On September 27, 2022, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
His Holiness was accompanied by Metropolitan Dionysius of Voskresensk, Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate, First Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and Vicar of the Novospassky Stavropegial Monastery in Moscow; Bishop Dionysius of Lukhovye, the Vicar of the Moscow Patriarchate. The following were present: Bishop Evtimi of Lukhovitsy, chairman of the Synodal Missionary Department, vicar of the Stavropegial Monastery of St. Petrovskiy in Moscow; Archpriest Michael Ryazantsev, head of the Moscow Patriarchal Diocese. Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, Sacristan of Christ the Savior Cathedral; Archimandrite Alexis (Turikov), personal secretary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; clergy of Moscow.
Worship hymns were sung by the Cathedral of Christ the Savior Patriarchal Choir, conducted by I.B. Tolkachev, and by the trio of boys from the Choir of the Patriarchal Churches in Zaryadye, Moscow, conducted by D.S. Vedernikov.
The Liturgy was attended by Dmitry Rogozin, former Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation (2011-2018) and former Director General of the state corporation for space activities Roscosmos (2018-2022).
The Patriarchal Liturgy was broadcast live on Soyuz and Spas TV channels and on the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarchate.ru.
At the Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill ordained Deacon Dionisy Shlyakhturov, a clergyman of the church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God "The Unpouring Cup" in Kievsky in Moscow, to the rank of elder.
Priest Mikhail Asmus, clergyman of the Church of the Protecting Veil of the Most Holy Mother of God in Krasnoye Selo, Moscow, delivered the sermon before the Communion.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, His Holiness, the hierarchs serving with His Holiness, and the clergy worshiped and venerated the Cross of the Lord.
The Primate of the Russian Church gave a sermon and congratulated all the faithful on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Then His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented church awards:
In recognition of his diligent archpastoral labors and in connection with his 50th birthday, the vicar of the High Petrovsky Monastery in Moscow. In Moscow, chairman of the Synodal Missionary Department, Bishop Evphymii of Lukhovitsy was awarded the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 3rd class;
for his assistance in the reconstruction of the Vladimir Cathedral of the Spaso-Borodinsky Nunnery, D. O. Rogozin was awarded the Patriarchal Badge of the Church Builder.
At the end, His Holiness Vladyka again congratulated everyone on the holiday, thanked the participants of the service for praying together and added:
"Once again and again I express the hope that the prayer of the Church will lead us all to a lasting and just peace both in the expanses of Holy Russia and in the world in general, which today is also going through dangerous trials that may end in catastrophe. In order that this catastrophe may not occur, once again and again I ask everyone to multiply their sighs to the Lord - for the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of God's holy Churches, for our people and for our Church. Amen!" #DivineLiturgy #voice #patriarchkirill #service #christmasper #Kingdom Unchurched #russia #moscow #russianchurch @ElenaVladimirovnaDrachilovskaya