MOSCOW: February 1, 2010
A Delegation of the Russian Church Abroad Participates in the Celebrations of the Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill

On February 1, 2010, the first anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Divine Liturgy was celebrated in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

His Holiness was joined in the service by His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine; other regular members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church; His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia; hierarchs of the autonomous and self-governing Churches of the Moscow Patriarchate; the priors of stavropighial monasteries and clergymen of Moscow.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Christoper, Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and representatives of other Local Orthodox Churches also participated in the services in the Cathedral. Also in attendance were President Dmitry Medvedev and the First Lady of Russia, as well as other government and civil representatives, and a multitude of guests.

In addition to Metropolitan Hilarion, the delegation of the Russian Church Abroad included His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, and His Grace Bishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe.

In recognition of his devoted service to the Church, and in connection with his 55th birthday, Archibishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America was granted the Second Order of St Innokenty.