Then, in the Danilov Monastery profit Patriarch Alexy and President Medvedev.
Having made a prayer service, the Russian Orthodox Church bells thrice he sprinkled holy water.
His Holiness congratulated the participants of celebrations on the remarkable event.
Speech of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II at the handover ceremony of the bells in the St. Daniel Monastery
Your Excellency, dear Mr. President!
Fellows hierarchs, reverend fathers, my dear father, the governor, distinguished guests, benefactors, dear brothers and sisters!
Blessed and memorable stay in the history of Danilov Monastery in Moscow, and this holiday of the Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow. Today we have the assistance fund "Link of Times" takes on Harvard's priceless gift to us - completely preserved ensemble of bells of St. Daniel's monastery.
In the hard and difficult 30 years the bells were removed for sale as scrap metal, but found a benefactor in the United States of America, which bought the full ensemble of bells and handed it to Harvard University. The day with prayer and hope we waited more than a year and more than one decade. Now the solemn moment has come. With the exhilarating feeling of joy thanks to God and people, we accept returns shrine.
When you look at the bells in front of our eyes as it passes over dramatic, but nevertheless successfully completed their story. We meet the most famous in Russia and unique-sounding ensemble of ancient bells. It was appreciated in Moscow as one of the best.
I sincerely thank His Excellency President Dmitry, who shared the joy of his participation this historic event. Today, we express our profound gratitude to all project participants, to work in the U.S., and Russia. From now on here at the Danilov Monastery, will always offer prayers to God for all the people whose efforts have created these bells, saved, stored, and returned to Russia.
I would also like to express my confidence that with the assistance fund "Connection Time" preserve the cultural relationship between Harvard University and the Danilov Monastery. It will be a live thread of the memory of those wonderful events, witnesses and participants granted us to be God. God forbid that such joint good works and projects that build trust for each other in our society was becoming more and more - the key to the understanding and building peace and harmony.
Finding and keeping our sanctuary, we will take care of the revival of our souls, that our efforts were fruitful and friendly spirit of God. Let continue harmonious Danilov Monastery bells resonate in our hearts with the voice of God guiding us to the true path to him, inspiring prayer to God, to creation of a good life according to the commandments of Christ.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cultural and Historical Foundation "The Link of Times" Viktor Vekselberg Feliksovich presented to His Holiness the act of donation of the historic ensemble of the bells of St. Daniel's monastery. Cultural and Historical Foundation "The Link of Times", Chairman of the Board of Trustees, which is Victor Vekselberg, for five years, provided all phases of the project for the return of the Danilov bells at home.
In turn, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy to hand over documents about the ownership of the ensemble of the Danilov bells vicar of St. Daniel Monastery Archimandrite Alexis (Polikarpov).
At the conclusion ceremony of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian president made a symbolic ringing of a bell.
The ceremony was attended by Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsky, Volgograd and Kamyshin Herman, Archbishop Arseny of Istra, Bishop Alexander of Dmitrov, heads of state structures of Russia, a delegation from Harvard University, representatives of the Foundation "The Link of Times", public and charitable organizations, Russian and foreign media , inhabitants of St. Daniel's monastery, the faithful of Moscow.
In the Patriarchal Residence St. Daniel Monastery Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cultural and Historical Foundation "The Link of Times" Viktor Vekselberg answered questions the media.
Into account the active participation in the campaign for the return of the historical ensemble of the Danilov bells in the Fatherland His Holiness Patriarch Alexy V. Vekselberg has awarded the Order of St. Sergius, II degree. Acting Director of Cultural and Historical Foundation "The Link of Times" VS Voronchenko awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, III degree. Several representatives from Harvard University have been awarded the Patriarchal letters.
Presenting the highest awards of the Church, His Holiness, in particular, said: "I have uttered today, words of gratitude to those who labored, contributed to the fact that this event happened. Once again I want to express my appreciation to all who participated in the return of the Danilov bells. I think for all of us is very important to see how love and joy with which the believer accepts the people returned to Danilov Monastery bells. Not only in Moscow but in St. Petersburg, Novgorod and Tver, where people are sincerely rejoiced the return of relics, which are now transferred to St. Daniel's monastery.
In the near future, newly acquired antique bell will be placed in the bell tower of Danilov Monastery.
The future plans of the participants of the project - initiation of the procedure include the Danilov bells in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
September 12, after the handover ceremony Danilov bells of St. Daniel Monastery, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy and chairman of the Board of Trustees Cultural and Historical Foundation "The Link of Times" Viktor Vekselberg Feliksovich answered questions from journalists.
His Holiness Patriarch Alexy: - I think that today a historic event, and I've already said this in his speech. Returned to their home monastery bells, which are more than 80 years were in exile. We are grateful to those who kept these difficult years, but especially grateful to those who helped them to return. We gratefully accept contributions of Victor Feliksovich and his associates, who helped realized this long-awaited event. I think that the relationship between the Danilov Monastery and Harvard remain. Students at Harvard University rang the bell, but it was a shotgun ringing. Only when it came to Harvard in our bell-ringers, American students have learned that the bells can play music. I hope that is not enough U.S. citizens will come here to us to learn to play the bells, and then at home to call for the holidays in those bells that delivered and raised to the belfry at Harvard instead of returning to Russia.
Viktor Vekselberg: - Frequently asked questions: Why? Why? what way? how much money is spent? You know, starting from the day when the bells returned to Russia, during their meeting in St. Petersburg, we saw how ordinary people react to the return of the relics. They approached, bowed, and thanked it - the most valuable reward for us all during those long years of work. Because thanks to the common man for what he is regaining the faith, finds hope, I think, the most expensive - it is a very important part of our lives. I have already said that we are very pleased that our collaboration with the St. Daniel Monastery, together with the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian government managed to bring this matter to an end. It's actually a big holiday light, and so beautifully that there is just such events in our lives today.
Reporter: - Your Holiness, when you have guided the restoration of St. Daniel Monastery, you have assumed that the historic bells will return here in a monastery?
His Holiness Patriarch Alexy: - No, then we could not hope for such, and so we searched for remains of bells across Russia, and found such a bell in one of the closed churches in the Diocese of Yaroslavl. When we came to learn the bells, the people, but they were few in this village, everyone stood up to defend their holy sites, not wanting to part with the bells. Only after them came the priests, who were told that the bells will ring in the first in our country, the restored monastery - Daniel, after that, people lost their bells of the monastery. But now we will return the bells in the Yaroslavl diocese, where there are many temples restored, including the Cathedral of the Assumption Cathedral in Yaroslavl, which also needs to be ringing. We will return the bells of the diocese in which they were taken in more difficult times - in 1983.
Reporter: - Tell me when the bell Danilov Monastery in Yaroslavl diocese will take their place?
His Holiness Patriarch Alexy: - Now we are working on it, I think that within the next month. Have already strengthened the foundation. To remove the old bell, which in the course of the past 25 years, calls to the monastery, and to erect in their place native bells, which 200 years with a break for prayer called the brethren and parishioners of St. Daniel Monastery.
http://www.sedmitza.ru/text/416021.html