On Monday morning, September 9, His All-Holiness and his venerable entourage departed by boat from Pärnu for the Kihnu and Saaremaa islands of the Estonian Archipelago.

En route to the harbor, prior to departing from Pärnu, the Patriarch visited the Church of the Holy Trinity in Pootsi-Kŏpu, where the father of the Martyr Metropolitan St. Plato served as a priest. His All-Holiness blessed the faithful, who gathered to greet the First-Hierarch of Orthodoxy.

Immediately afterward, upon reaching Kihnu, the Patriarch was accompanied throughout the entire day by the former President of Estonia, His Excellency Arnold Rüütel and his gracious wife. He visited the Church of St. Nicholas on the same island and attended the baptism of a local young woman Margarita performed by His Eminence the Metropolitan of Tallinn; at the end, the Patriarch addressed words of exhortation to those assembled and bestowed his blessing on them.

Later, His All-Holiness was given a tour of the adjacent Museum of Traditional Art in the region and visited the island’s Music School, where he led the service of consecration. He responded to the address by the school director and spoke to the teachers and students, who in turn performed a program of music and dance.

At noon, together with the Hierarchs, the Governor of Kihnu, the Hon. Ingvar Saare, and the president of the local council, Mr. Paal Pŏlluste, the Patriarch was guest of honor at a luncheon organized by the local council.

At the conclusion of the luncheon, the Patriarch visited the island cemetery and held a memorial service for the repose of all Orthodox who had passed away on the island as well as the sailors who had died at sea. Then, he gave an interview to representatives of the mass media, referring to his impressions hitherto from his visit to the noble country of Estonia and especially the island of Kihnu.

In the afternoon, the Patriarch travelled to Saaremaa Island and visited the Church of St. Nicholas in the capital city of Kuressaare, where he presided over the Vespers Service and addressed pastoral words to the large local congregation. Also in attendance was His Eminence Metropolitan Ambrosius of Helsinki, who had just arrived from Finland. The nuns from the nearby Skete of St. John the Baptist chanted during Vespers.

In the evening, the Patriarch attended a dinner organized in his honor by the district governor of the island, the Hon. Kaido Kaasik. His All-Holiness responded to the address of the governor and praised the contribution of the Orthodox faithful to the prosperity and progress of the island. There followed an exchange of commemorative gifts.