Metropolitan Sergy of Barnaul and Altai leads celebrations on patronal feast of Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos

On 7-12 August 2017, a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church made a pilgrimage to Mount Athos with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

The visit was timed to the celebrations marking the patronal feast of the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon. The delegation led by Metropolitan Sergy of Barnaul and Altai also included Metropolitan Yelisei of Izyum and Kupyansk, Bishop Porfiry of Lida and Smorgon, and Hierodeacon Grigory (Sokolov), a staff member of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations.

On August 8, the pilgrims arrived in the Monastery of St. Panteleimon, where the festal All-Night Vigil was celebrated. Among those who attended the service were Mr. Aristos Kasmiroglou, civil governor of the autonomous Monastic State of Mount Athos; Mr. Alexander Scherbakov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Thessaloniki; as well as the Athonite monks and numerous pilgrims.

On August 9, the commemoration day of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, Metropolitan Sergy of Barnaul and Altai officiated at the Divine Liturgy in the abode. Concelebrating with the archpastor were Metropolitan Yelisei of Izyum and Kupyansk, Bishop Porfiry of Lida and Smorgon, Archimandrite Ambrose, hegumen of the Zographou Monastery, as well the ordained brethren and guests of the Monastery of St. Panteleimon. Praying at the service was Archimandrite Eulogius, hegumen of the abode.

The Liturgy was celebrated in the Church Slavonic and Greek languages and was followed by a procession with the cross.

As part of the celebrations, Metropolitan Sergy read out a message of greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on the occasion of the patronal feast of the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon.

After the brotherly repast, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s delegation said a litiya at the grave of the late hegumen of the monastery, Archimandrite Jeremiah.

That same day the Russian pilgrims visited the Protat of Mount Athos, as well as the Xenophontos and Dochiariou Monasteries.

In the morning of August 10, the members of the delegation bade farewell to the brethren of the Monastery of St. Panteleimon and left Mount Athos.

On August 11, Metropolitan Sergy of Barnaul and Altai visited the Diocese of Veroia, where he was warmly welcomed by Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veroia, Naousa and Kampania.

Source: Moscow Patriarchate