On Patriarch Kirill's Birthday, Metropolitan Vikenty Concelebrates the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

On 20 November 2019 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. On this day His Holiness turned 73.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the monastic tonsure and the ministry in holy orders of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. On 3 April 1969 Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad and Novgorod tonsured Vladimir Gundyaev, a student of the Leningrad Theological Academy, a monk with the name Kirill. On 7 April he was ordained hierodeacon by the same hierarch, and on 1 June of that year hieromonk.

His Holiness was assisted by permanent members of the Holy Synod: Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Patriarchal Vicar of the Diocese of Moscow; Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and All Moldova; Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, Head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District; Metropolitan Varsonofy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga; Metropolitan Pavel of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Bishop Dionisy of Voskresensk, Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; and an assembly of hierarchs of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Hierarchs and clergy of the Local Orthodox Churches took part in the service: Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Bishop Irinej of Bačka (Serbian Orthodox Church); Bishop Antonije of Moravica, representative of the Serbian Patriarch to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Archimandrite Feoktist (Dimitrov), representative of the Bulgarian Patriarch to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Archimandrite Serafim (Shemyatovsky), representative of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia; Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk, representative of the Orthodox Church in America; and Archpriest Kakhaber Gogotishvili (Georgian Orthodox Church), cleric of the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious in Malye Gruziny, Moscow.

His Holiness was also assisted by Protopresbyter Vladimir Divakov, Secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for the city of Moscow; Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, sacristan of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour; Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations; Archimandrite Filaret (Bulekov), Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations; Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov, Rector of St. Tikhon's Orthodox University for the Humanities; Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church; Archimandrite Alexander (Elisov), head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem; Archpriest Alexander Ageikin, rector of the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow; Archpriest Mikhail Egorov, Secretary of the Moscow Regional Diocesan Administration and rector of the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious in Vidnoye, Moscow Region; abbots of stauropegial monasteries; and clergy of the capital.

Present in the cathedral were I. O. Shchegolev, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District; A. D. Beglov, Governor of St. Petersburg; A. V. Uss, Governor of Krasnoyarsk Territory; L. E. Slutsky, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs; T. N. Moskalkova, High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation; D. F. Mezentsev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Belarus; V. I. Yakunin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation; and V. A. Alekseev, President of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations.

Praying at the Liturgy were the Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media and acting head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, V. R. Legoyda, as well as clergy, monastics and laypeople who had come to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour to pray with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on His Holiness's birthday.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the Patriarchal Choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (conductor I. B. Tolkachev) and the choir of the Sretensky Stauropegial Monastery (conductor N. S. Zhila).

The Soyuz and Spas TV channels broadcast the Patriarchal service live.

At the Little Entrance, by decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill based on the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of 29 October 2019 (Minutes No. 132), Bishop Dionisy of Voskresensk was elevated to the rank of metropolitan in connection with his appointment as Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Also at the Little Entrance, by decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill based on the decision of the Academic Council of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy of 30 August 2019 conferring on him the title of honorary doctor honoris causa of the Academy, Bishop Irinej of Bačka, a hierarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, was granted the right to wear the doctoral cross.

During the Augmented Litany petitions were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church and its preservation from divisions and schisms.

Special petitions were also offered for His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, honoured on this day:

“Again we pray to Thee, O Lord our God, that Thou wouldst hear the voice of our supplication and prayer, and have mercy on Thy servant, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, honoured this day, by Thy grace and bounties; that Thou wouldst fulfil all his petitions and forgive him every transgression, voluntary and involuntary; that his prayers and almsgiving may be acceptable before the throne of Thy dominion; that Thou wouldst shelter him from enemies visible and invisible, deliver him from every misfortune, calamity, sorrow and sickness, and grant him health and length of days, let us all say: O Lord, hear and have mercy.

Look down, O Master who lovest mankind, with Thy merciful eye upon Thy servant, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, and hear our prayers offered with faith, for Thou Thyself hast said: Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them; and again: Ask, and it will be given to you. Therefore we also, though unworthy, trusting in Thy mercy, ask: grant Thy goodness to Thy servant, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, honoured this day; fulfil his good desires, and preserve all his days in peace and quiet, in health and length of days, let us all say: Hear us speedily and graciously have mercy.

May this our thanksgiving, O All-good Master, be acceptable as fragrant incense and as a rich whole burnt offering before the majesty of Thy glory, for Thy benefactions which Thou hast poured out abundantly upon Thy servant, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, in the past fifty years of his ministry and monastic endeavour; and we fall down before Thee and offer glory to Thee as God and cry out with tenderness: deliver now and in the years to come Thy servant whom we honour, and the Russian Church which he guides, from all the opposition of enemies visible and invisible. And grant to her faithful children a sinless length of days in health and progress in every virtue; we pray Thee, O most bountiful King, graciously hear and speedily have mercy.”

Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna read the prayer of thanksgiving: “O Lord Jesus Christ our God, the God of all mercy and bounties, whose mercy is immeasurable and whose love for mankind is an unfathomable abyss! Falling down before Thy Majesty with fear and trembling, as unworthy servants, we now humbly offer thanksgiving to Thy loving-kindness for Thy benefactions bestowed upon Thy servant, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, in the past fifty years of his ministry and monastic endeavour; we glorify, praise, hymn and magnify Thee as Lord, Master and Benefactor, and falling down we thank Thee again, humbly entreating Thine immeasurable and ineffable mercy. As Thou hast now deigned to accept and graciously fulfil the prayers of Thy servants, so in time to come grant that Thy faithful servant, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, honoured this day, may receive Thy benefactions, progressing in Thy love and in sincere love and in all virtues; deliver the Russian Church which he guides from every evil circumstance, granting them peace and tranquillity; and make us worthy always to offer thanksgiving to Thee, together with Thy Father who is without beginning and Thy Most Holy, Good and Consubstantial Spirit, God glorified in one essence, and to speak and sing of Thy great goodness: Glory to Thee, O God our Benefactor, unto the ages of ages.”

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church offered the prayer for peace in Ukraine.

The sermon before Communion was preached by the abbot of the Sretensky Stauropegial Monastery, Archbishop Amvrosy of Vereya.

At the end of the Liturgy Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna read out the congratulatory address of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church and presented His Holiness with a paraman and a bouquet of white roses.

His Holiness was also congratulated by I. O. Shchegolev, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District. “We have gathered here today to celebrate with you your birthday in the year of the 50th anniversary of your monastic tonsure and priestly ordination. This half-century of pastoral service is an example to all of us of selfless service to the Church and to our Fatherland. The affirmation of high moral values and the preservation and strengthening of the cultural and spiritual traditions of Holy Rus' and Orthodoxy have always been and remain at the centre of your attention. And this inspires sincere respect and gratitude. I know that your special care has always been directed towards strengthening, building and developing cooperation between the Church and the state. I wish you many long years to come of strength of soul and body in carrying out your Primatial ministry for the good of our Church and our Fatherland. Many happy years!” said the President's representative.

The Primate of the Russian Church then addressed those gathered in the cathedral with his Primatial word.

After the service at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour a reception was held in honour of His Holiness's birthday.