27.01.2025, Moscow.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ emphasized the heroism of Leningrad’s defenders in his address marking the Day of the Complete Liberation of Leningrad from the Fascist Blockade, the press service of the Russian Orthodox Church reported.
The patriarch sent his congratulations on this occasion to Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov.
He underlined that believers honor the heroism and resilience shown by the defenders of the motherland, whose sacrifices continue to inspire those who remember their deeds.
“Their strength of spirit and selfless love for their homeland still inspire us today to work diligently toward building a peaceful life,” Kirill emphasized.
The patriarch expressed a deep sense of remembrance for Leningrad’s citizens who endured the blockade, noting that his parents and older brother were among them.
In his address to Governor Beglov, Kirill acknowledged the sacrificial heroism of Leningrad’s citizens, stating that it was due to their efforts that “the enemy never set foot on Nevsky land.”
On January 27, 1944, Leningrad was completely liberated from the fascist blockade.