On October 11, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. The service was accompanied by a translation into Russian sign language and was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf and the 35th anniversary of the revival of church care for people with hearing impairments.
More than 300 people from 27 dioceses representing 35 Orthodox communities of the deaf arrived at the church. Clergy who care for people with hearing impairments, parishioners and representatives of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf from different regions of the country prayed together.
The Liturgy was translated by deacons who speak sign language and church volunteer translators. Before the service, the faithful could confess to the priests in sign language. The Litany with a translation into Russian sign language was performed by Deacon Artemy Ovcharenko, a cleric of the Church of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky at MGIMO.
At the end of the Liturgy, the Primate was greeted by Archpriest Mikhail Potokin, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service, and Alexander Bochkov, President of the All-Russian Society for the Deaf.
Addressing the participants of the divine service, His Holiness the Patriarch recalled the need to support people with disabilities and stressed that physical ailments do not hinder communication with God.
"Treating people with physical disabilities with love and attention, we should always extend a helping hand to them whenever possible," the Primate noted.
Representatives of the deaf communities received icons of "Healing the Deaf" with the Patriarchal blessing. The meeting continued over a festive meal in the White Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Church assistance to people with hearing impairments includes the organization of accessible worship services, educational classes and the training of translators. Since 2014, the Synodal Department for Charity has operated a Coordination Center for Work with the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing. Clergy, social workers, and volunteers receive sign language training to help people participate fully in Church life.