LONDON, October 16. /TASS/. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who is currently visiting Great Britain, has been admitted to Britain’s Royal Geographical Society. He received his membership certificate on Sunday when he visited this learned society.

According to the Patriarch’s press secretary, Alexander Volkov, the ceremony was held in the courtyard of the society’s building as a fire alarm system had activated inside the building. The Patriarch however decided not to cancel the ceremony. "Let us speak here. Nothing can hamper us, no noise," Volkov quoted the Patriarch as saying.

After the fire alarm system went off, all participants in the ceremony - more than 500 people, according to Volkov - left the building.

When the Patriarch was in the courtyard, a fire engine arrived and rangers examined the building. No fire, or smoke or even the smell of smoke were spotted.

Founded in 1830, the Royal Geographical Society is the United Kingdom's learned society and professional body for geography. Its mission is to advance geography and support its practitioners in the United Kingdom and across the world.