On February 1, 2009, the enthronement of the sixteenth Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill took place in Moscow in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The elevation to the patriarchal throne, performed during the Divine Liturgy, is an epoch-making event in the life of the Orthodox Church, and therefore is always distinguished by special solemnity.
The newly elected Patriarch was greeted with a festive ringing of bells from all five bell towers of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. At the entrance to the temple, the Patriarch was met by two senior priests and a layman with bread and salt. And about 4 thousand people attended the solemn liturgy itself.
Every anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
The ritual of accepting the highest church rank has survived to this day since ancient times, having undergone only minor changes. The ceremony includes the erection of the elected Patriarch to the Mountainous Place in the altar (mountainous — glories high, a place in the altar between the throne and the eastern wall). At the same time, the metropolitans exclaim three times: «Axios!», which translated from Greek means «Dignified!».
The liturgy begins with the usual bishop's rank, and ends with the patriarchal one: the named Patriarch performs the first part of the service as a metropolitan in a blue robe, and ends in a green patriarchal robe, as the primate of the Church.
Day of enthronement of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' — February 1 — is an annual holiday of the Russian Orthodox Church, along with the Day of the Name Day (Name Day) of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, which is celebrated on May 24 on the Day of Remembrance of Cyril and Methodius, the enlighteners of the Slavs.