Without impromptu: Patriarch Kirill told how he prepares for the sermontranslated

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill delivers his sermons to believers only after preliminary preparation; impromptu speeches (immediately, without preparation) are a rarity.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church himself spoke about this on October 27, 2026 at a meeting with the winners and prize-winners of the III, IV and V All-Russian Olympiads in Theology among final year students of theological schools and theological departments of universities, reports the website Patriarchy.ru.

“I never give sermons extemporaneously.” Of course, there are times when such a need arises - when there is no opportunity to either read or prepare - but usually I prepare for every sermon, for every service and find it very useful,” said His Holiness.

Firstly, as the High Hierarch noted, at the moment of such preparation “you repeat what, perhaps, has gone to the periphery of memory.”

“Secondly, the problems faced by our clergy, parishes and monasteries are being updated in our consciousness,” added the Primate of the Church.

In general, noted Patriarch Kirill, “such preparation is very helpful, on the one hand, to update knowledge, and on the other, to look for new arguments that could positively influence...