His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrates the 17th anniversary of His enthronement on February 1, 2026. On this day, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was congratulated by bishops and clergy, government and public figures.
In the Red Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill received congratulations from the delegation of the Belarusian Exarchate headed by Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl.
"Every second bishop of the Belarusian Exarchate was elected and appointed with your direct participation — by the laying on of your hands, by your prayerful intercession," Metropolitan Veniamin said, in particular. — We gratefully recall your recent visits, we look forward to the next one — hopefully this year — and we are already preparing its program. We sincerely thank you for your attention to the Belarusian Exarchate and your fatherly concern."
The Patriarchal Exarch presented His Holiness with a collection of essays on the history of the Brest Fortress.
In response, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted: "My uncle, after whom I was named Vladimir, died in this fortress on the first day, or perhaps in the first hours of the war."
"He was my mom's beloved brother, a very talented man. He graduated from school very well; his school essays have been preserved, which I still enjoy reading. And his last letter has been preserved, in which he writes to my mother, his older sister.: "I'll be in Leningrad by next Sunday, so wait." And the next Sunday was June 22, 1941," said the Primate of the Russian Church.
"My uncle was on the very front line, he was a signalman and went missing,— His Holiness continued. — I tried to find him, but the man just disappeared. If possible, remember the warrior Vladimir, especially in the places where he fought."
His Holiness also noted the importance of the position of the Belarusian Exarchate for preserving the unity of Russia and thanked the Belarusian episcopate for standing in the truth. 
"I would like to thank you, dear Bishop, and the entire Belarusian episcopate for firmly standing in the canonical truth. The position of the Belarusian Church is of great importance for preserving the spiritual unity of all Russia, because you are on the border. And the border area is a zone that is always under fire. During the war, by bullets and shells, and in peacetime by various influences. Therefore, I thank you for standing in the truth, and this truth strengthens you and the entire Russian Orthodox Church," said His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.