On June 21, 2026, on the eve of the 85th anniversary of the beginning of World War II, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow visited the Brest Hero-Fortress Memorial Complex following the Divine Liturgy at the Resurrection Cathedral in Brest, Belarus.
During his visit, Patriarch Kirill toured St. Nicholas Church, the historic St. Nicholas Garrison Cathedral located within the Brest Fortress. He later led a memorial litia at a monument dedicated to soldiers who perished near the state border of Belarus, praying for the defenders of Brest Fortress and all those who fell during World War II.
Among those present were Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Grigory of Voskresensk, Archbishop Ioann of Brest and Kobrin, clergy of the Belarusian Exarchate, and representatives of the Belarusian government.
In his address, Patriarch Kirill spoke movingly about his uncle Vladimir, who went missing while defending the homeland during the first days of the German invasion in 1941.
“We have always preserved the memory of my uncle Vladimir in our family,” the Patriarch said. “He was a talented man who could have had a successful career, but when the Motherland faced a difficult moment, he went to the front. Somewhere very close to this place, he disappeared without a trace.”
Patriarch Kirill emphasized the heroic sacrifice of the defenders of Brest Fortress, stating that their courage contributed to the ultimate victory over Nazi Germany.
“Had there been no Brest Fortress and no such sacrifices, our troops would not have entered Berlin and crushed the terrible evil that sought to enslave the world,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, the Patriarch called on the faithful to preserve the prayerful memory of all those who gave their lives defending their homeland.
Following his visit to the memorial complex, Patriarch Kirill departed for Moscow.
