On July 20 the visitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia to the Ukrainian land began with the visit to the Diocese of Odessa. From the city airport His Holiness headed to the Holy Dormition Cathedral. The streets of the city are decorated with posters “Welcome, Your Holiness!” on the occasion of his arrival.
In front of the cathedral His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Metropolitan Agathangel of Odessa and Izmail and the accompanying persons were welcomed by the rector assistant archpriest Ioann Zhelikhovskyy. Numerous worshippers gathered inside the cathedral and by its walls.
His Holiness Patrriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia bowed unto the main shrine of the church - the Kasperov Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God and said prayers to it.
Then on behalf of the clergy and faithful of the diocese of Odessa His Holiness was greeted by Metrropolitan Agathangel of Odessa and Izmail. He offered as a present to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church a copy of the Kasperov Icon of the Heavenly Queen.
Metropolitan Agathangel addressed His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: “On behalf of the clergy and faithful of the Odessa Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Orthodox community of Odessa and me personally let me greet You on Your successful arrival to the lands of Odessa, evidence my filial love, express my gratitude and get consolation of the common faith”.
“In Your person we see the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, the guardian of the church unity, a scholar, philosopher and theologian, a man of prayer of the Russian land. Your Holiness, our hearts are open and our lips say that we are happy to receive You”, said the Archpastor.
His Holiness Kirill addressed with a word to His Eminence Agathangel, clergy and faithful who gathered in the cathedral and outside it.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill gave an icon of the Savior as a present to the Cathedral.
Then His Holiness once more time addressed the worshippers who gathered in the church and by its walls and gave them his archpastoral blessing.
REFERENCE. The Cathedral in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Odessa was founded in 1855. The church foundation was laid by the Holy Hierarch Innocent of Kherson. The cathedral was consecrated in 1869 by Archbishop Dimitry (Muretov) of Kherson and Odessa, a prominent theologian, preacher and spiritual writer.
The height of the church build in accordance with the draft of the architect Otton L.T is 56 meters, and it can contain some 5 thousand people. In 2008 with the blessing of the cathedral rector Metropolitan Agathangel of Odessa and Izmail general repairs of the church were carried out, the walls and arches of the temple were decorated with new paintings.
DECR communication service/Press-service of the Patriarch
| |
|
