Moscow - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All
Russia is in Estonia since friday and up to today, June 16th, Protodeacon Alexander Volkov,
the head of the patriarchal press service, told
Interfax-Religion.
"The head of the [Russian Orthodox] Church is visiting the Estonian Orthodox Church in order to share the prayer with Orthodox
Christians of Estonia. The visit's program includes numerous religious
services and meetings with the faithful," he said.
Upon arrival, the
Patriarch presided over a religious service at Tallinn's Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral, and conducted a religious service at Puhtitsa Convent, a major
Russian monastic center, yesterday. Yesterday too, Patriarch Kirill visited the Narva Diocese, which was established in 2011 within
the Estonian Orthodox Church. It was the Patriarch's first visit to the town
of Narva, which is located near the Russian-Estonian border, where he presided over a religious service at a local cathedral.
"Another very
important religious service will take place on Sunday," Father Alexander
said.
"The Patriarch will consecrate a stately cathedral named after the
Mother of God Quick to Hearken icon in Tallinn's Lasnamae district. The
groundbreaking ceremony for this cathedral took place a decade ago under the
late Patriarch Alexy II, who grew up in Estonia and had a special connection
with this country," he said.
During the visit, Patriarch Kirill plans to
meet with a number of Estonia's high-ranking officials, including the prime
minister, parliament speaker, foreign minister and Tallinn mayor, as well as the
archbishop of the Estonian Evangelic Lutheran Church.
On the first day of his trip, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church visited the Linda Monument in Tallinn and layed flowers at the World War II Bronze Soldier Monument. "Doubtless, the visit by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church to Estonia will play an important spiritual role for Orthodox Christians who live in this country," Father Alexander said.
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