Photo album: http://www.optina.ru/photogallery/201... On July 20, 2017, on the eve of the celebration of the appearance of the icon of the Holy Mother of God in the city of Kazan, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' visited the Vvedensky Stavropegic Monastery of Optina Pustyn. At the holy gates of the monastery, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was met by: Archbishop Maximilian of Pesochensk and Yukhnov, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate Archbishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, Bishop Nikita of Kozelsk and Lyudinovo, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Kaluga Region V.S. Baburin, First Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region D.A. Denisov, head of the administration of the municipal district "Kozelsky District" E.V. Slabova, abbot of Optina Pustyn Archimandrite Benedict (Penkov), and the inhabitants of the monastery. In the main church of the monastery — the Cathedral of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, where the holy relics of the Venerable Ambrose and Nectarios, the Optina Elders, rest, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill performed a glorification and prayer at the relics of the Venerable Ambrose of Optina. In the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill led the all-night vigil service. His Holiness was assisted by: Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church; Archbishop Maximilian of Pesochensk and Yukhnov; Archbishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism, Abbot of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius; Archbishop Sergius of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate; Bishop Nikita of Kozelsk and Lyudinovo; Archimandrite Melchizedek (Artyukhin), rector of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Yasenevo, a Moscow metochion of Optina Pustyn; Archimandrite Anthony (Gavrilov), spiritual father of the brethren of Optina Pustyn; and ordained monks of Optina Pustyn. Praying at the service were: Abbot of the Vvedensky Stavropegic Monastery of Optina Pustyn Archimandrite Venedict (Penkov), abbess of the Kazan Amvrosievskaya Stavropegic Convent in Shamordino Abbess Sergiya (Shcherbakova), the brethren of Optina Pustyn, and numerous pilgrims. The liturgical hymns were performed by the right and left fraternal choirs of Optina Pustyn under the direction of Hieromonks Vitaly (Belov) and Konstantin (Nikitenko). The Patriarchal service was broadcast live on the Soyuz TV channel. After the all-night vigil, the monastery's abbot, Archimandrite Benedict (Penkov), greeted His Holiness and presented His Holiness with the Patriarchal cross. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the participants of the service with a Primate's word. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented Archimandrite Benedict with a jubilee cross made in honor of the 700th anniversary of the birth of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Each of the inhabitants was given a collection of Patriarchal sermons. Tomorrow, July 21, on the day of the celebration of the appearance of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in the city of Kazan, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Kazan St. Ambrosiev Stavropegic Convent in Shamordino.