27 September 2018, the feast of the exaltation of the Holy cross, his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill celebrated the divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas Cathedral city of Armavir, according to patriarhiei.
Before the service in the square before the Cathedral of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church met the Plenipotentiary representative of RF President in southern Federal district Vladimir Ustinov, the Bishop of Armavir and Labinsk Ignatius, head of the municipal formation town of Armavir A. Yu. Harchenko, the atamans and Cossacks, Armavir, Labinsk, Otradnensky, Novokubansk, Kurganinsk, Gulkevichi, Mostovoy and Ust Labinsk departments of the Kuban Cossack army, students Cossack classes in secondary schools of Armavir region, residents of Armavir.
At the Liturgy concelebrating were: the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofy, Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan of Ekaterinodar and Kuban Isidore; Archbishop of Maikop and Adyghe Tikhon; and Archbishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate; Bishop of Yeisk and Timashevskaya Herman; Bishop Tuapse Dionysius; Bishop of Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik Theognost; Bishop Tikhoretsk and korenovskaya Stephen; Bishop of Armavir and Labinsk Ignatius; Archpriest Alexander Chernykh, Dean of the parishes of the Ust-Labinsk district, nayatel Sergius Church in the city of Ust-Labinsk, Armavir, Secretary of the diocese; Archpriest Alexander Mudrik, Dean of Labinskiy district the rector of the Dormition temple in the city of Labinsk; Archpriest Gennady Volkov, Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral in the town of Armavir; Archpriest Andrew Maruschak, cleric of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow; priest Alexander Volkov, the head of the Press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia; the clergymen of the Armavir diocese.
The service was attended by Plenipotentiary representative of RF President in southern Federal district V. V. Ustinov; the Governor of the Krasnodar territory V. I. Kondrat’ev; Chairman of Legislative Assembly of Krasnodar Krai Yu. a. Burlachko; the Prosecutor of the Krasnodar territory S. V. Taberski; the army ataman of Kuban Cossack army, the Deputy Governor of Krasnodar region N.. Doluda; head of municipal formation town of Armavir A. Yu. Harchenko; heads of districts of Krasnodar region.
Sang liturgical hymns choir of Armavir diocese (Regent O. V. Galavan).
On the TV channel “Union” was a live broadcast of the Patriarchal worship, which many believers could follow on a large screen installed on the square before the Cathedral.
In the litany of fervent supplication came the petition for the unity of the Orthodox Church and preservation of the Church from divisions and schisms.
After the litany of fervent supplication, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church prayed for peace in Ukraine.
Sermon before communion, said Archpriest Victor Fedorenko, Dean of Gulkevichsky district of the Armavir diocese, rector of Holy Trinity Church in Gulkevichi.
After the Liturgy his Holiness Patriarch Kirill, concelebrated to His Holiness, hierarchs and clergy committed to the glorification and bowed down before the Cross of the Lord.
The Bishop of Armavir and Labinsk Ignatius greeted his Holiness and presented His Holiness with an ancient cross and a staff.
The Primate of the Russian Church addressed the worshippers with a primatial homily.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill thanked Metropolitan Isidore worked for the benefit of the Church. “I would like to sincerely thank Metropolitan Isidor, leaving the Krasnodar diocese, for his efforts. We visited the Yeisk, Krasnodar and Armavir, and everywhere we see the fruits of Your labors. You gave a considerable part of his life to the revival of Orthodoxy in this wonderful metropolis, the then diocese when You were sent here. And today, rejoicing in the emergence of new dioceses in territory of Kuban, we remember with gratitude Your work,” said his Holiness.
Also, the Primate appealed to the Armavir Bishop Ignatius: “I would Like to thank Bishop Ignatius, who became the first Bishop of the diocese of Armavir, which also has a great responsibility to create a diocesan structure, develop a diocesan Ministry. I hope Lord that You will continue with your customary zeal to take this great Ministry entrusted to You for the benefit of the people of God.”
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented Metropolitan Isidore and Bishop Ignatius pectoral cross, made in memory of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Patriarchate and elected Saint Tikhon to the Patriarchal throne.
Passing in the gift of the Cathedral of the icon of the Holy equal to the apostles Emperor Constantine, his Holiness said, “May the icon of St. Constantine the Great, the enlightener, who converted to Christian faith, helps each of us to understand that in some sense everyone should become equal. Not all the emperors, not all leaders, not all, big bosses, but no, the Lord was excommunicated, and no one has denied to be equal to the apostles, so our problem with you to bring the light of Christ’s truth to our relatives, our children, grandchildren, those with whom we are working hard. Everyone is responsible for the spread of faith in Christ over the earth. And, having kissed the image of the Holy Prince, ask him for his help and understanding, so that you become worthy successors to the great Apostolic work of education of our people the light of Christ’s truth.”
For the temples of the Armavir diocese, his Holiness Patriarch Kirill gave communion 12 Gospels. All the worshippers were presented with icons of the Holy cross with the Patriarch’s blessing.
To his Holiness and all the worshippers appealed to the Governor of the Krasnodar territory V. I. Kondratiev. “Your Holiness, many thanks for Your visit to our region. We hope You will find time in your busy schedule again to visit us” — said, in particular, the head of the region.
The participants also welcomed the army ataman of the Kuban Cossack army N.. Doluda, who thanked Patriarch Kirill for the support and pastoral care of the Cossacks, including the establishment of the Synodal Committee for cooperation with the Cossacks. “Cossack without God is not a Cossack,” said N.. Doluda, saying that in all Cossack corps and secondary schools held classes on the subject “Fundamentals of Orthodox culture”.
After the service in St. Nicholas Cathedral, his Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited the spiritual and educational center of Armavir diocese, built on the territory of the future microdistrict Northern city of Armavir.
The Bishop of Armavir and Labinsk Ignatius presented His Holiness with the concept of development of the religious education center. According to the concept, provided the diocese a plot of land in the new district in addition to the religious education center will be built the Sretensky Cathedral, the Orthodox gymnasium and a kindergarten.
Further, a solemn reception on the occasion of the visit of the Primate of the Russian Church in the Kuban Archdiocese.
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The temple in honor of St. Nicholas acted in Armavir in 1884-1939. In 1939, the temple was destroyed by the godless power.
The community of the Nicholas parish of the diocese of Krasnodar was founded in 1992. In 1996, the superior of the community was appointed Archpriest Gennady Volkov.
In 1998 the Armavir city Duma adopted a decision, according to which St. Nicholas parish was the place for the erection of the temple in the Central historical part of the city. The first Liturgy in St. Nicholas Church, were conducted on 19 APR 2004. The consecration of the newly built St. Nicholas Church took place on 5 February 2012.
In 2014, in connection with the establishment of the Armavir diocese, the Church acquired the status of a Cathedral.