Archbishop Savva takes part in ceremonial service to mark Holy Patriarch Kirill enthronement anniversary

Archbishop Savva alongside with many other hierarchs served Russia's Patriarch during the divine liturgy

With Holy Patriarch Kirill's blessing, the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God "Hodigitria" had been brought to the divine service after restoration. This icon accompanied the Russian army during the war of 1812. Before the Battle of Borodino Russia's commander-in-chief, M.I. Kutuzov, ordered to bring the miracle-working icon to the battlefield to hold a service of prayers.

The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church offered a prayer for peace in Ukraine. After the liturgy a thanksgiving service was held.

The Russian president's envoy to the Central Federal District, Alexander Beglov, congratulated the Patriarch on behalf of President Vladimir Putin, reports the Tiraspol and Dubossary Diocese web site.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the audience with a primatial address. He stressed the importance of Orthodoxy for the peoples of the Russian world.

"Our faith, our system of values help us not to stray from God. That is what those who would like us to lose ourselves and our own way are afraid of. That won't happen until the Ecumenical Orthodox Church exists and until there is the Russian Orthodox Church bearing responsibility for spiritual order of what we call now the Russian world," said the Patriarch.