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Patriarch Kirill to visit Latvia in May 2014

RIGA, December 20. /ITAR-TASS/. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will visit Latvia on May 17-18, 2014, co-chairman of the Russian-Latvian Business Council Vassily Melnik told Radio Baltkom on Friday.

“The Russian patriarch’s important visit will take place on May 17-18, 2014. Latvian President Andris Berzins confirmed this term. Metropolitan Alexander of Riga and All Latvia is working on an agenda of the Russian patriarch’s visit,” Melnik said.

“I believe that Latvia will prove its hospitality once again. Despite the tense situation ahead of the parliamentary elections everything will be well,” the official said.

The exact date of Patriarch Kirill’s visit has not been specified yet.

In June 2013 the Russian patriarch visited Estonia to meet Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, parliament speaker Ene Ergma, Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar. Patriarch Kirill consecrated an Orthodox church in the name of the icon of the Mother of God Who is Quick to Hear. The church was built in Tallinn where Patriarch Alexy II, who was born in the city, laid the foundation 10 years ago.

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