About 40,000 Orthodox believers joined a religious procession in Moscow on Sunday to mark the Feast of All-Moscow Saints.

The celebration began with a liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, led by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

He then personally led the procession on a six-kilometer walk through Moscow's streets and along its embankments to the Novodevichy Convent.

The event dates back to the 16th century when the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was transferred from the Kremlin to the Novodevichy Convent.

The convent was founded by Grand Duke Vasily III to commemorate the capture of Smolensk. This transfer established an annual holiday featuring a religious procession from the Kremlin to the convent, a tradition preserved for four centuries.