“A person communicates with God not with words, but with his soul, thoughts, experiences and feelings”translated

On October 11, 2026, on the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy with translation into Russian sign language in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.  More than 300 people from 27 dioceses and 35 Orthodox communities of the deaf attended the service, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf and the 35th anniversary of the revival of church care for people with hearing impairment.  At the end of the Liturgy, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the believers with the Primate’s word.

Dear Alexander Alexandrovich! Dear fathers, brothers and sisters, especially those who represent the community of people with hearing impairment here today!

In communication between people, hearing and voice are important. Although there are technical aids and medical technologies that can be very helpful and can make it easier for people with hearing loss to communicate with each other, the most important thing to remember, including people with hearing loss, is that the main communication that every person should make is communication with God.

If this communication is broken, a person cannot be happy. The historical experience of our country is very clear...