The XV anniversary Patriarch's Cup of Russian Hockey started in Moscow on February 17.
Boris Skrynnik, President of the Russian Bandy Federation, and Metropolitan Mitrofan of Murmansk and Monchegorsk, Chairman of the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports, took part in the opening ceremony on Red Square dedicated to the traditional tournament organized annually by the Russian Bandy Federation in cooperation with the Moscow Patriarchate.

— On behalf of the Federation, I welcome all participants and guests at the jubilee tournament on Red Square, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory! I would like to wish you a good game and especially welcome the young athletes from our borders. It's great that you've come and you all love our oldest national sport! — said the head of the national bandy.
"With the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch, I declare the 15th tournament open,— Bishop Mitrofan said solemnly. — And I wish all the young hockey players who gathered on Red Square today to become worthy defenders of their Fatherland!
The anthem of the Russian Federation was performed by Alexander Minkin, a young cadet of the Ulyanovsk Guards Suvorov Military Academy. The journalists who returned from the hot spots handed Boris Skrynnik a red banner with the signatures of the commanders of various formations, which in the future will be handed over to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

Immediately after the end of the official part, a valenki bandy tournament was held near the Kremlin walls with the participation of 16 teams. In two age groups — 9-11 and 12-15 years old — children from the Chechen Republic, the Republic of Tatarstan, the LPR and the DPR, as well as the UGVSU national team, the Moscow Sunday School team and athletes from the regional branches of the Imperial Palestinian Orthodox Society fought for victory.