Patriarch Kirill consecrated the Naval Cathedral in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The new cathedral is located on the Radiosvyazi hill within the territory of the Panteleimon Monastery.

During the morning service, which traditionally marks the official completion of the construction of an Orthodox church, residents of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, public figures, naval officers, representatives of city and regional authorities, including Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov, gathered, as reported by TASS.

"Today, my words are primarily addressed to the servicemen, the sailors of the Pacific Fleet. I wish you, my dear brothers, courage, spiritual and physical strength, love for the Motherland, readiness to protect the Motherland from any enemy at any moment," said Patriarch Kirill, addressing the believers with a sermon.

Speaking about defending the homeland, Patriarch Kirill emphasized the importance of nurturing the youth in the right spiritual values.

"Due to certain qualities, the youth is quite receptive and open to what is offered to them from the outside. Perhaps this is right and good, because the very possibility of perceiving the world, gaining education, and developing is based on this feature. But at the same time, both young people and people of any other age need to know how, as the Church says, to discern spirits. To distinguish the angel of light from the angel of darkness, to distinguish those who bring benefit, goodness, peace, from those who, under the guise of beautiful words, aim to weaken our Motherland and even destroy it," said His Holiness the Patriarch.

According to Patriarch Kirill, the responsibility for the well-being of the country lies with both the Church, the authorities, and the entire people.

"This responsibility is felt especially here, in front of the open Pacific Ocean, with all the problems and dangers that this region carries. Therefore, let our prayers be with those who protect our Motherland. Through the prayers of the holy servants of God, who shone forth in the land of Russia, may the Lord preserve the Russian land, our Church, and our people," concluded the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Kamchatka Naval Cathedral was under construction since 2013. The height of the cathedral is 41 meters, and it can accommodate up to 500 people at once. The Naval Cathedral complex includes two churches: the lower one is dedicated to St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, and the upper one is dedicated to the Archangel Michael. The lower church was consecrated in 2015. It houses memorial plaques with the names of Kamchatka sailors and fishermen who did not return from the sea.