On December 5, 2024, on the sixteenth anniversary of the death of Holy Patriarch Alexy II, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate, First Vicar of the Holy Patriarch for the city of Moscow Metropolitan Grigory of Voskresensk celebrated the panikhia of the Holy Communion of the Patriarch of Moscow, the first vicar of the Holy Patriarch for the city of Moscow. Metropolitan Grigory of Voskresensk celebrated the funeral service at the tomb of the late Patriarch Alexy in the Annunciation aisle of the Epiphany Cathedral in Elokhov in Moscow.
Metropolitan Grigory of Voskresensk
His Eminence was served by: Metropolitan Arseny of Lipetsk and Zadonsky; Archbishop Thomas of Odintsovo and Krasnogorsk, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate, rector of the Epiphany Cathedral in Elokhov; Protopresbyter Vladimir Divakov, Secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for Moscow; Protopriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, rector of the Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow; Archpriest Vasily Baburin, rector of the Church of All Saints in Vsekhsvyatsky on Sokol in Moscow; protopriest Nikolai Balashov, advisor to His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Archpriest Maxim Baturin, acting dean of the Bogoyavlensky church district of the Moscow (City) Eparchy, rector of the Church of the Ascension of the Lord on Gorokhovoye Field in Moscow; Archpriest Boris Obrembalsky, senior priest of the Epiphany Cathedral in Elokhov; Moscow clergy.
The Epiphany Cathedral choir conducted by A.K. Mayorov.
The Epiphany Cathedral choir conducted by A.K. Mayorov performed the liturgical hymns.
The service was broadcast live on the «Soyuz» TV channel.
The service was broadcast live on the «Soyuz».
The funeral service was prayed by: Higumenia Juliana (Kaleda), abbess of the Zachatievsky Stavropegial Nunnery, deputy chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism; Higomeness Ekaterina (Chaynikova), abbess of the Krestovozdvizhensky Jerusalem Stavropigial Nunnery; numerous faithful — clergy, monastics and laity of the Russian Church.
Before the commencement of the requiem service, Metropolitan Gregory addressed those gathered in the church with the following words with an archpastoral word.
«To all of you gathered today in this ancient Moscow church at the tomb of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends his love and blessing. Today marks the 16th anniversary of the repose of Patriarch Alexy II. And as we pray for him, we remember the historical period of our Church associated with the Patriarchate of Alexy II. It was a very difficult period, a period of church revival» — said, in particular, Metropolitan Gregory.
«The beginning of the Patriarchal ministry of His Holiness Alexy II is connected with the global changes that took place in our country, — noted Vladyka Grigory. — For 70 years persecution of our Church continued. At first, the Russian Orthodox Church wanted to destroy, but when this failed, it sought to bring it to its knees, it was humiliated in every possible way. The Church had no opportunity to develop its ministry, the Church could not engage in missionary work, could not actively preach Christ the Savior. But by the grace of God, by the prayers of the saints of our Church, the Lord granted us another time, and at the beginning of this time His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II became the Primate of our Church. He did much for the development of Church life. If at the beginning of His Holiness Patriarch's ministry the Church's life could be compared to a ship that went through storms, a ship with torn sails and damaged masts, but at the end of his ministry, the church ship was put in order and continued its voyage on the sea of life.
«Thanks to the labors, thanks to the cares, thanks to the instructions of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, many churches have been opened, previously destroyed, desecrated, — continued the archpastor. — New Orthodox churches were built, theological schools were opened, began to feed the military and work with educational institutions. During the years of His Holiness Alexy's Patriarchate, the hosts of new martyrs and confessors of the Church of Russia were glorified, which was a joyful event for all Russian Orthodox Christians. During his Patriarchate, relations were established with the Russian Church Abroad, and this process culminated in the restoration of our unity. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II worried about everything that was happening in the dioceses of our Church. He instructed archpastors, he prepared many clergy»"
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«And today we, dear lords, brothers and sisters, remember His Holiness Patriarch Alexy with special gratitude, and with special gratitude to God we pray that the Lord, who is merciful and merciful, may forgive the deceased. The Metropolitan Grigory concluded, —
His tomb was laid with flowers from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
Flowers were laid on the tomb from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Metropolitan Gregory, Metropolitan Arseny and Archbishop Thomas laid bouquets of white roses at the tomb.
Metropolitan Gregory, Metropolitan Arseny and Archbishop Thomas laid bouquets of white roses at the tomb.
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