill read the kneeling prayers at Vespers. Members of the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople prayed at the sanctuary.

After the celebration of divine service, the Primates exchanged speeches.

On 23 May 2010, after the solemn divine service and festive repast in the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople venerated the relics of St. Maximus the Greek reposing in the Cathedral of the Dormition.

In conclusion of his stay in the Laura, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and his suite visited the crypt of the Cathedral of the Dormition with the Church of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Russia and sang “Memory Eternal” to His Holiness Alexy I and His Holiness Pimen, Patriarchs of Moscow and All Russia, who are buried there.

On May 24, 2010, the Day of the Holy Spirit and the Commemoration Day of Sts Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who is on a visit to the Russian Orthodox Church, and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Christ the Saviour.

It was also Patriarch Kirill's Saint's Day.

The Primates of the two Churches were assisted by members of the Patriarchate of Constantinople's official delegation including Metropolitans Michael of Austria, Irenaios of Myriofytos and Peristasis and Emmanuel of France, as well as members of the Russian Orthodox Church Holy Synod including Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch for All Belarus; Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Metropolitan Varsonofy of Saransk and Mordovia, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate's department for external church relations; as well as Metropolitans Valentine of Orenburg and Buzuluk, Sergiy of Voronezh and Borisogleblsk, Archbishops Longin of Klin, Dimitry of Vitebsk and Orsha, Arseny of Istra, Yevgeny of Vereisk, Feognost of Sergiev Posad, Georgy of Nizhniy Novgorod and Arzamas, and Mark of Yegoryevsk, Bishops Merkury of Zaraisk, Ignaty of Bronnitsa, Roman of Serpukhov, Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, Ieronim (Chernyshev) and Tikhon of Podolsk. Among the concelebrants were also representatives of Local Orthodox Churches to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia including Metropolitan Athanasios of Cyrene (Patriarchate of Alexandria), Archbishop Niphon of Philippopolis (Patriarchate of Antioch), Archimandrite Stephan (Patriarchate of Jerusalem), Bishop Antony of Moravia (Serbian Orthodox Church), Archimandrite Zacchaeus (Orthodox Church in America), as well as the clergy who accompanied His Holiness Bartholomew during his visit, abbots of stauropegial monasteries and clergy from Moscow and the Moscow Region.

Present at the service were diplomats accredited in Moscow and representatives of public organizations.

After the Divine Liturgy, a thanksgiving was sung to the holy enlighteners of the Slavs, Sts Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Patriarch Kirill addressed Patriarch Bartholomew and his delegation as well as bishops and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church and worshippers who assembled in the church.

As a token of the joint celebration in the Church of Christ the Savior, Patriarch Kirill presented Patriarch Bartholomew with a set of patriarchal vestments.

On behalf of the Holy Synod and the whole Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Filaret greeted Patriarch Kirill on the occasion of his Name Day.

Then Patriarchs Bartholomew and Kirill led a festive procession from the Church of Christ the Saviour to Vasilievsky Slope next to the Kremlin where the Days of Slavonic Literature and Culture were opened in a solemn ceremony.

His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia took part in the opening of the Days of Slavonic Literature and Culture on May 24, 2010, on Vasilievsky Slope near the Kremlin.

Patriarch Kirill addressed Patriarch Bartholomew and all the participants in the ceremony.

Patriarch Bartholomew in his speech stated: Our Church enjoins us to begin every task together with God. So we began God’s cause by celebrating the Divine Liturgy this morning at the Church of Christ the Saviour. And now there is a magnificent view before us as we celebrate the Day of Slavonic Literature and Culture all together – the Church, the state and the people.

A message of greeting from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was brought by the Presidential Administration deputy head A. Beglov. It stated in particular,

The celebrations in honour of the great enlighteners, the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles, have become a good tradition not only in Russia but also throughout the Slavic world. It shows a profound cultural kinship of our nations. And today, building on common historical and spiritual traditions, we develop partnership relations, cooperating with success in humanitarian and other spheres.

With every year this unique celebration uniting the efforts of the state, the Russian Orthodox Church and public organizations, is becoming more and more popular. In all regions of Russia there will be scores of concerts, exhibitions and conferences devoted to the Day of Slavonic Literature and Culture.

It is important that the geography of the celebrations and the themes of events should be broadened to involve more young people so that they may be introduced to the rich national heritage and educated for the care of the Russian language and literature.

Speeches were also made by the Federal Assembly speaker S. Mironov, Minister of Culture A. Avdeyev and Moscow Mayor Yu. Luzhkov. The speeches were followed by a festive concert.

On May 24, 2010, after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the opening of the Days of Slavonic Literature and Culture, Patriarchs Bartholomew and Kirill made a tour of the Church of Christ the Saviour, visiting the lower church of the Holy Transfiguration, Church Councils Hall, museum and observation deck. They were accompanied by Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and the Patriarchate of Constantinople delegation.

After that Patriarchs Bartholomew and Kirill continued their dialog during a fraternal repast in the chambers of the Church of Christ the Saviour. They were joined by the Patriarchate of Constantinople delegation, representatives of Local Orthodox Churches to the Throne of Moscow, bishops and clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate, as well as Presidential Administration deputy head A. Beglov, State Duma speaker B. Gryzlov, Minister of Culture A. Avdeyev, Moscow Mayor Yu. Luzhkov and other officials.

Patriarch Bartholomew and Kirill exchanged speeches.

Source> www.mospat.ru, www.patriarchate.org