His Holiness Patriarch Kirill consecrated the Cathedral of Sts. Nicholas and Basil’s Monastery

On the fifth day of visit His Holiness consecrated the Cathedral of Sts. Nicholas and Basil’s Monastery (village Nikolskoe, Donetsk region)

Early in the morning on July 31 about 10 thousands of faithful gathered at the gates of the Holy Dormition Sts Nicholas and Basil’s Monastery. All of them came to pray and get the blessing of the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

At the gate St. Iveron Church the First Hierarch was welcomed by Father Superior of St. Basil Monastery schema-archimandrite Alipy (Bondarenko) and Mother Superior of the Convent hegumeness Anna (Morozova). His Holiness Patriarch Kirill walked along the road, covered with flowers to the marble cross of respectful salutation, installed to commemorate his arrival to the abode.

Then the monastery brethren and pilgrims, headed by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church followed to the magnificent Cathedral of the Holy Dormition. There the Patriarch read final prayers for consecration of the cathedral and put the holy antimensis on the central altar.

Thus the commandment of the founder of the Holy Dormition Sts. Nicholas and Basil’s Monastery, schema-archimandrite Zosima (Sokur), who humbly asked in 2002 his spiritual children to construct the cathedral, similar to the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Kremlin, so that His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow consecrated it. That was what Metropolitan Hilarion referred to in his speech, addressed to His Holiness the Patriarch. Vladyka also thanked the First Hierarch for his visit to Donbass and to the monastery. Metropolitan Hilarion made His Holiness a gift of the Icon of the Venerable Zosima and Sabbatius of Solovki – the heavenly patrons of Father Zosima (Sabbatius in the monkhood, Zosima in the schema). Also His Holiness was presented a book on the history of the monasteries in thevillage of Nikolskoe.

Addressing the faithful of Donbass, His Holiness the Patriarch thanked them all for the firm standing in the Orthodox faith. He also marked the labors of the benefactors of the abode, enabling people to pray and perform the actions of mercy. As a keepsake of his visit to the monastery His Holiness Patriarch Kirill donated the ancient icon of the Dormition of the Theotokos – heavenly patron of the abode.

After the liturgical service the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church came to the tomb of the founder of the monastery schema-archimandrite Zosima (Sokur), where the memorial Litia was performed.

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