On Friday of the first week of Great Lent the rector of the Moscow Theological Academy co-served with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill in the Holy Trinity- St. Sergius Laura

On Friday, March 6, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill visited the Holy Trinity- St. Sergius Laura.

At the gates of the Trinity Cathedral the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was greeted by the bishop of Zvenigorod Pitirim, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, the bishop of Sergiev Posad Paramon; N.Yu. Chaplin, First Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Regional Duma, M.Yu. Tokarev, Head of Sergiev Posad district of the Moscow region and Laura monks.

In the Trinity Cathedral, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill venerated holy relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh and the shrines at the Nikon chapel and St. Serapion’s Chamber.

Then, the Primate of the Russian Church performed the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in the refectory church in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

His Holiness was accompanied by the bishop of Zvenigorod Pitirim, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, the bishop of Sergiev Posad Paramon, Vicar of the Holy Trinity- St. Sergius Laura, Hieromonk Agafon (Bolotin), Dean of the Holy Trinity- St. Sergius Laura, archimandrite Bartholomew (Kalugin), Confessor of the Holy Trinity- St. Sergius Laura, archimandrite Agafodor (Markevich), Cenobite of the Holy Trinity- St. Sergius Laura as well as other ordained monks of the monastery.

 Liturgical chants were performed by the brotherly choir of the Holy Trinity- St. Sergius Laura under the conduct of archimandrite Gleb (Kozhevnikov) and the first academic choir conducted by hieromonk Nestor (Volkov).

The Patriarchal service was broadcasted on “Soyuz” and “Spas” TV channels.

The clergy and people profoundly prayed for the unity of the Orthodox Church and preservation from any divisions and schisms.

During the Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill ordained the monk Prokhor (Zlobin) to the rank of hierodeacon.

Hegumen Philip (Yelshin), Cenobite of the Holy Trinity- St. Sergius Laura addressed the assemblt with a word of a sermon.

At the end of the divine service, His Holiness the Patriarch led the prayer service to the great martyr Theodore Tiron and blessed the koliva.

Then, the Primate of the Russian Church addressed the faithful with a sermon.

After the Liturgy His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill dined with the community of the Holy Trinity- St. Sergius Laura.

The MThA Press Office/Press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia