On Monday, February 1, the seventh anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. His Holiness officiated, wearing the vestments he wore during his enthronement.

The Patriarch of Russia was joined in the service by many hierarchs of the Moscow Patriarchate and other Local Orthodox Churches, as well as archpastors from other metropolinate districts and jurisdictions, including His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside of Russia, as well as bishops who convened to participate in a regular meeting of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church and clergy in charge of various Synodal and church-wide institutions.

Singing at the service were the choir of Christ the Savior Cathedral under the direction of I.B. Tolkachev and the world-renowned Sretensky Monastery Choir under N.S. Zhila.

During the Augmented Litany, special petitions were offered for His Holiness. Afterwards, the Primate of the Russian Church read aloud a special prayer for peace in Ukraine.

The television channel Soyuz offered a live broadcast of the Liturgy, after which a thanksgiving moleben was performed.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onouphry of Kiev & All Ukraine then read a congratulatory address to His Holiness on behalf of the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, after which he gave Patriarch Kirill a hand-painted icon of the Mother of God of Kazan, a patriarchal paraman (paramandyas), and a bouquet of flowers.

The Plenipotentiary Representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, A.D. Beglov, congratulated His Holiness on behalf of the nation’s leader.

His Holiness, Patriarch Kyrill, then delivered a Primatial sermon, after which he bestowed ecclesiastical awards upon several archpastors and pastors in honor of important anniversaries in their honorable service to the Church.

The following day, Tuesday, February 2, Christ the Savior Cathedral hosted the Council of Bishops under the chairmanship of His Holiness, Patriarch Kyrill.