An archpastoral visit to the most remote parishes of the diocese began on 11 February 2021. On 11 February, the day the Church honors the Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, the head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District, Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Right-Believing Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky in Termez. The evening before, the archpastor had celebrated a polyeleos service at the Dormition Cathedral in the capital.
His Eminence was assisted by the clergy of the Samarkand Deanery.
At the end of the Liturgy the archpastor addressed the worshippers with an archpastoral word in which he spoke about the life and feats of the Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer:
"Ignatius the God-bearer was the child whom our Lord Jesus Christ took in His arms, telling His disciples, the apostles, that 'unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.' How are we to understand these words of Christ the Savior?
First, it is very important to understand that children accept the Kingdom of Heaven very simply and easily if we tell them about this Kingdom. That is why we must speak with a child about the Kingdom of Heaven from an early age. But unfortunately we do not speak about it. Only when they grow up do they begin to think and reflect, and then they experience first confusion, then perplexity, unbelief, little faith, doubt and so on. But children do not doubt when we tell them that there is eternal life besides earthly life. The invisible God is constantly among us and sees all our deeds, actions and thoughts. Even an infant understands everything when you tell him, and is not afraid.
When a child has an understanding of the invisible God, of the omnipotence of God, Who heals infirmities of soul and body, Who helps us in life and punishes us when we act wrongly, then the child grows up differently.
A living faith in the living God: that is precisely the faith we must give to our children."
In the evening of the same day Metropolitan Vikenty celebrated the prescribed service at the Church of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky.
