Orthodox News

Moscow, June 8, Interfax ? Church-wide celebrations to mark the 16th anniversary of the ministry of Alexy II as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia were held at the Church of Christ the Savior on Thursday. Over three thousand people attended.

?You have established contacts with the business community, states officials and public figures. You have restored good relations between church and society; we learnt and continue to learn from you?, said Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Lagoda, extending congratulations to Patriarch Alexy on behalf of the entire Russian Orthodox Church.

?Whatever time the Lord may give me will be devoted with all my strength to the spiritual revival of our much-suffering country and our people, because in this I see Russia?s future?, the primate of the Church said in response.

In his opinion, the spiritual revival has become possible only thanks to the faithful. ?I thank the Orthodox faithful who kept the faith in the years of severe trials and have handed it down to their children and grandchildren thus making Russia?s spiritual revival possible?, he said.

Patriarch Alexy was presented with an icon of St. Nicholas and a model of the Valamo monastery which he used to visit when a child and continues to visit almost every year.

Alexy II also reminded the congregation that yesterday the right hand of St. John the Baptist was brought to Moscow. ?It is a great day for us today, for the right hand of the Prophet and Baptist John is with us. Venerating it, we draw strength from it to so that we may carry out with honour the task given to us by God?, the patriarch said.