1 to June 7, Patriarch Kirill visited outside the Greek Orthodox Church, spoke to the faithful in A

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... They stood and applauded even when the motorcade Patriarch disappeared over the horizon. A small area in the north of Athens - Aharne - built entirely of Greeks. Those that once came to Greece from the various republics of the former USSR. Himself still considered citizens of a single adra match country - mainly Russia, and the arrival of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church for them - a special event.
1 to June 7, Patriarch Kirill visited outside the Greek Orthodox Church, spoke to the faithful in Athens, Thessaloniki, Vereya, he bowed Orthodox adra match shrines of the city and made a pilgrimage to Mount Athos - the Holy Mountain, which is considered one of the destinies of the Virgin.
At first it was difficult to understand the Greek expression. Yes, the country is well disposed towards Russia. Yes, we have many common roots and common history. Yes, the Greeks knew and revered Russian saints, as well as known and revered Greek saints in Russia. But to a standing ovation, to tears of joy ?! "You will understand it later - whispers pontiyka Nellie arrived in Athens for more than 15 years ago from Kazakhstan. - We still live here is Russian rather adra match than the Greek Orthodox, Russian is, not the Greek faith. We are, in spite of everything, were born there and have absorbed since childhood its foundations. "
"Russian" Temple of Athena - Holy Trinity Church - de jure belongs to the Greek Church. De facto - every day there are going to nationals. And the liturgy, adra match and to just talk in their own language, to support adra match each other in difficult adra match times of crisis. On the difficulties adra match here speak infrequently adra match and reluctantly. However, it is clear that the difficulties are all affected - and local and arrivals. Primate of the Orthodox Church of Greece, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Hieronymus II more than once stressed that Greece is now live is not easy. They suffer both people and social institutions. Including Church. Believers are doing everything possible adra match to help particularly needy: collect items and money, offer free hot food items, negotiate discounts on utility bills, provide shelter and care for those who have lost their jobs and can not yet be found. Citizens of the Republic known which contribute to the maintenance of the Greek people made Russian Orthodoxy. For all the dioceses of Russia in the most difficult years in modern Greece has raised more than 19 million rubles. Collection was carried out with the blessing of Patriarch adra match Kirill. Perhaps, on a European scale this small amount - only some 500 thousand euros, adra match but it is important to note. It was expensive every Greek, but because Moscow Shepherd for them - one of the most expensive and favorite guests.
Of course, combined and common sources of faith - the Byzantine Empire, which once belonged to the territorial Greece, and from which ancient Russia adopted Orthodoxy. A kind of pride - the brothers Cyril and Methodius - ascetics and the Enlightenment of the Slavs. Revered in Russia - they are natives of the land, from Thessaloniki, as the Greeks did not fail to remind. Like the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, which in Russia is not about one temple. And many of the saints - separated and common, but played an important role in the formation and strengthening of faith and unity of the peoples of Russia and Greece.
A separate page of memory and gratitude - the story of the liberation of the Greek people by the Ottoman Empire. Russian played here as well, if not decisive, role is important - thousands and thousands of our soldiers perished in the land of Greece, freeing the Balkan peoples. adra match The Greeks revered and appreciated it. And the name of Count John Capodistria - the first governor of independent Greece in the years 1827-1831 - the name, first of all, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, whom the count was before he left home. However, tenderly stored here and the memories of Russian Queen of the Hellenes - Queen Olga Romanova, the means and donations which was rebuilt almost the entire historical part of the current Athens.
The first prayer service on Greek soil in the temple Patriarch Martyr Dionysius the Areopagite, despite adra match the rain and the evening, unusual collects a lot of believers. Mostly Greeks. Under the arches of the traditional Byzantine adra match structure first rises unusual for Russian ear unhurried singing Greek prayers, picks, however, not only the representatives of the Greek Church, but also some members of the Russian delegation. And then - loud and strong voice of the Russian Patriarch. Even more come-on the morning in the church Panteleimon. There seems to be collected all geographical map not only of Greece, but of the former USSR - Ukrainians, White