The Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, officed a memorial service on the 145th anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Alexey I
On November 9, on the 145th anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexey I, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, officed a memorial service at the Patriarch’s grave in the crypt of the Dormition Cathedral of the Holy Trinity – St. Sergius’s Lavra.
Before the memorial service, the Rector addressed an assembly with a word:
In the 1920s, when most of the clergy of the Russian Church was imprisoned, Monk Seraphim of Vyritsa talked to the future Patriarch Alexey, who at that time was the Bishop of Khutyn. Visiting the Holy Trinity – St. Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Bishop Alexey met Monk Seraphim of Vyritsa to ask his blessing to go abroad. He was advised to leave Russia, because they wanted to save him from the seemingly inevitable arrest and execution. However, Monk Seraphim answered: “Lots of people are leaving Russia. But, who is left? Do not fear, Russia needs you. You will be the Patriarch for 25 years.
This prophecy came true. In 1945, Metropolitan Alexey became the Primate of the Russian Church and was its head until 1970.
There are many memories about him. The Soviet period was very difficult time for the Russian Church. Today, there are some people, who start questioning or criticizing the policy towards the Soviet government. However, it was impossible to act otherwise in those realities. His Holiness Patriarch Alexey I aimed to maintain peace in the Church and in the Fatherland. The episode with St. Seraphim of Vyritsa became providential.
Undoubtedly, God's blessing and help is bestowed on every Patriarch. However, in that case it was clearly revealed through the prophetic words of St. Seraphim.
His Holiness Patriarch Alexey I had many talents and gifts. He was a wise pious man, who inspired other bishops and priests. According to the memoirs of Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev), Patriarch Alexey was in healthy mind and good spirits until his last days. What’s more, he possessed some special inner grandeur, which was noticed by visitors and foreign guests.
Being the Holy Archimandrite of the Hole Trinity – St. Sergius Lavra, which was reopened in 1946 on Easter, the Primate put a lot of effort into restoring the monastery. At the same time, he took care for the Academy as well. He had a special spiritual connection with St. Philaret (Drozdov), Metropolitan of Moscow. In his panagia, he kept an icon that had been given by the saint to a relative of the Patriarch. So, Patriarch Alexey initiated St. Philaret’s evenings and tried to convey to teachers and students the spiritual heritage of St. Philaret.
Let’s pray for Patriarch Alexey’s repose and ask for his holy prayers about the Lavra, our theological school, future pastors and to the whole Church.
Bishop Kirill officed the memorial service co-served by Hieromonk Vyacheslav (Sorokin), Vice-Rector for Educational Work, Hieromonk Prokopiy (Rudchenko), Hieromonk John (Merzlyakov), Priest Nikolay Cherepenin and Deacon Nikolai Goyuk.
Students, teachers and staff of the Academy gathered to honor the memory of His Holiness Patriarch Alexey I and his deceased relatives.
Chanting performed by a quartet under the conduct of Ivan Bondaruk, a third-year undergraduate student.
MThA Press Office