The delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople sent by His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople for the celebrations held on the occasion of the Name Day of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia stayed in Moscow from May 22 to 26, 2012. It was led by Metropolitan Nikitas of Dardanelles, who was accompanied by the Hierokiriks of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Archimandrite Vissarion (Komzias) and Sister Alexia (Markou), Abbess of the Ikosifinissa Convent of the Nativity of the Theotokos, Northern Greece.
On May 24, the Ascension Day and the Name Day of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Nikitas together with other bishops assisted His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece in celebrating the Divine Liturgy, and took part in all the festive events held on that day.
On May 25, Patriarch Kirill received the delegation in his residence in St Daniel’s Monastery.
During their visit, the delegates of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill, visited St. Sergius’s Monastery of the Trinity, the Monasteries of St. Daniel and the Intercession in Moscow, and venerated their shrines. They also had meetings with leaders of Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary and with the rector of the St. Tikhon Orthodox Humanities University, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyev.
On May 26, the delegation departed from Moscow.
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The beginning of exchange of delegations from the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Moscow for the Name Days of their heads was made by the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew to the Russian Orthodox Church in May 2012.