“Faith, which unites us with God, is the most powerful force.”translated

On October 14, 2026, on the Feast of the Intercession of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Stavropegic Monastery in Moscow. At the end of the service, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church delivered a sermon.

Your Eminence and Eminence! Dear Mother Abbess Feofaniya! Dear fathers, brothers and sisters!

I cordially greet you all and congratulate you on this wonderful holiday, which we usually solemnly celebrate in this holy monastery!

The Veil of the Most Pure Queen of Heaven is a symbol and sign that the Queen of Heaven does not leave this world. She is there, in the Kingdom of God, with Her Son, next to Him. But She remains with us. Probably, such fervent prayers are addressed to none of the saints as to the Most Holy Theotokos. She is with us as the Mother of the Lord and Savior, through Whom salvation has come for the entire human race. Although the world did not accept this message in its entirety, many have become Christians and, living a Christian life, find the way to salvation.

It is remarkable that this monastery was named in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy…