Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia asked the faithful to pray for his health. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church did not deliver a sermon on Sunday after the liturgy at Christ the Savior Church, as is usually done at the end of the holiday.
„The Lord somehow limited my voice today towards the end of the service, so I will not be able to preach as usual. I hope you will understand my weakness and pray for me. “ May God protect you all”, the patriarch said at the end of the liturgy, addressing the parishioners of the temple.
At the same time, shortly before, he gave farewell instructions for the service of Bishop Theodosius of Alatir and Poretsk, whom he ordained as a bishop during the liturgy. In church tradition, the head of the church always addresses the newly installed hierarch when he hands him the bishop's staff.
Patriarch Kirill turned 77 in November 2023. He was elected head of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on January 27-28, 2009. Despite his advanced age, the patriarch regularly performs long services and visits dioceses in different regions of the country.