Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- With the participation of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Israel, a pilgrimage trip was organized for fellow citizens - ministers and parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church in Uzbekistan to Jerusalem, Dunyo news agency reported.

A group of pilgrims and church ministers was led by Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, head of the Central Asian metropolitan district, who attended the ceremony of the Holy Fire in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

The Holy Fire from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem was delivered to the Holy Assumption Cathedral in Tashkent on the eve of the Easter service.

Ambassador of Uzbekistan Feruza Makhmudova took part in the ceremony of sending the Holy Fire. Vikenty expressed his gratitude to the government of Uzbekistan for its assistance in organizing this pilgrimage trip and conveyed sincere congratulations and best wishes to the citizens of the republic on Easter days.

“Uzbekistan is a vivid example of friendship, unity and mutual respect between the peoples inhabiting the republic,” said Metropolitan Vikenty. “The country has acquired an important cultural mission to unite and promote moral values, good neighborly relations between states in the Central Asian region.”