Thursday, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia has arrived in Romania. The plane bringing the Russian delegation, headed by Patriarch Kirill, landed on Henri Coandă International Airport at 16:43. This is the first visit of a Russian Patriarch in post-comunist Romania and the first visit of Patriarh Kirill in our country, since his election in 2009.
The leader of the Russian Orthdox Church was welcomed at the official lounge of Bucharest´s International Airport by a delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Church:
- His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania,
- His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște;
- Rev. Fr. Michael Tița, Patriarchal Adviser,
- Rev. Fr. Costin Spiridon, Patriarchal Adviser,
- Rev. Fr. Valentin Fătu,
- Rev. Fr. Mihai Muşat,
- Rev. Fr. Eugeniu Rogoti.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Russia is accompanied in his official visit by:
- Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations (DECR),
- Archbishop Sergiy of Solnecinogorsk, vicar of the Patriarch,
- Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, deputy chairman of DECR,
- Archpriest Andrey Bondarenko
- Rev. Fr. Alexandr Volkov, head of the Patriarchal press service,
- Rev. Fr. Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations.
Patriarch Kirill’s official visit in our country is occasioned by the celebrations held in Bucharest in memory of the defenders of Orthodoxy during communism and to mark Patriarch Daniel’s 10th anniversary of patriarchal ministry. His Beatitude will preside over the Divine Liturgy on the feast of Saint Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest. The next day will participate at the solemn session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church headed by His Beatitude Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, brought a fragment of the holy relics of Saint Seraphim of Sarov for the veneration of believers, which will be offered afterwards to the Russian Orthodox community in Bucharest hosted by St Nicholas – Tabacu Church.
The current Primate of the Russian Church was born on 20 November 1946 in Leningrad (now Skt. Petersburg). He was elected Patriarch on 27 January 2009 and enthroned during a solemn ceremony at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow on 1 February 2009.
Photo credit: Basilica News Agency
