MOSCOW: July 8, 2012
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Meets with Youth of the Russian Church Abroad

On July 8, 2012, at Krasny Hall of Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia received a youth delegation representing six dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, which is traveling to Russia to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the reestablishment of canonical unity within the Russian Orthodox Church.

Participating in the meeting were His Grace Vicar Bishop Panteleimon of Smolensk and Vyazemsk, Chairman of the Synodal Department of Church Philanthropy and Social Service; His Grace Vicar Bishop Theodosius of Seattle of the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and Protopriest Andrei Sommer, Vice President of the Synodal Youth Department of ROCOR.

His Holiness Vladyka made an opening speech to the young delegates. As a blessing, each was given an icon of St Sergius of Radonezh and a published collection of his sermons.

On behalf of the delegation, Fr Andrei thanked His Holiness for the meeting, giving him a painting dedicated to the 200th anniversary of California’s Fort Ross, the work of parishioners of the Russian Church Abroad.From July 7-18, the delegation of the Russian youth, led by Vladyka Theodosius and Fr Andrei, is visiting the holy sites of Russia, including places connected with the life of the Royal Passion-bearers, including Ganina Yama and the Church-on-the-Blood in Ekaterinburg. The youth will also take part in the International Festival of Social Technology in Defense of Family Values “For Life,” will visit the Central Clinic of St Alexei and the crisis center “Home for Mama,” and will be shown the Mercy Bus program.