Alexey Ostrovskiy congratulated His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on his jubilee

Today, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill is celebrating his 70th birthday. On this occasion, Governor Alexey Ostrovskiy sent His Holiness a greeting telegram.

Aleksey Ostrovskiy wished His Holiness good health and strength, help of God and firmness in the glorious deeds on all the hard way of patriarchal service for the benefit of Russia and the entire Orthodox world.

The revival of church life in Smolensk region is closely connected with the name of Metropolitan Kirill, now His Holiness Patriarch. Arriving at Smolensk, he found the Diocese in an extremely decadent state. On January 1, 1985 in Smolensk region there were only 35 churches, many of which didn’t have priests. The anti-religious policy of the Soviet state and the Great Patriotic War did not spare Smolensk shrines. Most churches were in poor condition. The newly appointed bishop had to deal with all these problems from the very first days of his stay in the Smolensk Diocese.

As time went by, new monasteries began to open actively and ancient ones were revived. By 2009, when Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kirill was elected to the Patriarchal throne, only in Smolensk region there were more than 130 church communities.

Throughout his ministry in Smolensk region His Holiness paid attention not only to theological seminary created by him but to the religious education in the region in general. In addition to religious schools, two Orthodox gymnasiums and four Orthodox kindergartens were opened in the Diocese. Since the beginning of the 1990s, such subjects as "Fundamentals of the Orthodox Culture" and "History of the Orthodox culture of the Smolensk land” have been taught in Smolensk region.

In November 1989, Archbishop Kirill was appointed the Chairman of the Church External Affairs Department and became a permanent member of the Holy Synod. In 1990, Archbishop Kirill was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan. But despite being very busy in Moscow, he still found time to serve in the regional center, as well as in rural settlements and villages of Smolensk region.

On February 7, 2009, after taking the Patriarchal Throne, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill paid his first primatial visit to Smolensk region, and to Smolensk which became his hometown and about which he always said: "The loveliest city of Smolensk". Since then, the Primate of the Church has visited the Smolensk metropolia three times, where the congregation is always glad to see His Holiness.