Hierarchs of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia concelebrated with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on the 17th anniversary of the enthronement of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church

On 1 February 2026, the Russian Orthodox Church prayerfully marks the 17th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’. In all churches and monasteries, prayers are offered for the Primate of the Church, who was elected to the Patriarchal Throne of Moscow at the Local Council of 2009.

On this significant day, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, wearing enthronement vestments and bearing a copy of the staff of the Holy Hierarch Peter.

Concelebrating with His Holiness was a host of hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, among them – the Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and Southeast Asia; Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi; and Archbishop Theophan of Korea.

Upon the end of the Liturgy, after the chanting of “Many Years,” Metropolitan Grigory of Voskresensk read out a congratulatory address from the members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the 17th anniversary of his enthronement. As a gift to His Holiness, Metropolitan Grigory presented an icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” and a bouquet of white roses.

His Holiness was also congratulated by the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District, I.O. Shchiogolev.

A greeting from the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, M.M. Mishustin, was read out by the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, D.N. Chernyshenko.

The Primate of the Russian Church then addressed the participants of the solemn service with a Primatial homily.

This was followed by the presentation of church awards. By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, the Most Reverend hierarchs who had marked notable dates and who had laboured especially for the good of the Holy Church – including hierarchs of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia – were awarded:

• in recognition of his diligent archpastoral labours and in connection with the 70th anniversary of his birth, Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut – the Order of Venerable Sergiy of Radonezh, 2nd class;

• in recognition of his diligent labours and in connection with the 50th anniversary of his birth, Archbishop Theophan of Korea – the Order of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, 3rd class.

In conclusion, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill offered his guiding words to those present.

Afterwards, a reception was held on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

Based on the materials from the press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’