HIS BEATITUDE AT THE ENTHRONEMENT CEREMONY OF HIS BEATITUDE KIRILL PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW – MEETING WITH HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA
On Sunday 1st February 2009, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, concelebrated with His Beatitude Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and participated in the enthronement ceremony at the Holy Cathedral of Christ the King, addressing the new Primate in Russian.
His Beatitude then attended the lunch which was hosted in honour of the representatives of the Orthodox Churches by His Beatitude Kirill, who, during his brief greeting, addressed special thanks to the Alexandrian Primate for his personal attendance at this historic event in the Russian Church .
On Monday, 2nd February 2009, His Beatitude the Alexandrian Patriarch officiated at the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos Ouspensky following which the Patriarch of Moscow sang the memorial service for the repose of the souls of his predecessors. The two Primates then held private talks in the Kremlin.
Immediately after this, His Excellency the President of Russia Mr Medvedev met with His Beatitude Theodoros II in his Presidential Office in the Kremlin. During this significant meeting the Russian President expressed the joy of the Russian people at the presence of His Beatitude at the enthronement ceremony of the new Patriarch, spoke of the long spiritual bonds which unite the two Churches and praised the multifaceted missionary and humanistic work of the ancient Patriarchate on the continent of Africa .
Later, His Beatitude attended the official dinner hosted by President Medvedev in honour of the Orthodox Representatives.
On the evening of the same day, His Beatitude Theodoros II, attended the official reception for His Beatitude Kirill in the grounds of the Holy Church of Christ the King.