On February 15, the feast of the Meeting of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated Divine Liturgy at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
On this feast, Orthodox Youth Day is traditionally celebrated.
His Holiness was co-served by Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA & Canada and Bishop Roman of Serpukhov, abbot of Vysotsky Stavropegial Monastery; Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, cathedral dean, Archimandrite Alexy (Turikov; personal secretary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill ), and Moscow clergy.
Singing at the Liturgy was the Patriarchal Choir of Christ the Savior Cathedral directed by I.B. Tolkachev.
The chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for international affairs, L.E. Slutsky, was present at the Cathedral.
Soyuz and Spas TV channels, as well as Patriarchia.ru, the official portal of the Russian Orthodox Church, broadcasted the festive Patriarchal service.
Petitions for deliverance from the coronavirus infection were raised at the Augmented Litany.
After the Augmented Litany, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church read a prayer during the spread of a harmful epidemic.
During the Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill ordained Hierodeacon Platon (Kudlasevich), a cleric of Sretensky Stavropegial Monastery, Director of the Publishing House of Sretensky Monastery, a priest.
The sermon before the Holy Communion was delivered by Archpriest Viktor Gusev, cleric of the Church of the Mother of God"Unexpected Joy" in Chertanovo, Moscow.
At the end of the Liturgy, the glorification to the feast of the Presentation of the Lord was performed.
Then the Primate addressed the participants in the divine service with his primatial sermon.
In recognition of his diligent archpastoral ministry and in connection with his 50th birthday, His Holiness awarded Bishop Matthew of Sourozh with the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, III degree.
Presenting the award, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said: “Vladyka serves in Great Britain, carries out a very responsible obedience, gathers the flock, and, more recently, due to circumstances related to restrictions, which, unfortunately, representatives of the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church experience abroad and sometimes are not able to visit some countries, he also takes care of our flock in the United States. May God give you strength, firmness in faith, in love for the Motherland, so that your word could be wise and, at the same time, full of spiritual power."
Patriarchia.ru/Sourozh.org