His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and the delegation representing the Orthodox Church in America returned to the US on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 after participating in services and related events marking the 70th Anniversary of His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
As reported earlier, upon their arrival in Moscow on November 18, Metropolitan Tikhon and the OCA delegation were received by Patriarch Kirill at his residence in Moscow’s Danilov Monastery. During their meeting, Patriarch Kirill stressed the importance of bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America.
“The historical origins of these good relations are connected with the names of our common saints—Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow, Saint Herman of Alaska, Saint Innocent and the martyr John Kochurov,” Patriarch Kirill said. “These saints are listed in the calendars of both of our Churches, and we ask their prayers to God for the prosperity of the Churches of America and Russia and for the preservation of the good relations that we have established.”
Patriarch Kirill stressed the importance of maintaining the bilateral relationships of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in New York City and the OCA’s Representation in Moscow and recalled with sorrow the recent repose of the OCA’s Representative, Archimandrite Alexander [Pihach], who “made a truly positive contribution to the development of relations between our Churches.”
Patriarch Kirill also shared insights into the importance of theological studies for the Churches of Russia and America. “We are pleased to welcome students of the Orthodox Church in America, and we note the important role of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in the development of theological education.” In this context, he also welcomed Archpriest Chad Hatfield, CEO of Saint Vladimir’s, who was present.
“I rejoice in the opportunity to discuss with you a number of issues on the agendas of all the Orthodox Churches, as well as those related to the development of our bilateral relations,” Patriarch Kirill concluded.
In response, Metropolitan Tikhon expressed gratitude for the invitation to attend the celebration of the Patriarch’s 70th birthday.
“All of us—laity and clergy and monks alike—join you in prayer, and the Orthodox Church in America, as the youngest of the Local Orthodox Churches, considers it a great honor to participate in this historic event, along with the heads and representatives of the Sister Churches Churches,” said Metropolitan Tikhon. “As witnessed at the celebration of the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ in 2013, the current celebration reveals your care for the unity of the Church and building the spirit of reconciliation.”
Turning his attention to the importance of monasticism in the life of the Church, Metropolitan Tikhon recalled the international conference held in conjunction with the 1000th anniversary of the presence of Russian monks on Mount Athos, convened with Patriarch Kirill’s blessing. “This presence on the Holy Mountain has borne much fruit—for example, in the persons of Saint Sergius of Radonezh and other saints, as well as the activities of the missionaries who were sent to Alaska to sow there the seed of faith.”
Patriarch Kirill and Metropolitan Tikhon also discussed a wide range of issues regarding relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America, as well as Pan-Orthodox cooperation.
On Saturday evening, November 19, Metropolitan Tikhon and members of the OCA delegtion attended a reception for the Primates of the Local Churches and the representatives of those Primates who were unable to attend, at which he had the opportunity to speak with those in attendance in an informal setting.
The following morning—Sunday, November 20—Metropolitan Tikhon concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill and the Primates or their representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches at Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral and hundreds of bishops and clergy. Among those who concelebrated at the Liturgy were His Beatitude, Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa; His Holiness, Theophilus III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine; His Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia II Patriarch Catholicos of All Georgia and Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi; His Holiness, Irinej, Archbishop of Pech, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch; His Beatitude, Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus; His Beatitude, Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania; His Beatitude, Sawa, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland; and His Beatitude Rostislav, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. Representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was His Eminence, Metropolitan Emmanuel of France. His Eminence, Metropolitan Nifon of Târgovişte, represented the Romanian Orthodox Church, while His Eminence, Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe represented the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Representing the Orthodox Church of Greece was His Eminence, Metropolitan Ignatios of Dimitriadis.
On behalf of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Eminence, Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine read a congratulatory address and presented Patriarch Kirill with the Moscow Patriarchate’s highest honor—the Order of Saint Andrew. Metropolitan Emmanuel of France delivered greetings from His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, while numerous other words of congratulations were offered by various religious and civil leaders.
On Monday, November 21, Metropolitan Tikhon and the members of the OCA delegation attended a solemn convocation marking Patriarch Kirill’s 70th birthday in the hall of Christ the Savior Cathedral. Patriarch Kirill opened the program, which was attended by the delegations of the Local Orthodox Churches and hundreds of other hierarchs, clergy and faithful. Multiple greetings were offered.
In his address, Metropolitan Tikhon thanked Patriarch Kirill for the fraternal concern he displays for the Orthodox Church in America and thanked him for his personal example as a good and wise shepherd. “Our clergy and faithful know of your loyalty to the pastoral ministry [and] your intense efforts to carry out the Church’s apostolic mission as Patriarch, as former head of the Department of External Church Relations [of the Moscow Patriarchate], and as a monastic,” Metropolitan Tikhon said.
The three-day celebration closed on the evening Tuesday, November 22 with a festive concert in honor of Patriarch Kirill in the hall of Christ the Savior Cathedral.
Members of the OCA delegation included His Grace, Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa; Archimandrite Gerasim; Archpriest Nazari Polataiko; Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak and Roman Ostash.
See related story and photo gallery.
Additional photo galleries highlighting the November 20 Divine Liturgy and November 21 Convocation may be viewed on the web site of the Moscow Patriarchate.
