After the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on January 24, 2024, in the Red Hall of the Cathedral Church, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with a delegation of the Crimean Metropolis.
The delegation was headed by Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea. It included Metropolitan Platon of Feodosia and Kerch, Bishop Nestor of Yalta, Vicar of the Simferopol diocese, Bishop Agafon of Koktebel, vicar of the Feodosiya diocese, deans, heads of diocesan departments, rectors of a number of churches of the dioceses of the Crimean Metropolis.
Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea greeted His Holiness on behalf of the delegation.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed the participants of the meeting with the word:
"I am very glad to see you all, dear lords and fathers. Crimea has always had a special significance for our homeland and for our Church. In all respects, Crimea is the most important land, but for us it is the holy land from where Orthodoxy began in that part of Eurasia where Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the canonical responsibility of the Moscow Patriarchate are now located.
Therefore, I call all of you to unselfish service. And since many people come to Crimea, the responsibility for their church formation, for their spiritual life during their stay extends to all of you. The missionary and pastoral work of the clergy of Crimea, both with their flock and with all who come there, is very important throughout the Church.
I thank Vladyka Tikhon, who took up very zealously the task, which was transmitted to him by the Hierarchy in the person of the Patriarch and the Holy Synod. We hope his labors will bear good fruit, but success will depend very much on the efforts of all of you. Therefore, I call for friendly cooperation for the benefit of the Orthodox Church, for the sake of strengthening faith in this most ancient Orthodox land, which is now part of our Church. And once again I wish you God's help and strength of strength."
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church blessed the participants of the meeting for further pastoral work in the Crimean land.

According to the materials of the press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia