On the evening of March 14, 2021, Cheesefare Sunday, the Commemoration of the Expulsion of Adam (Forgiveness Sunday), His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ prayed at Vespers and led the Rite of Forgiveness at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
Praying in the cathedral were Metropolitan Dionisy of Voskresensk, Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate and First Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ for the city of Moscow; Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, sacristan of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior; Archimandrite Alexy (Turikov), personal secretary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; and clergy and laity.
The liturgical hymns were sung by the Patriarchal and chamber choirs of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (directors I.B. Tolkachev and S.N. Sokolovskaya).
The service was broadcast live on the Soyuz and Spas TV channels.
The first part of the service was celebrated in bright vestments. After the singing of the Great Prokeimenon and the closing of the Royal Doors, the clergy changed into the black vestments of Great Lent.
After the dismissal of Vespers, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill read the prayer for the beginning of Great Lent.
Then the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church delivered a sermon, at the end of which he asked forgiveness of the archpastors, pastors, monastics and the faithful people.
According to tradition, the participants in the service asked forgiveness of one another.