Moscow, November 20, 2024
Patriarchia.ru
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated his 78th birthday today with a Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky in the Patriarchal skete in Peredelkino, outside of Moscow.
The Patriarch was concelebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Thomas of Odintsovo and his personal secretary His Grace Bishop Alexei of Ramenskoe, reports Patriarchia.ru.
Following the Liturgy, a moleben of thanksgiving was celebrated.
In his homily, the Patriarch recalled his pious relatives who helped shape his path in the Church:
The Lord ordained that I be born into a family of pious people. This includes my grandfather, a confessor who went through many prisons and camps but remained unbroken, never betraying his faith in the Lord and fighting against Renovationism, and indeed against persecution and church closures literally until the time when this sorrow passed. And, of course, my parents, Archpriest Mikhail and Matushka Raisa, who in difficult times took on the responsibility to serve the Lord—my father accepted ordination, and mother always accompanied him everywhere, helping. All this, of course, largely shaped my worldview.
He also spoke about the Patriarchal cross he bears:
As Patriarch, I am conscious of my responsibility for our entire Church. Of course, the Lord is the Head of the Church, He leads it along its historical path, but He accomplishes His will through people; and the Patriarch is one of those through whom God’s will should be accomplished. And for this to be so, the Patriarch must be completely devoted to the Lord, never do anything for himself or his own benefit, and give all his strength to service. If he serves thus, then the Lord assists him; if he deviates, then the Lord ceases to offer him His help.
God will judge how I am traversing this part of my life’s journey, but I feel God's hand and thank the Lord for everything—for joys and sorrows, for the enormous experience I have received, for the close ones, relatives who surround me, and for my fellow archpastors, priests, monastics who support my hands just as Aaron supported Moses’ hands. Of course, symbolically, but simultaneously quite really—through prayer and through cooperation—many, many people support me, and today I offer my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to all.
The Holy Synod of the Russian Church congratulated Pat. Kirill on his birthday, saying:
On this significant day for you, the entire fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church—archpastors, pastors, deacons, monastics, and laity—offer fervent prayers to God for Your Holiness with sincere love. We ask the Almighty to grant you strong health and inexhaustible spiritual strength, so that you, guided by the Holy Spirit, with your characteristic zeal and wisdom, may continue your primatial ministry for the benefit of holy Orthodoxy and for the salvation of the rational flock of Christ entrusted to You.
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