Patriarch Kirill: ‘Live in Peace! It is my address to both Orthodox Christians and Muslims’
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church changed his programme of the visit to Tatarstan, opened a monument to the fighter against corruption and sued for peace in the republic
The visit of Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill to the Tatarstan metropolis began half an hour before midday. President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, plenipotentiary representative of Russian President in the Volga District Mikhail Babich, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin and priests of the metropolis headed by Metropolitan Feofan came to the airport to welcome the Patriarch. A correspondent of Realnoe Vremya tells about the first hours of his Holiness in the Kazan land.
White roses and chack-chack
A big delegation of churchmen, including the most authoritative ones like vicar of the Raifa Virgin Monastery archimandrite Vsevolod, his colleague from the Kizichesky Monastery hegumen Pimen, senior cleric of the Nikolsky Cathedral protoiereus Ioann, secretary of the eparchy protoiereus Vladimir and others, gathered in the VIP hall of the airport half an hour before the arrival of Patriarch.
The episcopacy of the Russian Orthodox Church was represented by the bishop of Almetyevsk and Bugulma Mefody and bishop of Chistopol and Nizhnekamsk Parmen. Naturally, Metropolitan of Kazan of Tatarstan Feofan chaired the delegation of the people who were at the airport. President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Mikhail Babich and Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin also came to welcome the Patriarch. It should be noted the ex-Mayor of Kazan Kamil Iskhakov represented the secular authority that welcomed the former Patriarch Aleksy II at the airport during the last two visits. It is clear the welcome of Patriarch at such a high level is a fruit of diplomatic skills of bishop Feofan.
The plane did not arrive but it was known the Patriarch informed about changes in the agenda having called right from the plane. The time of his flight to Moscow the next day changed. His Holiness told the host party about the decision to visit the Raifa Virgin Monastery. It seems he is interested not only in the rebuilt monastery near a lake, which his predecessor called 'an example of how monasteries should be restored'.
A carpet was laid, dog handlers examined the area and journalists occupied their places when one hour left before the arrival. The priests stood in two lines parallel to the carpet. The plane with the Patriarch landed on time. Huge bunches of white roses and traditional chak-chack were waiting for him. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church greeted Rustam Minnikhanov and Mikhail Babich, Metropolitan Feofan, priests chanted the Polychronion, and the respected guests approached the journalists.
'I wanted to visit Tatarstan a long time ago because Kazan, Tatarstan plays a special role in the fate of our homeland. Today Tatarstan is one of the most economically developed places of Russia. Tatarstan is peculiar because both Orthodox Christians and Muslims live in this land. Both religions have big communes, and the cooperation between the communes in Tatarstan, undoubtedly, has a projection on the whole country. This is why I'm convinced that peace and well-being of the country will depend on the life in Tatarstan, inter-religious relations in this land. Live in peace! It is my address to both Orthodox Christians and Muslims. Keep the commandments that everybody should follow according to his or her religion. Then there won't be any enmity because both Islam and Orthodoxy appeal for peace. If people believe in God, they cannot sow evil around them. What is more, they cannot hate each other. Let Tatarstan, wonderful Kazan and its multinational and multi-religious commune flourish,' these were the Patriarch's first words in the Kazan land.
It was seen his Holiness was in a good mood. The short ceremony was nice and informal, in spite of many official representatives.
'Derzhavin fought against corruption'
The Patriarch's motorcade immediately went to Kaipy village in Laishevo District. Russian poet and social activist Gavriil Derzhavin's parents were buried here near the Epiphany Cathedral. By the way, it was a day of the 200th death anniversary of Gavriil Dershavin. The opening of a monument to Derzhavin near the cathedral was dedicated to this date.
A crowd dressed in costumes welcomed the Patriarch in Kaipy. His Holiness approached the Epiphany Cathedral to bell-ringing. He visited the cathedral and gifted an icon of Mary. And paper icons with the patriarchal blessing were given to all people as a memento of his visit. It is a tradition of the heads of the Russian Orthodox Church. Then Patriarch Kirill said prayers for servants of God Roman, Fyokla (Derzhavin's parents) and very Gavriil.
'Today a great event is taking place in Tatarstan – we are opening a monument to the great poet, social activist, truth-seeker who always aspired to keep the commandments both in his person life and performing state tasks regardless of the place where he was and the job he did. This is why his life was not easy because he often had to fight against people who had different views, first of all, corruptors, window dressers, people tried to create false impressions about their merits and the posts they occupied. We know this problem still exists, including in our country. For this reason, Derzhavin's example is very important not only for those people who study literature and religious philosophy but also work in the government and serves in the state,' his Holiness approached near Derzhavin's monument and addressed the people.
The meaning of Derzhavin as a poet and social activist was estimated by Mikhail Babich who noted in his short speech that Gavriil Derzhavin occupies a special place in the history of Russia. 'His verses glorified our homeland, great Russia,' Babich told.
'Today we are paying tribute to our compatriot. The first monument to him was erected in Kazan 180 years ago. We organise literary events every year, there is Derzhavin's award in literature. We are going to celebrate his jubilee in 2018. And, undoubtedly, our compatriot made a huge contribution to the state, literature and culture, in general. We always remember it,' President Rustam Minnikhanov told at the opening of the monument. What is more, he supported the erection of the monument.
When the opening ceremony of the monument ended, where the Patriarch was present as well as the Society of Russian Literature, and the pedestal of the bust was full of flowers, his Holiness' motorcade went to Kazan in order to continue the trip in Sviyazhsk island. The Patriarch, Metropolitan Feofan and priests were going to act an evening worship in the name of the icon Joy of All Who Sorrow.
