On February 24, 2024, the Second Patriarchal International Festival of Martial Arts and Martial Arts "Cup of St. Nicholas of Japan Equal to the Apostles" opened in the city of Mytishchi near Moscow.
The Episcopal Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Mytishchi.
In the afternoon, the grand opening of the Second Patriarchal International Festival of Martial Arts and Martial Arts "Cup of St. Nicholas of Japan Equal to the Apostles" took place in the Mytishchi Arena sports complex.
The choir of the Moscow Theological Academy performed the troparion to Equal-to-the-Apostles Nicholas.
Metropolitan Mitrofan announced the Patriarchal greeting to the organizers and participants of the festival and declared the Patriarchal International Festival of Martial Arts and Martial Arts "Cup of St. Nicholas of Japan Equal to the Apostles" open.
Patriarch Kirill's greeting stated in particular: "Physical activity and strength training have a beneficial effect not only on a person's physical health, but also on his spiritual state, train the will and teach self-discipline, cultivate fortitude and patience. The acquisition of these valuable personal qualities is of particular importance, because thanks to them we can successfully overcome life's difficulties and trials, maintain the presence of mind and courage. That is why the Russian Orthodox Church supports sports initiatives, considering them important for the comprehensive development of a person."
The audience, including the episcopate and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church, heads of regional and municipal formations of the Russian Federation, athletes, coaches, combat veterans and participants of the SVO, young athletes and martial artists performed demonstrative duels. Bright concert numbers were performed by musical groups. An "Eternal memory" was sung to the soldiers who died during the war. At the end of the opening ceremony, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was proclaimed a multi-year anniversary.
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A martial arts tournament dedicated to the enlightener of Japan has been held in the Moscow region since 2011. Over the years, it has been attended by more than 35,000 athletes and 100,000 spectators. Since 2016, athletes with disabilities have been participating in the festival. The Forum has become a significant event in the world of martial arts, and since 2022, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, it has the status of a Patriarchal Festival.
In 2024, the festival was held on February 23-25 and brought together more than 4.5 thousand athletes from more than 49 regions of Russia and 7 countries near and far abroad. Both adult and young athletes took part in competitions in 16 sports areas.
As part of the preparatory activities, the icon with a particle of the relics of Equal-to-the-Apostles Nicholas of Japan visited the area of the SVO and the diocese of the Moscow Metropolis. A particle of the relics of St. Nicholas was given in 2013 for worship in Russia by the late Metropolitan Daniel of Tokyo and All Japan (1938-2023), who also gave his blessing to the festival.
The organizers of the festival: The Ministry of Sports of Russia, the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports, the Government of the Moscow Region, the administration of Mytishchi and the Russian Union of Orthodox Martial Artists with the support of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Moscow Metropolia and the Sergiev Posad Diocese. The festival is held in accordance with the Unified Calendar of interregional, All-Russian and international physical culture events and sports events of the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation for 2024.
Photo – Ministry of Sports of the Moscow region