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Patriarch Kirill gives blessing for Great Lent

Addressing the parishioners with parting words, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church urged them not to treat this established church tradition formally

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill Marat Abulkhatin/Russian State Duma Photo Service/TASS

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill

© Marat Abulkhatin/Russian State Duma Photo Service/TASS

MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill asked all clergymen and parishioners gathered in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior for forgiveness and gave his blessings for the forthcoming Great Lent on Shrove Sunday, TASS reports.

"I as your head pastor, accountable to the Lord for our Church, as your Patriarch, ask you for forgiveness in particular. Probably, some of my words, deeds, acts - something might invoke your feeling of resentment, or, which is even worse, some disappointment. If something of the like has occurred, this took place not because of my evil will, but probably from nescience or, as the pray goes, from ‘hard insensibility,’ from insufficient receptivity," the Patriarch said.

"It should not be considered that the today’s evening is a certain custom requiring from us the formal word of ‘forgive me’ and the even more formal answer of ‘the God will forgive.’ There must be our penitence and comprehension of the real fault and then Shrove Sunday will indeed become the door to the field of the great and saving fasting," he added.

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