Monks and laymen greet His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the Laura of the Caves in Kiev

On 25 July 2010, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia arrived in Kiev and proceeded to the Dormition Laura of the Caves in Kiev. He was met at the holy gates by His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine; Archbishop Pavel of Vyshgorod, abbot of the Laura; Archbishop Anatoly of Borispol, rector of the Kiev Theological Academy, and brethren of the Laura. Many people have come to greet the Patriarch.

His Holiness proceeded to the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, where he venerated an icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God. The miraculous icon usually kept above the holy doors, was lowered on special straps.

The monks waited for the Patriarch at the square before the church. A photo was taken.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir addressed His Holiness the Patriarch, saying:

“Your Beatitude! The Dormition Laura of the Caves in Kiev is happy to greet you and invites you to offer up a prayer for the people of God…

“The brethren, father abbot, and I, an unworthy father superior of the Laura wish you to make many good deeds and help us to become perfect in social ministry. Bless us and pray for us so that God be with us, as it is a pledge of a worthy and pious life and hope for future life. Eis pollá éti, Despota!”

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said:

“Your Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir, the archimandrite of the Dormition Laura of the Caves in Kiev!

Your Eminences and Graces, dear fathers, brothers and sisters!

It is great joy to come to the Laura – a fount of monastic life of our Church, a centre of spiritual deeds that have penetrated people’s life for centuries and has shaped noble spiritual ideals and the image of Holy Russia. I thank you, Your Beatitude for the joy of communion with the brethren of the Laura of the Caves.

“I visited the Odessa and Dnepropetrovsk dioceses, met with their ruling and vicar bishops, with pious clergy, and many laymen. I must say that great changes have taken place since my first two patriarchal visit to Ukraine. I met with the scientists and politicians and felt that they trusted the Church profoundly. This trust stand high, as lot had been done in the 20^th century to move secular people as far away from the Church as possible and to make them lose their trust and even an interest to her.

“There is a strong movement towards consolidation around the Mother Church. This is a testimony to the fact that the Church has survived in the hard years of her life, having grown spiritually, and now performs her apostolic mission to the people of Ukraine under your guidance.

“I am happy to see the brethren, whose number has increased compared with the last year. As I see your joyous and calm faces, I become confident in the power of monasticism that has sprang here and continues its ministry to save many.

“May the Lord keep the Church of the ancient Kiev – the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Mother Church of people. May the Lord pour His abundant grace upon the archpastors, pastors, monks, and all the believers. May this grace sustain and transform us and open the path to God for us. May God’s blessing be with you always. May the Lord keep you!”

• ‘We do not seek the defeat but the return of our brothers…’ – Interview by V. Legoida, head of the Synodal Information Department
• Press-conference summing up Patriarch Kirill’s visitation of Ukrainian Orthodox Church
• Patriarch Kirill completes his visitation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
• ‘It is easy to pray together with the Ukrainian people’ – Patriarch Kirill’s interview to Russia-24 TV channel
• Patriarch Kirill honours memory of Great Patriotic War soldiers and victims of mass starvation in the 30s
• Patriarch Kirill and Metropolitan Vladimir open an exposition on Heritage of Holy Prince Vladimir at Kiev Laura of Caves
• Patriarch Kirill and Metropolitan Vladimir celebrate Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Laura of the Caves in Kiev
• Patriarch Kirill’s homily in Kiev Laura of Caves on the Baptism of Rus’ Day
• Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk: Many signals are coming from the schism that people feel the need to re-unite with the Church
• Appeal of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod to Orthodox Christians in Ukraine who are out of unity with the Holy Church
• Russian Orthodox Church Holy Synod meets in the Kiev Laura of Caves
• Monks and laymen greet His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the Laura of the Caves in Kiev
• His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: Ukraine awaits a fine future, and may God grant that we all work towards this future!
• His Holiness Patriarch Kirill arrives in Kiev
• His Holiness Patriarch Kirill completes his visit to the Dnepropetrovsk diocese
• His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia meets with clergy of the Dnepropetrovsk diocese
• Patriarch Kirill meets with Ukrainian President Yanukovich
• Patriarch Kirill meets with the public in Odessa
• Patriarch Kirill made doctor honoris causa by Odessa National Academy of Law
• Patriarch Kirill gives his blessing to a girl suffering from cerebral paralysis and gives her special wheelchair for disabled children
• Ruling hierarch of the Odessa diocese give reception in honour of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill
• His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates the Office of Blessing of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Odessa and officiates at the Divine Liturgy
• His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visits Monastery of the Dormition in Odessa
• Patriarch Kirill: I come again to this holy land with a special feeling
• His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia arrives in Odessa
• Moscow-Kiev video bridge before Patriarch Kirill’s visit to Ukraine
• Patriarch Kirill answers questions from Ukrainian journalists in anticipation of his visit to Ukraine