On November 19-22, 2021, with a blessing of the acting administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, the clerics of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) and Rev. Mark Rashkov, made a pastoral visit to the newly formed community in the Mexican city of Cancun. 

On Saturday, November 20, the 75th birthday of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Orthodox Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the local church of the Resurrection of Christ with a permission of the head of the Catholic diocese, Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cardenas. During the Divine Liturgy, Orthodox people in Cancun had an opportunity to worship and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

During the liturgy, ardent prayers were lifted up for the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. During the prayer for the repose of the dead, His Holiness Patriarch’s parents, Archpriest Mikhail and Matushka Raisa, as well as the Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of eternal memory, the spiritual father of His Holiness, were commemorated. 

After the Liturgy, “Many Years of Life” to His Holiness Kirill was sung.

After the Blessing of Water, the clergy had a talk with the faithful. They discussed various matters concerning the ordering of the community life.

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Two years ago, the Orthodox people in Cancun, Mexico, appealed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to bless their intention to organize a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Moscow Patriarchate office for institutions abroad instructed the administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, to help organize regular divine services for the members of the community and to explore a possibility for opening a parish.

In 2012, with a blessing of Bishop Matthew, the rector of the church of the Intercession in Mexico, Father Kirill Chakon, made several visits to the community of the faithful in Cancun, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy, administered sacraments and requested services at the local Catholic church kindly offered by Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cardenas of Chetumal and Cancun.

On January 19, 2020, the Feast of the Theophany, with a blessing of Bishop Matthew, Rev. Mark Rashkov, head of the office of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, visited Cancun and, assisted by Rev. Kirill Chakon, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the Order of the Great Sanctification of Water.

On May 8, 2021, the Bright Saturday, Rev. Mark Rashkov celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church of the Resurrection of Christ in Cancun, after which he blessed Easter cakes and distributed to the faithful the Artos he brought from New York.

DECR Communication Service/Patriarchia.ru