On September 21, 2026, in Moscow, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Moscow Metropolitanate, Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsky and Kolomna, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, took part in the opening ceremony of the monument to Yuri Luzhkov on the day of the 90th anniversary of his birth.
The opening ceremony of the monument, which took place in Bolshoy Sukharevsky Lane, was also attended by distinguished guests: Chairman of the Moscow City Duma A.V. Shaposhnikov, widow of Yu.M. Luzhkov E.N. Baturina and the author of the monument, sculptor People's Artist of the Russian Federation S.A. Shcherbakov.
Metropolitan Pavel addressed the audience and read out the greeting of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, which, in particular, celebrates the historical contribution of Yuri Luzhkov to the revival of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the main cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church.
"The name of Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov is forever inscribed in the history of the capital and our country. May the monument, the opening of which is timed to coincide with his 90th birthday, become a visible testimony of our gratitude to a man who has worked hard for the benefit of Moscow and Muscovites," His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said in his welcoming address.