Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill has detoured from his Latin American tour to visit with penguins in the Antarctic, the Meduza news website reported Thursday.
See the photo gallery: Russian Patriarch Kirill Communes With Penguins
Kirill arrived in the Antarctic to hold a communion service at the only active church on the continent — the Holy Trinity Church at the Russian Bellingshausen Station on King George Island — but managed to take in a leisurely walk among the penguins.
The Patriarch made the trip from Punta Arenas, Chile, after accepting an invitation from Russian polar explorers, the Lenta.ru news website reported.
Kirill — who had an historic meeting with Pope Francis of Rome in Cuba on Saturday — is currently on an official visit to Latin America until Feb. 22, during which he will also visit Brazil.
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