Primate of ROC urges heads of Local Churches to protect Church from schisms

20 November, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill on the day of his 70th anniversary celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, after which he called the Primates of the Local Churches to keep the unity of Orthodoxy and protect the Church from schisms and divisions. This is reported by RIA Novosti.

The festive Divine Liturgy in the main cathedral of the capital was led together by primates and bishops of all 15 Orthodox Churches, who arrived in Moscow to celebrate the anniversary of Patriarch Kirill.

"Primates of the Orthodox Church carry out sole responsible for keeping the unity of Orthodoxy, protecting the Church from divisions, heresies, schisms in order to give spiritual and intellectual impetus for the development of the church life.

"I thank God for being a member of the Primates’ family, it is a great honor and a great joy to pray together with the outstanding hierarchs of the Orthodox Church," said the Patriarch at the end of the service.

As reported by the resource, on behalf of the assembled Hierarchs of Orthodox Churches, Patriarch Kirill was also congratulated by representatives of the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

As the UOJ reported earlier, the Divine Liturgy was attended by the heads and representatives of 15 Local Orthodox Churches.