(Kazan
city, KZN.RU, July 20). The Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’
Kirill arrived in the Republic of Tatarstan with two-day visit today.
Rustam
Minnikhanov, the President of Tatarstan, M. Babich, plenipotentiary
of President of RF in the Volga Federal District, and I. Metshin, the
Mayor of Kazan, Artem Hohorin, the head of the Ministry of Internal
Affairs of Tatarstan, Theophane, the Metropolitan bishop of Kazan and
Tatarstan, representatives of clergy and other officials welcomed the
Patriarch at the international airport “Kazan”.
The
main purpose of the visit of Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’
Kirill is participation in the solemn laying stone in the foundation
of the Our Lady of Kazan icon temple, which will be held on July 21
as well as meetings with the faithful.
Upon
arrival, the Patriarch and his entourage went to the village Kaipy in
Laishevo district, where the opening of the monument to Gavriil
Derzhavin, Russian poet and statesman of the Russian Empire, will be
held. The monument installed at the walls of the Epiphany temple.
Then
Patriarch Kirill will visit Kazan diocesan administration and the
island-town of Sviyazhsk, where he became acquainted with the museum
and the history of Sviyazhsk Holy Dormition Monastery and other
temples located on the island, reported the President press service
of the RT.
Patriarch
Kirill will perform the Divine Liturgy in the Annunciation Cathedral
of the Kazan Kremlin on July 21, and then he will take part in the
Procession to the Our Lady of Kazan Monastery. There will perform the
ceremony of laying of the restored cathedral on the site of the Our
Lady of Kazan icon appearance.