Head of Russian Orthodox Church visits penguins in Antarctica

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, travelled to Antarctica on Wednesday, becoming the first head of the Church to visit the continent.

Patriarch Kirill made the journey from Punta Arenas in Chile to Russia’s Bellingshausen Station on King George’s Island (also known as Waterloo), where he conducted a service at the southernmost outpost of the Church, the Holy Trinity Church.

The Russian Orthodox Church posted a video of Patriarch Kirill arriving on the shore and being surrounded by penguins.

This is the latest in a series of historic firsts for the Church in recent times, with Patriarch Kirill arriving in Antarctica not long after a momentous meeting in Cuba with Pope Francis last week.

Source: The Guardian