Patriarchs of Russia and Serbia concelebrate in Moscow on Sts. Cyril and Methodius day

Yesterday’s feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the enlightener of the Slavs, was gloriously celebrated yesterday with a solemn Liturgy in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral, Orthochristian reports.

The primates of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, celebrated the service together, honoring the Equals-to-the-Apostles who are foundational for both of their Churches and cultures.

The feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius is also the internationally-celebrated Day of Slavic Writing and Culture and the name’s day of Pat. Kirill of Moscow.

More than 30 bishops and numerous clergy from throughout the Russian Orthodox Church’s territory, both within Russia and abroad, and from the Churches of Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Georgia, Bulgaria, Serbia, the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and America also joined in the festive occasion, reports the site of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The service was celebrated in Church Slavonic, Greek, Serbian, and Japanese, and included, as always, a prayer for peace in Ukraine.

 

At the end of the service, following congratulations to Pat. Kirill on the occasion of his name’s day, the Russian primate addressed his brother primate Pat. Irinej of Serbia:

I am glad that you, Your Holiness, are with us today on the fest of the holy Equals-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius. Our concelebration today is filled with special meaning. We, as patriarchs, are called to continue the work of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, relying on the help of our brother archpastors, the clergy, and all the faithful people. I would like to wish you God’s help and blessings for all the Serbian people. And may the Lord keep your country and people in peace, love, and unity. May God grant you many blessed years.

Following the service, the two patriarchs traveled to nearby Red Square for a concert dedicated to the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture, after which they returned to Christ the Savior Cathedral for a name’s day reception for the Russian primate.

His Holiness Pat. Irinej was a recipient of the 2017 International Public Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples award, bestowed upon him at the awards ceremony in the Hall of Church Councils at Christ the Savior Cathedral.

 

Photo credit: Patriarchi

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