Patriarch Kirill consecrates the restored Cathedral of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan

Today, a long – awaited event took place in the capital of Tatarstan-the consecration of the restored Cathedral of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan at the Bogoroditsky Monastery. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Chairwoman of the Council of Federation Valentina Matvienko and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Volga Federal District Igor Komarov participate in the festive event in Kazan. The festive events were also attended by Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, State Adviser of the republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, Chairman of the State Council of the republic of Tatarstan Farid Mukhametshin, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin and others.

The Cathedral of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan was built on the cusp of the XVIII-XIX centuries. In 1932, the cathedral was demolished. Large-scale work on its restoration began in 2016. 2.7 billion rubles of donations and funds from the Republican Fund for the Revival of Historical and Cultural Monuments were raised for the reconstruction. Today, the Divine Liturgy with the consecration of the cathedral was held by Patriarch Kirill.

In his welcoming speech, Rustam Minnikhanov stressed that the consecration of the Cathedral of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan is of historical significance, and thanked everyone who supported the restoration of the cathedral, Tatarstan President’s Press Office reports.

“The event is of historical significance. Exactly 5 years ago, together with Patriarch Kirill, we laid stone in the foundation of the reconstructed cathedral. And today, the Divine Liturgy is being celebrated in this noble cathedral in the prescriptive of the Patriarch and distinguished guests”, - Rustam Minnikhanov addressed the audience.

Patriarch Kirill noted the great work carried out in Tatarstan to preserve interethnic and interfaith peace and harmony, and thanked the leadership of the republic for their contribution to the restoration of the cathedral. “Your efforts and your assistance helped to build not only this cathedral, but also created a wonderful model of interaction, fraternal cooperation between Orthodox and Muslims”, - he said.

Igor Komarov read out a greeting on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The message notes that the restoration of the cathedral at the place where the miracle- working Our Lady of Kazan Icon, one of the most revered Orthodox Christians relics, had been found is an outstanding and long-awaited event for believers, parishioners and pilgrims, for all those who cherish spiritual and moral ideals, bequeathed by ancestors. "I am confident that the cathedral will become one of Kazan’s spiritual centers, and that it will help reinstate religious relics and long-time traditions in ancient Tatarstan”, - the greeting says.

In his speech, Mintimer Shaimiev stressed that in Tatarstan all important decisions are made taking into account the interests of all religious denominations. Thus, the decision to restore the Cathedral of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan and the construction of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy was made by one decree of Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov in 2015. “This unites all of us not in word, but in the souls of people. This is a matter of course for us. This is becoming a rule and can serve as a good example”, - he said.

Then Patriarch Kirill presented awards of the Russian Orthodox Church, in particular, he awarded Denis Kalinkin, first deputy head of Kazan, with the medal of Glory and Honor.