“The power of God is made perfect in weakness”translated

On October 8, 2026, on the day of the repose of St. Sergius, abbot of Radonezh, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. At the end of the service, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the believers with the First Hierarch’s word.

I cordially congratulate all of you, dear bishops, fathers, brothers, sisters, mother abbess, on this great holiday for our entire Church, for all Orthodox Russia, for our people!

We remember our venerable and God-bearing father Sergius, abbot of Radonezh and miracle worker.

The monk was an amazing man, full of strength and ability, without possessing any levers of human power, to become a real spiritual leader of the entire people.

This example demonstrates that the power of God is made perfect in weakness (see 2 Cor. 12:9) and that there is no human power that is stronger than the power of God (see 1 Cor. 1:25).

It was pleasing to the Lord that Rus' should be led not by some great commander (although they were needed at that time), not by some wise ruler, but by a humble monk who lived in the forest - in the very place where you and I are located. The forest was thick...