On January 7, 2025, in the Red Hall of the Cathedral Christ the Savior Cathedral, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with a children's delegation of compatriots from Kyrgyzstan.
Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia met with a children's delegation of compatriots from Kyrgyzstan.
The children are now in Moscow as part of a cultural exchange and strengthening of international ties between the Russian Federation and the Kyrgyz Republic. The visit, organized with the support of the Charitable Foundation «Holy Martyr Vonifatius», takes place from January 5 to 9. As part of the main program, the children were scheduled to attend the Patriarchal Divine Service on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the New Year's performance «A Christmas Tale: The Brothers and the White King» in the Hall of Church Cathedrals of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Christmas tree in the State Kremlin Palace.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church warmly greeted the children.
President of the charitable foundation «Saint Martyr Vonifatius» N.S. Mezentseva thanked His Holiness the Patriarch for the meeting and attention to the children.
The children congratulated His Holiness on Christmas and presented His Holiness with a painting by Kyrgyz artist Bakyt Imangaziev «Issyk-Kul».
The children congratulated His Holiness on Christmas and presented His Holiness with a painting by Kyrgyz artist Bakyt Imangaziev «Issyk-Kul».
Predecessor
«I cordially greet you all, my dear ones.
«I cordially greet you all, my dear ones. I am glad that you have come from the shores of Issyk-Kul. I have visited these places many times, and indeed, their beauty, of which you speak, is imprinted in my memory. But it is very important that you, living far away from Moscow, have the opportunity as Orthodox children to come to our capital on these holy days. I am very glad that you have the opportunity to meet the Patriarch, to visit and pray in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
I wish all of you God's help on the path of life. You are at the very beginning of this journey. Any athlete who runs a long distance is under tremendous stress, and not everyone makes it to the finish line safely. But that's just running, a kind of sporting activity. And the most difficult path for a person — is his life path, and you start this path very right: you believe in God. You have come to Moscow, to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and, undoubtedly, you will get something for your mind and heart from this visit. But I would like to wish all of you that the long distance of your life will be prosperous. So that no dark forces will lead you off this path — neither human temptations, nor evil human thoughts, nor evil human examples. But in order that no one has led us astray, we need a compass. And that compass is the Orthodox faith.
If someone teaches you something that does not correspond to this faith, you should reject all temptations and avoid such people. Because true happiness, to which every human being aspires, can only be in communion with God. God is the source of life and the source of our happiness.
And what misfortunes have fallen upon our country, as you know, when, by the design of evil men, an attempt was made to tear our people away from the faith! There were significant achievements, but if everything had been prosperous, the country would have existed. And everything collapsed and disintegrated, bringing great grief to people, and it happened so first of all because the most important law of life was violated, connected with the fact that man was created by God and should live according to God's law.
I wish all of you to keep faith in your heart, to remember that God's law — is the law of life, and to act accordingly in your life. And to understand what God's law is, we just need to remember the words: God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God (1 John 4:16). Therefore it is necessary to keep in your heart this feeling of love — to your parents, relatives, close ones, to your Motherland, to the Church. Then it will really be in your hands very a reliable compass that will keep you on the path of life.
I cordially welcome you all to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and I would like to present each of you with this icon with the image of the Savior born and my blessing on the back. God help you all!
Holy Patriarch Kirill gave the children icons of the Nativity with the Patriarch's blessing.
Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
