KBR residents treat Patriarch's visit as significant event for republic's nations

The church service performed by Patriarch Kirill in Nalchik was attended by Orthodox believers and Muslims. Residents of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) have treated the pastoral visit of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church a significant event for the nations of the republic.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 15, the Patriarch arrived in the KBR to consecrate the new Cathedral of Mary Magdalene (the saint patron of Kabardian Princess Maria Temryukovna).

A lot of people came to the meeting with the Patriarch, and his visit became a significant event for the nations of the republic. This has been noted by Asya Alieva, who professes Islam.

According to Victor Kotlyarov, historian and regional ethnographer, the chief of the KBR's Branch of the Russian Geographical Society, the nations of the current KBR were among the first who were enlightened by the Christ's teachings (already back in the 1st century AD).

The spread of Christianity among Circassians is associated with the name of Byzantine Emperor Justinian, who lived in the 6th century AD, notes Victor Kotlyarov.

He has also added that, there are remains of the ancient Christian churches in the territory of the republic, and Christian names are also used in the toponymy.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.