Sergiev Posad, February 19, 2018
Photo: monasterium.ru On February 17, the day of all the holy monastic fathers, the one-year anniversary of the repose of the holy Elder Kirill (Pavlov) was prayerfully commemorated at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, where he ascetically labored for decades, reports the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The ever-memorable elder departed to the Lord on February 20, 2017 in Peredelkino, south of Moscow, in his 98th year of life, following a long illness. As this date falls in the first week of Great Lent this year, it was decided to transfer his commemoration to the Saturday of Cheesefare Week, to celebrate it more festively on the day of the venerable fathers who shone forth in asceticism, of whom Fr. Kirill is undoubtedly one.
Bedridden in his later years, he courageously endured his illness, not seeking any support and comfort, but in the brief moments when his strength would return, he himself supported and comforted others. According to his contemporaries, he was the confessor for Patriarchs Alexei I and Pimen. He was also the confessor for Patriarch Alexei II who moved him to the patriarchal residence in Peredelkino, from where he continued to minister to the brothers of the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra and innumerable visitors.
Archbishop Theognost of Sergiev Posad, the abbot of the Lavra, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the monastery on Cheesefare Sunday, including a litany for the repose of the ever-memorable Fr. Kirill and for him to be placed in the Heavenly mansions. He was concelebrated by Lavra brethren, and other spiritual children and friends of Fr. Kirill.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a panikhida was served at Fr. Kirill’s grave, behind the altar of the Holy Spirit Church, by His Eminence Archbishop Evgeny of Verey, the rector of the Moscow Theological schools.
A multitude of his spiritual children and parishioners of the Lavra gathered to honor the Confessor of All Russia, as he was known even in his lifetime. He was the guide of many young monks who accepted the tonsure in the Lavra, annually sending out as many as 5,000 letters of guidance and edification to bishops, priests, and laity.
Following the memorial service, Bp. Evgeny offered a homily, speaking of Fr. Kirill’s grave as a place of continuous pilgrimage, with faithful coming in an unending stream to light candles and offer prayers to the holy archimandrite.
All those gathered were offered small gifts of chocolates, pastries, and calendars, which continued Fr. Kirill’s tradition of not allowing visitors to go away empty-handed and without consolation. A memorial luncheon was also held in Fr. Kirill’s honor.
A memorial litiya will also be served at Fr. Kirill’s grave tomorrow, on the exact date of his anniversary.
