Russian Orthodox patriarch opens Easter-week sermon by congratulating worshippers on January holiday; Patriarchate scrubs the error

Source: Pravoslaviye i zombi

Patriarch Kirill opened a Holy Thursday sermon on April 9 by congratulating worshippers on the wrong holiday — wishing them well on Epiphany, which is celebrated in January, journalist Ksenia Luchenko reported on her Telegram channel.

The Patriarch then delivered a roughly five-minute sermon on the significance of Epiphany. Broadcast footage shows that someone then handed him an open book. He looked at it and said, “And today we celebrate Holy Thursday.” He continued his sermon from that point, addressing the actual holiday.

The Moscow Patriarchate’s official website published an edited version of the sermon with all references to Epiphany removed.

Patriarch Kirill is 79. Luchenko previously reported, citing sources, that the head of the Russian Orthodox Church has begun experiencing age-related “cognitive problems.” That information has not been officially confirmed.

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Russian Orthodox patriarch opens Easter-week sermon by congratulating worshippers on January holiday; Patriarchate scrubs the error

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