His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew Concludes the Visit to Russia

Translated Using Google Translate Service

On May 31, 2010 ended the stay Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople , within the Russian Orthodox Church.

During the ten-day visit, Primate of the Church of Constantinople, visited Moscow, St. Petersburg, visited Valaam and in Kronstadt. In the feast of Pentecost Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill Divine Liturgy in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. On the day of memory of Saints Cyril and Methodius, in which there Saint’s Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, head of the two Churches have committed a festive worship service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. The same day, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew attended the opening of the Days of Slavonic Literature and Culture. During the visit, also met with Russian President DA Medvedev, the Mayor of Moscow YM Luzhkov, visiting temples Apostolic city, including Moscow farmsteads of Alexandria, Antioch, Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

On the island of Valaam Primate of the Church of Constantinople bowed honest relics of the founders of the Valaam monastery Sergius and Herman, the other shrines of the monastery and visited monasteries in the Holy-Transfiguration Valaam Monastery stavropegic.

In the town of Kronstadt, he visited the reconstructed Nicholas Marine Cathedral, met with the wife of the President of Russia SV Medvedeva, which is a member of the Public Trustee of the temple.

During his stay in the northern capital of Russia, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew visited exhibitions of the Hermitage, visited the Kazan Cathedral, Savior on the Blood, the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. Together with His Holiness Patriarch Cyril, he proceeded to the cemetery Nikolsky Monastery, where lithium has made a place of burial of Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod Nicodemus (Rótova). Primates of Constantinople and the Russian Orthodox Church also prayed at the graves of FM Dostoevsky and PI Tchaikovsky.

In the week of All Saints Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill Divine Liturgy at St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg. After the service, Primates visited the historic building of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. In the Catherine Palace of Tsarskoe Selo Patriarch Cyril gave a reception in honor of His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

Primate of the Church of Constantinople accompanied by a delegation, which included Metropolitan Michael of Austria, the Metropolitan Miriofitsky and Peristasiysky Irenaeus, Metropolitan Emmanuel, Secretary General of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Archimandrite Elpidofor (Lambriniadis), Archimandrite Bessarion (Komzias), Archdeacon Maxim (Vgenopulos) and others.

Morning May 31, 2010 His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew flew from St. Petersburg to Istanbul. At the airport “Pulkovo” he followed the rector of St. Petersburg Theological Schools Bishop Gatchina Ambrose, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate bishop Solnechnogorsk Sergius, the governor of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, Bishop Vyborg Nazary, deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR secretary for inter-relations Rev. Igor Yakymchuk, vice-governor of St. Petersburg, AI Vakhmistrov, clerics of St. Petersburg Diocese. Patriarch Bartholomew also accompanied the Consul General of the Hellenic Republic in Saint-Petersburg VA Katzuru, Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus in St. Petersburg VA Sammutis and Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Saint-Petersburg M. Chinar.

In conclusion, visit the Church of Constantinople Primate spoke to reporters with the word, which, inter alia, said:

“With God’s help our visit to the travail of the saints Russia completed successfully. This was a return visit after last year’s peaceful and brotherly visit of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. We are going back to our Mother, to Constantinople, with good memories and sacred experiences.

We had the opportunity for the umpteenth time to declare inseparable unity and deep love not only between the two Churches, but their Primates. We know the Holy from a young age and appreciate those qualities which God bestowed upon him, know his love and devotion to the Church of the pious Russian people. We are absolutely confident that we will cooperate in harmony to overcome the existing problems in the Orthodox faith in the future of the Holy and Great Council to the local autocephalous Churches were able to give a convincing answer to suffering from a deep crisis of humanity. This response will be based on the Gospel of love, humility in Christ, unity in the Holy Spirit and hope turning to God the Father.

After Russia took Constantinople Holy Baptism and the Gospel, she gave the Church many saints, holy, Confessors, God-enlightened saints and martyrs who are its beautiful crown and its eternal glory. Patriarch Cyril and his Hierarchy of the Church continue praying education of the people in Christ. Monasticism is thriving, filled with temples believers, the word of God comes to the most remote places of the vast country. The wounds inflicted on the long night of militant atheism, were closed. Cross is already shining not only in temples and homes, and even in public institutions, and – most importantly – in the hearts and daily lives of most people. We have seen this firsthand. Indeed, is this betrayal of the right hand Vyshnyago ! (Cf. Ps. 76:11).

Also our dear brother Cyril, respectable members of the Hierarchy and the Church administration, we feel obliged to sincerely thank the Russian state authorities for showing our humility and respect for the members of our delegation, which, of course, drawn to the Apostolic and Ecumenical Throne. ”

His Holiness also expressed his gratitude to the many faithful of the Russian Church, who welcomed the Patriarch of Constantinople, prayed for divine services, asked the blessing.

In the course of his speech, he appealed to all to call:

“Stay in love of God in the Holy Trinity, under the cover of the holy Virgin, united in the Body of Christ, the Holy Mysteries and chastity! Do not listen to the voices that are alien to the voice of the Gospel. Pamper your Patriarch and your obedience to the pastors of the faith. Suppose you and your relationship with all who sincerely loves the Lord Jesus, dominates the world! In the holy tabernacle Fanara we continue to fervently pray for you all. We love you, sincerely and deeply we love you! From the depths of our souls and our hearts we love you all – clergy, rulers and the people! You are bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. You, too, pray for us, and heaven will answer our prayer to vote.

We’re leaving physically, but spiritually, and leave you in the hands of God’s love and God’s love for humanity. Rejoice, brothers! Rejoice, Chad! Rejoice, friends! Enjoy it! Always rejoice in the Lord! ” And again the river – rejoice! Enjoy perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace and God of love and peace will be with you (2 Cor. 13:11). ”

Source: