The visit of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill

From August, 31 to September, 1 His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill was visiting Smolensk region, where up to his election as Patriarch, from 1984 to 2009 Metropolitan Kirill was the reigning bishop. During his visit the Patriarch was accompanied by Governor of Smolensk region Alexey Ostrovskiy.

Patriarch Kirill is an honor citizen of Smolensk region. The future patriarch carried out significant pastoral and missionary work in the region, where people still remember his activities aimed to benefit Smolensk region and the Russian society as a whole. The Patriarch also remembers Smolensk region, which is called the land of the Patriarch, and annually visits it.

During this visit Patriarch Kirill met the youth and people of the region in the hall of the Smolensk State University, and then visited the new exhibition center named after the Tenishevs.

On the same day the Diocese of Smolensk hosted the meeting of Patriarch Kirill with Governor Alexey Ostrovskiy.

Welcoming His Holiness the Patriarch, the head of the region said that the Patriarch was visiting Smolensk region during the special time – during the celebrations of the 1150th anniversary of the foundation of Smolensk and the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Smolensk from the Nazi invaders. In his speech His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said:

"For me Smolensk is the land with which I have been connected for 28 years already. Here I began my ministry as a reigning bishop – it was still the Soviet era then – I lived through the difficult 1990s and saw with my own eyes the revival of church life in Smolensk region and the city of Smolensk. Therefore, I can surely say that a large part of my life as a priest, as a bishop, as the arch pastor of the Russian Church is linked to Smolensk. 25 years of being here can be neither forgotten nor surpassed with some new experiences, which, of course, arise in connection with the patriarchal ministry, and therefore I feel special warmth in my heart when it comes to Smolensk".

One of the areas of joint activity of the Diocese and the Regional Administration is the program of building new churches in remote corners of Smolensk. According to Alexey Ostrovskiy, soon there will be an all-region meeting in which Bishop Isidor and heads of municipalities will take part and discuss the issue of teaching of the subject "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" in high school.