On October 25, 2026, in the 21st Week after Pentecost, the day of remembrance of the Holy Fathers of the VII Ecumenical Council, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Archangel Michael — patriarchal Compound in the village of Akulinino, Domodedovo city District, Moscow region.
His Holiness was co-served by Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Archbishop Axius of Podolsk and Lyubertsy, Bishop Siluan of Pavlovo Posad, Bishop Alexy of Ramenskoye, rector of the metochion Hieromonk Sofrony (Kirillov), and clergy from Moscow and the Moscow Region. Liturgical hymns were performed by the parish choir conducted by E.F. Shiryaeva.
At the special litany, special petitions were offered, after which the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church read a prayer for Holy Russia. During the Liturgy, His Holiness ordained Deacon Kirill Kournikov, a third-year student of the General Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies named after Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles.
At the end of the service, Hieromonk Sophrony (Kirillov) greeted the Primate and presented him with the Patriarch's staff. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed the participants of the Liturgy with the Primatial Word and donated an icon of the Holy Trinity to the temple.
Then the presentation of church awards to the benefactors of the parish took place. In consideration of helping the church and in connection with the 60th anniversary of his birth, A.R. Bokarev was awarded the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, II degree. E.A. Khromushin was awarded the Order of the Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, III degree, for helping the church.
Parting words to the faithful, His Holiness said: "May the Lord protect the Russian land, our people, and our Church from every enemy and foe. And in order for the Lord to protect us all from all evil, we must respond to Him with our faith, love and piety."
After the Liturgy, the Primate visited the house of the clergy and got acquainted with the main activities of the parish.
The history of the Michael the Archangel Church in Akulinin dates back to the 17th century: the construction of the first wooden church was completed in 1687. Later, a stone church appeared in its place, which was dismantled in 1935. The decision to restore the shrine in a new location was made by the residents in 2015. Construction of the temple complex began in December 2020, and on August 25, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated its great consecration.
Photo: Oleg Varov, Sergey Vlasov