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Patriarch Kirill conducts service in honour of Kazan icon of Mother of God

“The sign she lays ahead God and she is jointly with us are her icons that we venerate with love and faith,” His Holiness said

MOSCOW, July 21 (Itar-Tass) — Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has administered a service in honour of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God.

This is one of the most lovable icons in Russia. The great number of churches all around the country is devoted to this icon. Patriarch Kirill urged all Russians to oftener pray to the Mother of God.

“The Blessed Virgin Mary had a special donation from God. This donation with her own efforts – patience, mildness, love and purity – attained her to the Kingdom of God when she died. Now we share pain and joy with her as we share it with our relatives. This is high service of Motherhood towards the Church and all believers,” the patriarch said at Moscow’s Epiphany Cathedral on Saturday.

“The sign she lays ahead God and she is jointly with us are her icons that we venerate with love and faith,” His Holiness said.

He recalled that many historical events, including the overcoming of the Time of Troubles in the 17th century, the joining of Siberia and the Far East to Rus, the victory in 1812 and the Poltava victory, were linked to the Kazan icon. “There is a firm conviction that during the Great Patriotic War the city of Moscow was protected from the invasion of foreigners by people’s prayers to the miraculous Kazan icon of the Mother of God,” the patriarch said, adding that the icon “is now at the Epiphany Cathedral”.

“Today, when we go through non-easy and sorrowful times, it is important to pray to the Queen of Heaven without losing the faith so that Her Protecting Veil rested all around the country by governing our lives to the greater glory of God,” Patriarch Kirill stressed.

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