The Primates of two Local Autocephalous Orthodox Churches concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow

On Sunday, April 26, 2009, His Holiness, Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Russia, together with His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH of All America and Canada concelebrated the Divine Liturgy for St. Thomas Sunday at Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. Concelebrating with the two Primates of Autocephalous Churches were numerous hierarchs and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America.

During the Primatial Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Tikhon (Zaitsev) the former Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem was consecrated to the Holy Episcopate and given the title “Bishop of Podolsk” with the added responsibility of being the Chairman of the Department of Finances and Economic Management of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Following the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy, His Holiness, Patriarch KIRILL welcomed His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH to Moscow on his first Primatial visit to the Russian Orthodox Church and spoke of the importance of maintaining strong relations between the two Sister Churches. After warm words of greeting, His Holiness presented the Metropolitan with an icon of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In turn, Metropolitan JONAH offered words on the history of the relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Church in North America starting from the early missionaries arriving in Alaska from Valaam Monastery and continuing to the present day. His Beatitude spoke about the important event in the life of the Orthodox Church in America this year with the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Alexis Toth, who labored much in bringing many people into the Fullness of the Orthodox Church. In prayerful commemoration of the first concelebration between the two Primates, Metropolitan JONAH presented Patriarch KIRILL with an icon of St. Alexis containing a particle of his holy relics.

After the Divine Liturgy a luncheon was held during which more warm words were exchanged between the Heads of the two Autocephalous Churches. Following the luncheon, a tour of Christ the Savior Cathedral was provided for Metropolitan JONAH and the delegation accompanying him.