Patriarch Kirill in Kyrgyzstan. Word from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill after the consecration of the Resurrection Cathedral in Bishkek

More than three thousand Orthodox Christians of Kyrgyzstan from all regions of the republic gathered in the capital to pray with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'. Visit of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church(ROC) in Bishkek began with festive liturgy in the main temple of the Kyrgyz Republic - the Holy Resurrection Cathedral.

For the people of Kyrgyzstan, the visit of the patriarch was a significant event. Parishioners began to gather in the church several hours before the start of the service. Whole families came. The church building and courtyard could barely accommodate everyone who wanted to greet the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

We came from Kara-Balta with the whole family and even took our grandson,” said parishioner Anastasia Svetlaya. “We knew there would be a lot of people, so we left at night.” The arrival of the Bishop is a holiday for believers. I already heard the patriarch when I was in Moscow at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and now he has arrived in Bishkek. I really wanted to attend his sermon. This will give me confidence in the future.

The children who were lucky enough to receive Holy Communion from his hands waited with special impatience for the Bishop.

At the end of the service, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church took part in procession in honor of the consecration of the recently restored building of the Holy Resurrection cathedral. It was erected in Kyrgyzstan during the Great Patriotic War in 1942-1945, but until recently large-scale overhaul was not carried out here. By the way, for active participation in restoration work, the patriarch awarded special diplomas to representatives construction companies and local clergy. As a gift to the temple itself, the patriarch brought an icon of Heraclius of Issyk-Kul, whose relics were the main shrine of the Holy Resurrection Cathedral. They were moved from the village of Ananyevo in 2004 and placed in the altar of the temple.

“I am very glad that here, in Kyrgyzstan, very good relations are developing between Orthodox Christians and representatives of other religious faiths, in particular Muslims,” the patriarch noted in his sermon. - It's nice to know that state power supports this. The Orthodox Church here has the opportunity not only to develop itself, but also, together with the Islamic community, to contribute to the cultural life of the Kyrgyz people.

After a prayer service at the Holy Resurrection Cathedral, His Holiness was received by the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbai Jeenbekov, and also met with the Supreme Mufti of Kyrgyzstan Maksatbek azhy Tolomushev. In both cases, further prospects for cooperation between the Muslim and Christian communities were discussed.

The patriarch also visited the new Orthodox church of Kyrgyzstan - the Cathedral of St. Prince Vladimir. It is planned that it will soon open secondary school. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrated the stone that was laid in the foundation of the future educational institution.

In conditions when a huge information flow falls on every person, when it is difficult to distinguish good from evil, Orthodox Christian can confidently follow the path of life if he combines his faith with knowledge,” Kirill noted. - He will be an educated, modern person, capable of clearly understanding where in this information flow there is truth and where lies.

The new school is designed for 420 students. The project provides for the construction of football and volleyball fields and an assembly hall. Five schools have already been opened in Kyrgyzstan Orthodox churches, in which children of different nationalities and religious denominations study.

Meanwhile

The arrival of the patriarch was awaited with special trepidation at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University (KRSU). His Holiness brought his book “Freedom and Responsibility” translated into Kyrgyz as a gift to the university. The publication includes works written by Patriarch Kirill even before he was elected to the patriarchal throne.

The visit to Bishkek became a landmark for the head of the Russian Orthodox Church himself: the academic council of the KRSU decided to award the patriarch an honorary doctorate of science.

On Saturday, May 27, 2017, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' arrived at Manas airport, and from that moment his primate visit to the Kyrgyz Republic began.

The official delegation accompanying His Holiness included: Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations; Archbishop Sergius of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate; Archbishop of Pyatigorsk and Cherkessk Theophylact, temporary administrator of the Patriarchal Deanery of the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Turkmenistan; chairman Synodal Department on the relationship of the Church with society and the media V.R. Legoyda, head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', priest Alexander Volkov.

At the capital's Manas airport, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was met by: the head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District, Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, Bishop Daniel of Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan and the clergy of the Bishkek diocese; Director of the State Commission for Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Zairbek Ergeshov, Deputy Head of the Department foreign policy Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Daniyar Sayakbaev, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism Baktybek Sekimov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Russian Federation V Kyrgyz Republic A.A. Krutko and Russian diplomats.

Addressing media representatives at the airport, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted that this was his first visit to the Kyrgyz Republic.

“First of all, I came here to pray with Orthodox people, see how the life of the Orthodox Church in Kyrgyzstan is developing. Kyrgyzstan is a very friendly country, where Russians and Kyrgyz people live in great friendship,” said His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church recalled that the outstanding Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov wrote in Kyrgyz and Russian. “This shows how our cultures interpenetrate and how great place The Russian language and Russian culture are present in the life of the Kyrgyz people. All this awakens a feeling of great respect and hope that relations between our peoples will always remain good, regardless of how the political picture develops in the world,” he emphasized His Holiness.

“I would like to convey to all people living in Kyrgyzstan my wishes for peace, prosperity, prosperity, interethnic cooperation“So that God will preserve the land of Kyrgyzstan,” said His Holiness Patriarch Kirill in conclusion.

On Sunday, May 28, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrated the completely rebuilt Bishkek Holy Resurrection Cathedral.

The consecration ceremony was attended by Bishop Daniel of Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan, director of the State Commission for Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Zaiyrbek Ergeshov, clergy of the Bishkek diocese and the Central Asian Metropolitan District.

The arrival of Patriarch Kirill was long-awaited for numerous believers and Cossacks of Semirechye who came to the temple and took part in the procession after the consecration of the temple. Then the Primate of the Russian Church held Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church.

The Holy Resurrection Cathedral was built in 1945-1947. New buildings were erected here in the early 2000s temple complex, including the diocesan spiritual and administrative center, conference hall, library, historical museum, Sunday school and Orthodox gymnasium.

In the afternoon, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill consecrated the foundation stone in the capital of Kyrgyzstan on the site where the Orthodox gymnasium will be built.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church emphasized the importance of creating such educational institutions, since they will help form “a new generation of Orthodox people - well educated and able to actively participate in the life of society.”

It is planned that the Orthodox gymnasium will operate according to a special program that takes into account the educational standards of Russia and Kyrgyzstan. Educational institution will be located at the Cathedral of St. Prince Vladimir in Bishkek. It will be able to train 420 people at a time.

An Orthodox school has been operating in the Kyrgyz capital since 2008, but it is very small - only 120 children study there and only from grades 1 to 9.

During the visit, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill plans to visit the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, named after the first President of Russia Boris Yeltsin, where a presentation of the publication of his book “Freedom and Responsibility” in the Kyrgyz language will take place. Translation into the language of Manas and Aitmatov was prepared by the Russian-Kyrgyz business advice with the assistance of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Bishkek and Kyrgyz diocese.

This is Patriarch Kirill’s first visit to Kyrgyzstan. His visits to the country of Ala-Too were also planned in 2011 and 2016, but both times were postponed for objective reasons.

The 1996 visit of the previous Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II to Kyrgyzstan had a great public resonance.

Then, for his visit, the capital authorities expanded the territory of the Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Bishkek. And in Karakol, on the eve of that visit in 1996, the Church of the Holy Trinity was returned to the believers. Accordingly, Alexy II visited not only Bishkek, but also the Issyk-Kul region.

Patriarch Kirill planned to meet on May 29 with the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Atambaev Almazbek Sharshenovich and after this meeting to travel to the city of Karakol with a visit to the Church of the Holy Trinity.

One of the representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate on May 28, at the evening final formation of the Cossacks of the ALE "Union of Cossacks of Semirechye" of the Union of Cossacks of Russia and the SARTS MCC (Ataman Demchenko M.S.) highly appreciated their preparatory work done for the meeting of His Holiness, and the service for protecting public order in during the visit of Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church MP Kirill to the territory of the Temple complexes and to the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection. Ataman SKS Cossack Colonel Zuev A.M. and the military priest Archpriest Alexy Zaitsev warmly thanked the Cossack brothers for the many days of work done and worthy service for the Glory of God during the above events. The second main day of the visit passed calmly, without any incidents or incidents.

Based on materials from the press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', the press and media of the Kyrgyz Republic, prepared,

Special Correspondent

independent magazine "Cossack Brotherhood"

F. Savchenko

Photo. Vasily Novikova

Meeting His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at Manas airport

On May 27, 2017, the Primate visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' to Kyrgyzstan began.

The official delegation accompanying His Holiness included: Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations; Archbishop Sergius of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate; Archbishop of Pyatigorsk and Cherkessk Theophylact, temporary administrator of the Patriarchal Deanery of the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Turkmenistan; Chairman of the Synodal Department for Relations of the Church with Society and the Media V.R. Legoyda, head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', priest Alexander Volkov.

At the capital's Manas airport, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was met by: the head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District, Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, Bishop Daniel of Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan and the clergy of the Bishkek diocese; Director of the State Commission for Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Zairbek Ergeshov, Deputy Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Daniyar Sayakbaev, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism Baktybek Sekimov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Kyrgyz Republic A.A. Krutko and Russian diplomats.

Addressing media representatives at the airport, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted that this was his first visit to the Kyrgyz Republic.

“First of all, I came here to pray with Orthodox people, to see how the life of the Orthodox Church in Kyrgyzstan is developing. Kyrgyzstan is a very friendly country where Russians and Kyrgyz live in great friendship,” said His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

His Holiness recalled that the outstanding Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov wrote in Kyrgyz and Russian. “This testifies to how mutually our cultures penetrate and what a great place the Russian language and Russian culture have in the life of the Kyrgyz people. All this awakens a feeling of great respect and hope that relations between our peoples will always remain good, regardless of how the political picture develops in the world,” emphasized the Primate of the Russian Church.

“I would like to convey to all people living in Kyrgyzstan my wishes for peace, prosperity, prosperity, interethnic cooperation, so that God will preserve the land of Kyrgyzstan,” said His Holiness Patriarch Kirill in conclusion.

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

Photo: priest. Igor Palkin, Oleg Chernetsov

On May 28, 2017, on the 7th Sunday after Easter, the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' celebrated the great consecration of the Resurrection Cathedral in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, and the Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church. At the end of the Liturgy, the Primate of the Russian Church addressed those gathered with a Primate's word.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

We dedicate the Sunday preceding the feast of the Holy Trinity to the memory of the holy fathers of the First Ecumenical Council - those who laid the foundation for the systematic presentation of the Orthodox faith, those who created the first part of the Creed. By saying a prayer to the Lord with the words of the Creed, we testify before the Lord not only about our faith, but also about our fidelity to Him. We promise Him to keep the words of the Symbol in our hearts and never to change the faith that He entrusted to the holy apostles and which was so wonderfully set forth by the fathers of the First and then Second Ecumenical Councils.

It is on this day in church during the Liturgy that the Gospel of John is supposed to be read - the first thirteen verses of the 17th chapter. If someone asks you: “Is there one phrase in the Gospel that explains everything?”, answer: “There is, in the 17th chapter of the Gospel of John: This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.(John 17:3).”

Even if nothing more had been said, these words would have been enough to save him. From these we learn that God, Whom no one has ever seen(John 1:17), - this evidence is also found in Holy Scripture, - can be known by man. Incomparable to anything, located outside our perception, outside our experience, God can be known, and through this knowledge a person is saved, the gates of eternity are opened to him. And this knowledge occurs precisely because our Lord Jesus Christ showed us, according to the word of the Apostle Paul, all the fullness of the Divine bodily(see Col. 2:9). The unknown Divine principle and power are revealed in Jesus Christ in a bodily, that is, physical form - that is, Christ was seen and heard, they touched Him, they communicated with Him, they ate food with Him. He revealed himself as Man, preserving the Divine nature unchanged, and therefore, by believing in Christ, we discover God to ourselves.

What does it mean to know God? What is hidden behind these words? It is impossible for a person to either know God or believe in Him if he has thoughts and feelings that are not just distant from God, but contradictory to God. Everyone knows well: in order to catch any radio station or TV channel, you need to tune in to a certain wavelength. You can have the most wonderful television and radio receivers, but you won’t be able to catch the wave if you can’t tune in to it. In the same way, a person - if he does not tune in to the wave on which God speaks to people, he will not only not be able to know God, but even feel Him. Such a person will never be able to believe in Him, because his life course does not coincide with the Divine course, and the further a person moves away from God, the less chance that he will ever discover the Divine principle for himself.

What does it mean to tune in to the wave? This means that one must live in the value system that God offered to people. And He proposed a system of values ​​in the form of simple commandments that are understandable to anyone: a child, an adult, an old man, educated, uneducated - there is not a single person in the world who would not be able to understand the Divine commandment. So Basil the Great says that knowing God is the fulfillment of the Divine commandments, because through obedience to God we enter His world, the system of values ​​established by Him, we become our own to God, we speak the same language with Him...

But it is impossible to fulfill the commandments formally, just as a child cannot formally obey his parents if he does not love them, if they are strangers to him. Likewise, a person cannot formally fulfill God’s commandments - read the text and then say: “I will fulfill it.” Nothing will work out, and Gregory the Theologian speaks wonderfully about this. According to him, the most important and the right way to the knowledge of God is love for God in the heart, which is preferable to the path of the mind. The path of the mind is also needed, but it will never connect a person with God if a person does not feel God in his heart, if he does not feel love for Him.

But it is almost impossible to love the invisible. That is why the Lord sends His Son, the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we not only hear His words, but also love Him by reading the Gospel, looking at His image; so that He becomes a model, an ideal, a beacon, a hope in our lives. Then, through love for God, the opportunity opens up for us to fulfill His commandments, and as soon as we begin to fulfill them, we will enter the orbit of Divine life, and then not only with our minds, but also with our hearts, our feelings, our whole lives, we will touch God, we will feel Him strength and His grace.

When a person arranges his life so that main goal there was an approach to God, everything else becomes secondary, but not indifferent. Striving towards God does not mean neglecting education, family or work responsibilities - all of this is one way or another included in the system of moral coordinates that God offered to people. Therefore, faith in God does not exclude our activity - on the contrary, it presupposes such, but not for the sake of empty, worthless goals that can destroy human life. And if the achievement of such goals devastates a person, depriving him of all his strength, then the achievement of genuine goals, on the contrary, strengthens him and brings him closer to God.

We, living in the 21st century, receive a huge amount of information, which helps us understand a lot, but also makes it difficult to understand a lot. Therefore, a guiding principle is needed so as not to go astray life path, and such a beginning is faith. Knowing God, perceiving the Lord with your heart, entering His value system through fulfilling the Divine commandments - this is the life of a Christian, and everything else is secondary, but, as I said, it is not indifferent, because faith helps us solve many issues related to our professional activity, with family and public relations, with building peaceful relations with people, regardless of their nationality and religion.

This is why genuine Christians are not a danger to any society. A true Christian will never go to war against someone who is not a Christian, and this is so important for societies where Orthodox Christians, Muslims, and representatives of other religions are present. A genuine Christian will never pose the danger of terrorist acts, subversive activities, or hatred of those who do not profess Christianity - because this is against the Divine commandments. The Lord called us to love everyone, He never said: “Love only those who think and think like you, and fight against the rest.”

That's why love is fundamental principle in the life of a Christian, and I am very glad that here, in Kyrgyzstan, very good relations are developing between Orthodox Christians and Muslims, that the state authorities support precisely this style of relations, that the Orthodox Church has the opportunity here to develop its ministry without being limited by external instructions and regulations. I believe that, together with the Islamic community, the Orthodox can actively participate in creating a peaceful, just and prosperous life, and I wish this with all my heart for the people of Kyrgyzstan.

About eight years ago, the Central Asian Metropolitan District was formed. It was decided that each of the Central Asian republics should have its own bishop, because where there is a bishop, there is the Church, and without a bishop the Church becomes weak. Connections between parishes are falling apart, there is no unifying force, there is no monitoring of the correct correction of divine services, of the correct delivery of sermons, of proper organization parish life, which should include various ministries, including work with children, youth, and the elderly. In addition, parish work must necessarily include educational programs. Modern man cannot believe in what he does not know at all, and therefore it is the duty of the Church to tell people - young, middle-aged, and elderly - about Orthodox faith, about the history of the Church, about wonderful examples Christian heroism, which we call holiness in church language. All this great work must be led and coordinated by someone - within the Central Asian Metropolitan District by its leader, Metropolitan Vincent, a permanent member of the Holy Synod, and in each diocese, including Bishkek, by its bishop.

I would like to greet you with all my heart, Vladyka Daniel. You were appointed to the department not so long ago, but by the grace of God I am receiving good testimonies about your service. I would ask you to continue this ministry - to help people find faith, to help the clergy renew their vocation. A priest cannot have any fatigue from service, no burnout. And if someone gets tired and burns out, invite them to your place and give them twice as many responsibilities. Then all burnout will pass, and enthusiasm will appear again - just treat the clergy and believers with love, unite them around you. I know that you are building relationships with the Muslim community well and correctly. This is how it should be - as I already said, it stems from our faith, and not from adaptation to external conditions life. In principle, we cannot treat people of other faiths badly - not in order to expect something from them, but because this attitude stems from our convictions, Christ taught us this.

I would like to wish prosperity to the Bishkek and Kyrgyz diocese. I would like to wish fathers jealousy. You once accepted the priesthood, promising to faithfully serve the Lord. Serve Him until your last breath, bring the living word to people, pray with them, cry with them and rejoice with them, and then the people will never turn away from the Church of God or from each of you.

I thank you, Vladyka Vincent, for your work, for kind words that you said. And I really hope that the coordination of the actions of all the dioceses of the Central Asian Metropolitan District will contribute to both the strengthening of the Orthodox faith and the development of relations with the predominant Islamic population here.

Press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'

On Saturday, the primatial visit of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' to Bishkek began. This is the first visit of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church to Kyrgyzstan. Tomorrow Patriarch Kirill will consecrate the Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Bishkek and perform the Divine Liturgy there.

From 2009 to 2017, Patriarch Kirill visited 26 countries near and far abroad. From the republics former USSR he visited Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine.

According to the 2016 census, in Kyrgyzstan, about 6% of the population (360,580 people) are Russians. According to the patriarch, the Russian Church supports compatriots abroad. And the current visit also pursues these goals.

I have never been to Kyrgyzstan. But, of course, I came first of all to pray with the Orthodox, to see how the life of the Orthodox Church in Kyrgyzstan is developing,” the patriarch said. - Kyrgyzstan is a friendly country. The Russian language occupies a very important place in the cultural life of Kyrgyzstan. It is enough to remember Chingiz Aitmatov, a wonderful Kyrgyz writer, on whose works we were brought up. This shows how our cultures interpenetrate. And all this awakens a feeling of great respect,” Patriarch Kirill said at Manas airport.

The Holy Resurrection Cathedral, which will be consecrated by the patriarch on Sunday, was built after the war - in 1945–1947. And in 1995, with the blessing of His Eminence Vladimir, Archbishop of Tashkent and Central Asia, construction of the diocesan spiritual and administrative center began in the church fence of the Resurrection Cathedral.

The main shrine of the Resurrection Cathedral is the relics of the venerable confessor Irakli of Issyk-Kul. They were moved from the village of Ananyevo on September 14, 2004 and placed in the altar of the Resurrection Cathedral.

Twice a year the relics were brought to the temple for public worship. On October 27, 2008, the relics of St. Heraclius were taken out of the altar and placed in a shrine with a canopy specially built for this purpose. Now the relics are constantly available to believers.

In the 2000s, the Resurrection Cathedral had already become not only a religious building, but a cultural center. Charity events, festivals, concerts, scientific conferences and educational events. Moreover, they are designed not only for parishioners, but also for all residents of the city.