Patriarch Kirill visits Far East of Russia

Komandor Islands, Kamchatka, Russia

Nikolskoye Village, September 17, (Interfax) - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia first time in history of the Russian Orthodox Church visited Komandor Islands, where he consecrated a place for building St. Nicholas Church on Bering Island at the only village existing there and urged Aleutians and other local residents to search for support in faith, care for their health and set up big families.

In spite of the cold windy weather, several hundred people, almost the whole population of the island, welcomed the Primate. After the service the choir of the Moscow Sretensky Monastery, that accompanies the Patriarch on his trip to the Far East, on his request, gave a small concert of spiritual and secular music to Komandor residents at the consecrated church building site in the open air. Local residents were touched, they applauded and cried out the words of gratitude.

"To live in this place you should be very strong as there are many dangers for health, for integrity of a human personality. The fact that you live here proves that you are strong people," Patriarch Kirill said to the local residents.

"I'd like to bow low before all of you for your life here, for having families, for your work. The whole Russia should know about your life as it is a wonderful model," the Primate said.