On the Saturday before the Nativity of Christ, Metropolitan Kirill celebrated the Liturgy at the Raifa Monastery of the Mother of God.

      On January 3, 2026, on the Saturday before the Nativity of Christ, the day of remembrance of the holy hierarchs Peter, Metropolitan of Kiev, Moscow and all Rus', Wonderworker (1326), and Philaret, Metropolitan of Kiev (1857), Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Trinity Cathedral of the Raifa Mother of God Monastery.

      Concelebrating with His Eminence were the secretary of the Tatarstan Metropolia, hieromonk Kirill (Korytko); the abbot, hegumen Gavriil (Rozhnov), with the brethren of the Raifa monastery in holy orders; the abbot of the Sviyazhsk Assumption Monastery, hegumen Arkady (Loginov); the dean of the monasteries of the Kazan diocese, hegumen Pimen (Iventyev); the rector of the St. John the Forerunner Monastery of Kazan, hegumen Alexiy (Yatseyko); and Archpriest Oleg Bataev.

      The chants were performed by the choir of the Raifa Monastery “Pritcha” under the direction of Deacon Sergiy Urentsev.

      According to the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of December 26, 2025 (Journal No. 124), during the Little Entrance the ruling hierarch elevated hegumen Gavriil (Rozhnov), who had been elected Bishop of Solikamsk and Chusovskoy, to the rank of archimandrite.

      During the Litany of Peace and the Fervent Litany prayers were offered for the Russian armed forces and for peace. After the Communion verse, a sermon was delivered by hegumen Pimen (Iventyev).

      At the conclusion a doxology was sung in honor of the saints commemorated today.

      Metropolitan Kirill addressed the faithful with the following words:

      Most Reverend Fathers! Dear brothers and sisters!

      I warmly greet you all and congratulate you on the eve of the great feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today we particularly honor the memory of Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, who transferred the see from Kiev through Vladimir to Moscow and thanks to whom Moscow developed and became the capital of our great state.

      On this day we also commemorate Saint Philaret, who is directly connected with the whole land of Kazan and with the Raifa Monastery in particular. It is known that he built the Georgian Cathedral of the monastery during his time overseeing the local see. Moreover, he built a cell here—intending to retire, the hierarch wished to remain at the Raifa Monastery. But the Lord judged otherwise. In 1836 he was appointed to the Yaroslavl see (to which he never arrived), and a year later he was sent to Kiev. There Metropolitan Philaret served as an archpastor for twenty years.

      Emperor Nicholas I once said: “While three Philarets are alive, I know that the empire is not threatened.” The Sovereign meant the Metropolitan of Moscow Philaret, called the wisest, Philaret of Chernigov, called the most learned, and Philaret of Kiev, called the most holy. And today we rejoice exceedingly that he consecrated our land with his great life. We honor him not only as a Kiev holy man of God, but also as our Kazan saint. Through his prayers may God save and have mercy on all of us.

      Dear brothers and sisters! On this holy day let us give thanks to God for everything, for one cannot enter a new year of life without a spirit of gratitude. Whatever difficulties we may have, the Lord is merciful to all. Each of us could long ago have perished, for so many diseases are about; people constantly find themselves in severe life situations. In our days military actions are taking place and many of our loved ones are in combat zones. Every day we pray that the Lord will preserve in health and well‑being our children who stand in defense of the Motherland. Every moment of their lives is filled with tension; they are in a state between life and death.

      As for us, who live in this blessed place, our task is to thank God. The Lord endures us and gives us the opportunity to correct our lives, gives us strength to come to the church. the Church of God is a great consolation and the foundation of our faith, pious and righteous life, which I wish for all of us.

      Let us remember: the chief feast of our life is meeting with Christ, and we must prepare for that meeting. One who does not prepare to meet God can be likened to a person who is lost, cannot find the right road, and only wanders around, not seeing the proper path. We must clearly see the final point of our life's journey and steadfastly walk toward it.

      Let us remember the Magi, who perceived and anticipated the great revelation: on the eve of the Nativity of Christ they were already approaching Bethlehem. With what feeling and attitude toward life shall we approach the Bethlehem manger? What can we bring as a gift to Him Who gives us everything in this life? Aside from sincere love and a heart freed from passions, the Lord expects nothing from us. Remember that only “the pure in heart … will see God” (Matt. 5:8), and let us free our souls from all that burdens them and prevents seeing the Creator Who came into this world for the salvation of His creation.

      In these holy days let us strive to sense the final moments before the great feast of the Nativity of Christ, so that by the Bethlehem cave we may with all our being rejoice in the newborn Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ. Happy feast to you all!

      Metropolitan Kirill also congratulated Archimandrite Gavriil (Rozhnov):

      Today we rejoice that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Holy Synod have chosen the superior of this monastery as Bishop of Solikamsk and Chusovskoy and have appointed him to govern the see in the ancient Christian land of the Urals. I heartily congratulate Father Gavriil himself, and the brethren of the monastery who, one could say, raised him. I am very glad that Father Gavriil will perform episcopal ministry in the region where I was born and spent the first seventeen years of my life.

      Metropolitan Kirill also greeted those present in the church: the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan — Minister of Industry and Trade Oleg Korobchenko; the head of the Zelenodolsk municipal district, mayor of Zelenodolsk Mikhail Afanasyev; and the chairman of the regional branch of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, Kuzma Morozov.

      After the service, accompanied by distinguished guests, Vladyka Kirill viewed the art exhibition “Palestine in Our Hearts,” displayed in the pilgrimage center of the Raifa Monastery. The exhibition included works by Russian and Arab artists devoted to the holy places, landscapes, and biblical monuments of Palestine, as well as scenes of the daily life of the local people.

      In the evening of January 3, on the eve of the 30th Sunday after Pentecost, the head of the Tatarstan Metropolia will serve an all‑night vigil in the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God of the Kazan Mother of God Monastery (Bolshaya Krasnaya St., 5). The service begins at 5:00 p.m.