On May 15, 2013, at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy in the former Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God "Surety of Sinners" in Shanghai, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia addressed the many assembled Faithful. Calling it significant that the first divine service in this templeafter a hiatus of nearly 50-years is held during Paschal days, His Holiness said:
"Today, in the Gospel we have heard wonderful words: God the Father resurrects and animates, the same power of His resurrection He gave His Son (cf. Jn. 5. 21). We know that God has the power to resurrect people at the end of history, when the human race will end. God gives power to resurrect everyone who calls upon His name. We know that certain periods of our lives are accompanied by great sorrow: sickness, difficulties at work, family failures - everyone during their lifetime goes through such a state where it seems that hope is lost, everything seems very bad. When this state then brings to the world, joy, and peace, this transition is a sort of resurrection. This kind of the resurrection also takes place in the life of nations. We know from the examples of Russia and China, that periods of grief gave way to a renaissance period. And today's Divine Liturgy in the "Surety of Sinners" Church in Shanghai — is also a symbol of the rebirth of China, because new times have come. Arriving in Shanghai, you see a new era in all that surrounds you, and because the temple was reborn - is also part of the process of revival of China and the great Chinese nation. "
His Holiness mentioned that his first Patriarchal visit to China coincided with the 300th anniversary of the creation of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Beijing:
"No one thought of these historical dates, but in 1713, the Russian Spiritual Mission in Beijing began operating, whose duties for over a hundred years included those of the Russian diplomatic mission in Beijing. And the Chinese Orthodox Church resulted from the work of the Mission. We have just prayed for the repose of the souls of all the workers who have contributed to the creation of the Chinese Orthodox Church. Today I would like to thank those who work for the benefit of the Chinese Orthodox Church and promote friendship, collaboration and cooperation between Russia and China. I would like to thank Bishop Hilarion, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations; Father Alexey Kiselevich, rector of the parish in Shanghai; Father Dionysy Pozdnyaev, the first priest to serve — after a long break — the Orthodox Liturgy in the Russian spiritual mission on the territory of the Russian Embassy."
"With all my heart I would like to wish that the Chinese Orthodox Church flourish, it has a lot of potential, including the strengthening of moral principles in the lives of its people and to promoting the development of relations between China and Russia," - said Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in conclusion.