Source: DECR Communication Service
October 26, 2015
The All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy were celebrated on October 21 and 22 at the Church of the Intercession at the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos by Metropolitan Yevlogy of Vladimir and Suzdal, Metropolitan Sergy of Ternopol and Kremenets, Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk and Bishop Nil of Murom and Vyazniki.
Over 400 pilgrims arrived from different countries to pray in church during the festivies, including schema-archimandrite Ephraim, abbot of Vatopedi Monastery; schema-archimandrite Methodis, abbot of Hilandar Monastery, and the brethren and representatives of the other monasteries on Mt. Athos.
The brotherhood of St. Panteleimon monastery of 100 monks, including those living in sketes, gathered to pray for their abbot.
Metropolitan Yevlogy read a welcoming address from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to schema-archimandrite Jeremiah (Alyekhin) and the brethren.
After the Liturgy a moleben of thanksgiving was celebrated to the Lord for the 100th birthday of St. Panteleimon's Monastery's abbot.
Following the repast, more greetings were read to Fr Jeremiah. Mr. Alexander Beglov, Presidential Envoy in the Central Federal District, presented schema-archimandrite Jeremiah with the Order of Alexander Nevsky on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Metropolitan Yevlogy presented Fr Jeremiah with the Order of St. Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles, 1st class, bestowed by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
Metropolitan Sergy presented Fr. Jeremiah with the Order of Sts. Antony and Theodosius of the Kiev Caves on behalf of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine.
Fr. Jeremiah, who received many other awards and presents, thanked all those gathered, saying, "There is no salvation without love, while love is impossible without self-sacrifice and the cross, which is impossible without humility and patience. Patience, love and humility – these three are the path of a Christian to the Heavenly Kingdom. Never forget the first commandment of Christ. I wish you God’s help in all your good undertakings."
