On the eve of the Ascension of the Lord, Metropolitan Kirill held an all-night vigil at the Kazan Spiritual Seminary.

      On the evening of May 20, 2026, on the eve of the Ascension of the Lord, Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan held an all-night vigil at the church of the Righteous John of Kronstadt at the Kazan Spiritual Seminary. His Eminence was assisted by the archpriest Alexey Kraevsky, the dean of the III Kazan district, the rector of the Kazan Spiritual Seminary, priest Nikita Kuznetsov, the resident of the John the Baptist Monastery in Kazan, hieromonk Platon (Moiseev), and the clergy of the seminary church — priest Dmitry Larionov, priest Ivan Kulikov, and priest Pavel Rybochkin. The mixed choir of the Kazan Spiritual Seminary performed the hymns under the direction of Denis Rogov. The sermon after the Gospel reading during the polyelai was delivered by priest Nikita Kuznetsov. In conclusion, a glorification of the feast of the Ascension of the Lord was performed. Metropolitan Kirill congratulated the faithful on the feast and addressed them with the words: "I sincerely congratulate all of you on the feast, dear fathers, brothers, and sisters! Today is a great, glorious, and wonderful feast. Father rector and the head of this church, Father Nikita, spoke about this in his sermon: today Christ ascends to heaven with His human nature. Saint Philaret said that through the feat of the Lord Jesus Christ — His crucifixion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension — man has become higher than the state from which he once fell. Adam and Eve lived in paradise, and today Christ ascends our human flesh to heaven. Let us remember that we are called to be heavenly beings; this is our main task. Reflecting on the meaning of today’s feast, let us consider where we are now and where we should be. For us, this seems an unattainable, unprecedented height. But we must go, we must strive, and there — as God wills. Each of us needs to take these steps always: from the conscious beginning of our life to the very last breath. I wish all of us to reach the eternal abode in the Kingdom of Heaven, to which the Lord God calls us. God save you for your prayers. All the best. Go to your homes in peace; may the angel of the Lord accompany you all!" Students of the Kazan Spiritual Seminary congratulated His Grace Kirill on his 65th birthday. On May 21, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, the head of the Tatarstan metropolis will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Makaryevsky Men's Monastery. The service will begin at 9:00.