PUTIN AND PATRIARCH KIRILL LEAD CELEBRATION OF MILLENNIUM OF RUSSIAN PRESENCE ON MOUNT ATHOS
Interfax-Religiia, 29 May 2016
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus Kirill made a trip to Mount Athos where they led the celebrations in connection with the 1000th anniversary of Russian monasticism on the Holy Mount.
Speaking before the brethren and abbot of the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon, V. Putin urged "to do everything necessary in the future so that this Russian corner on Athos continues to strengthen the spiritual forces of all Orthodox believers."
He noted that historically the monastery has fulfilled and continues to fulfill the high spiritual mission and roads for Orthodox in Russia and in other countries.
"I was here in 2005. I can now testify that the changes are simply miraculous," V. Putin said, having in mind the efforts at restoration of the monastery.
He also met with
members of the Sacred Kinot [the Supreme body of
management of the monastery on mount Athos]. In his opinion, the
role of Athos
is exceptionally significant today "when Orthodoxy in Russia and
other
countries where it is professed is being strengthened."
"In reviving today the values of
patriotism,
historic memory, and traditional culture we count on reviving
our relations
with Athos. I am happy that year by year an every greater number
of pilgrims
from Russia, already over 11 thousand per year, visit it," V.
Putin said.
In his turn, Patriarch Kirill in his
sermon in the
Panteleimon monastery described how he visited Athos for the
first time more
than 40 years ago and the cloister at that time was in ruins and there
were only seven monks
there.
"I cannot
tell you their feelings when they caught sight of us, how much
joy and hope
there was, although it seemed to many that the Russian presence
had ended and
Panteleimon monastery never could be revived," the patriarch
said.
However, he
continued, the monastery was restored and specific changes have
occurred in
recent years, when the Russian authorities were actively engaged
in planning
for the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Russian
presence on the
Holy Mount and a corresponding foundation was created.
The patriarch
noted that Athos, which is inhabited by representatives of
various peoples,
"gives us the image of world Orthodoxy and we should take good
care of
it."
He said that
today everybody who comes to Athos sees this "world dimension"
of
Orthodoxy and hears the liturgy in various languages and has the
possibility of
meeting the most diverse cultures which live together as one
family.
He asked the
monks of the cloister to remember their responsibility.
"People who
visit you do not know about your own problems and they do not
estimate your
holiness and sinfulness, but they look on you as models. Do not
destroy this
image which Athos has formed in the consciousness of the
Orthodox person but
all of you live in harmony and display the unity of Orthodoxy,
and may each
monk show to the world the image of the sinful but redeemed
person," the
patriarch concluded. (tr. by PDS, posted 29 May 2016)
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