In May 2012, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion which restored the unity of the Moscow Patriarchate with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
The delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, led by Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, will arrive in Russia to take part in the celebrations due to take place in Moscow. The delegation will also visit Diveyevo and St. Petersburg.
On 19 May, the Synaxis of the New Martyrs of Butovo will be celebrated at the Butovo shooting range.
On 20 May, the patriarchal Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. That same day His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will meet with Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York and his suite, and with members of the working group set up for discussing the issues of church unity.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill will then officiate at the celebration on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the restoration of canonical unity within the Local Russian Church. Participating in the event will be members of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, hierarchs and clerics of the Moscow Patriarchate, Russian statesmen, politicians, and public figures.
On 21 May, at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Yelokhovo, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill will officiate at a requiem service for the late Patriarch Alexy II. Also praying at the service will be members of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.