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Patriarch Kirill has consecrated the first Russian church in Turkey

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has consecrated a church of Sts Konstantin and Elena on Monday in summer residence of Russian consulate in a place of Buyukdere near Istanbul, reports Interfax-Religion.

According to correspondent of Interfax-Religion, members of the Russian Church delegation accompanying Patriarch in the trip to Turkey have taken part in consecration and in the subsequent Divine Liturgy. The chorus of the Moscow Sretensky monastery sang during the service, and some employees of Russian embassy also assisted on the Liturgy.

The church consecration has opened the third day of Patriarch Kirill's visit to Turkey. His visiting of Constantinople Patriarchate was made in accordance with Orthodox tradition as the new-elected Patriarch visited to brotherly Orthodox Churches.

The church of Sts Konstantin and Elena has been built in summer residence in Buyukdere in 1832. In a Soviet period divine services were not made, and only recently the church has been restored.

After the consecration, the church in territory of Russian consulate became the first church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Turkey. Before this time the Russians, living in Turkey and visitors, could only visit divine services in churches of Constantinople Patriarchate.

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TAGS: Turkey Patriarch Kirill consecrated the first Russian church church of Sts Konstantin and Elena Orthodox Church

[07/07/2009]

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