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Old March 30th, 2019 #21
Alex Him
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His Holiness Patriarch Kirill chairs session of the Supreme Church Council



20 March 2019 - 11:22










On 20 March 2019, a session of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church took place at the Supreme Church Council’s Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour under chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.




















































At the beginning of the session His Holiness addressed those gathered and dwelt on the preparation of the seminary students for married and family life. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church called the ruling bishops for paying attention to the married and family life of the priests. Then His Holiness presented other agenda items.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5398635.html






Metropolitan Hilarion meets with a representative of the Syrian Parliament



21 March 2019 - 18:50







Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), met with Ms Maria al-Betaar Shehadeh, a member of the Syrian Parliament, National Security Council and Russian-Syrian Friendship Committee, on sidelines of the Second National Inter-disciplinary Congress with international participation devoted to the theme ‘Physical and Rehabilitational Medicine in Paediatrics: Traditions and Innovations’.

The archpastor and Ms. Maria al-Bataar discussed the project for aid to children in the Middle East realized, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, by the DECR with the participation of Poznanie and Linia Zhizni Charities and the Research-Practice Children’s Psycho-neurology Center of the Moscow Municipal Healthcare Department. His Eminence informed the Syrian MP about the current state of the project under which work is carried out with various Russian and Syrian partners, including the Church of Antioch, and about the plans for broadening the project.

Metropolitan Hilarion suggested that Syrian representatives offer the full range of problems to be solved through common efforts. It is necessary to have a clear idea of what tasks the planned rehabilitation center is to fulfill, His Eminence noted. He said that it should be understood that prosthesis and psychological aid demand different things.

On her part, Ms. Maria al-Betaar thanked the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian authorities for aid given to children affected by the war in Syria. She noted that in addition to hostilities, Syria is suffering from sanctions that affect the economy and life of the Syrian people. As a result of the sanctions, the country cannot purchase new medical equipment and even medicines and children nutrition. With new territories liberated with the help of the Russian Army, there appear new people who need help, she said.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5398681.html






Metropolitan Hilarion speaks on aid to children in Syria at the congress on Physical and Rehabilitational Medicine in Paediatrics: Traditions and Innovations



21 March 2019 - 19:34







On March 21, 2019, the Second National Inter-disciplinary Congress with international participation took place in Moscow. It was devoted to the theme ‘Physical and Rehabilitational Medicine in Paediatrics: Traditions and Innovations.’

Assembled to the congress were over two thousand medical specialists, representatives of parents’ organizations, social workers, children’s psychologists, economists and state officials. The aim of the event was to exchange experience and develop a common concept of the rehabilitation of children and youth in today’s world.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), spoke at the opening of the congress. In his welcoming speech, he expressed gratitude to Russian paediatricians for their work and informed the congress about the project for aid to children in the Middle East, which is being implemented, with a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, together with the Poznanie and Linia zhizni Charities and the Research-Practice Children’ Psycho-neurology Center of the Moscow Healthcare Department.

‘We are working together under a program for rehabilitation of Syrian children injured in the course of the armed conflict. You are aware that a war has been going on in Syria for already a long time. Among the victims of this war are many children: some lost limbs in bomb explosions or tripped a mine, others were blinded, still others suffered from other mutilations. We are working together to help these children’, His Eminence said.

‘Some say: Why should we help someone else’s children?’ he remarked speaking about the charity project, ‘I think every one of you will agree that there are no someone else’s children’.

Ms. Maria Al-Betaar Shehadeh, a member of the Syrian Parliament, speaking at the opening of the congress, expressed gratitude to the Russian government, the Russian Church and personally to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Hilarion and Ms T. Batysheva, director of the Children’s Psycho-Neurology Center.


***


The project for aid to children affected by armed conflicts in the Middle East is a program which was launched in May 2018 and which is implemented, with the blessing of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches of Antioch and Russia, by governments and medical specialists in Russia and Syria as well as charities throughout the world. With the help of this program, injured children are brought to Moscow not only for prosthesis but also for a full course of rehabilitation. The program also includes trips of Russian medics to Syria for an exchange of experience and broadening cooperation, round-tables, international and inter-church conferences at the highest level.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5398685.html






Russian Orthodox Church representatives attend conference of compatriots in Shanghai



21 March 2019 - 20:38







On March 19-20, 2019, the 13th regional conference of Russian compatriots’ organizations in Asia ‘Russian-Speaking Diasporas for Cooperation’ took place in Shanghai. It united representatives of Russian compatriots’ organizations in China, Mongolia, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Nepal and the Republic of Korea.

The Russian Orthodox Church was represented by Archimandrite Alexander (Zarkeshev), rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Teheran, Iran; Rev. Ioann Shelokov, rector of the Orthodoxy community in Shanghai; and D. Petrovsky, Department for External Church Relations (DECR), Moscow Patriarchate.

The participants discussed the preservation of spiritual values and cultural identity in the situation of integration into the society of their countries of residence, further consolidation of Russian-speaking communities, work of youth movements and associations, cooperation with civic societies, as well as work to support the Russian-speaking environment and Russian culture among compatriots, preservation of historical memory and opposition to attempts to distort history.

Among the attendees were also members of the Russian Council of the Federation, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, Russian consuls in Asian countries and diplomats.

The next conference is planned to take place in 2020 in India.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5398689.html
__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old March 30th, 2019 #22
Alex Him
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Primate of Greek Orthodox Church attends reception given by Russian embassy in Greece on the Triumph of Orthodoxy



22 March 2019 - 15:33







On March 18, 2019, the traditional annual reception was given by the Russian embassy in Greece on the occasion of the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, which was celebrated the day before. Present at the reception were His Beatitude Ieronymos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs M. Bolaris; members of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church, and Greek clergy.

In his speech of greeting, Russian Ambassador to Greece Andrey Maslov pointed out the joint contribution made by the Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches to the development of Greek-Russian relations and expressed the conviction that new possibilities for strengthening inter-church dialogue will open up during the Year of the Russian and Greek Languages and Literature to be held in 2019-2020.

His Beatitude Ieronymos thanked for the warm reception and noted that the Greek and Russian peoples and the Greek and Russian sister Orthodox Churches are bound by the feelings of love and mutual understanding based on the solid foundation of the common faith and historical journey.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5398771.html






Church representatives take part in round table conference on ways to strengthen relationships between peoples of Russia and Belarus



22 March 2019 - 20:04







On 22 March 2019, a round table conference on Church, Power, People: New Challenges to Brotherly Peoples and to Global World took place at the President Hotel in Moscow. The meeting was organized under the auspices of the Civic Chamber of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.

The conference brought together various scholars, writers and cultural figures from both countries. Taking part in the meeting were also representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church: Archpriest Sergy Zvonarev, secretary for far abroad countries of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Archpriest Feodor Povny, rector of the Church of All Saints in Minsk; Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, rector of the Church of St Theodore the Studite in Moscow; and Priest Roman Bogdasarov, staff member of the Synodal Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces.

The participants in the meeting emphasized the necessity to strengthen multifaceted ties between the brotherly peoples of Russia and Belarus, especially in the face of external threats, and noted an important role of spiritual heritage and culture based on the traditions of Orthodoxy. Concrete projects and propositions were put forward, aimed at consolidating the two nations.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5400695.html






Primate of Ukrainian Orthodox Church, addressing Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko: This is not the path that will lead to unity



22 March 2019 - 20:18







On 21 March 2019, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, took part in a meeting of the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko with members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. The meeting was organized on the initiative of the state leader.

Accompanying His Beatitude were Metropolitan Antony of Borispol and Brovary, chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, vice-chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

In his address Mr. Petro Poroshenko noted the necessity to uphold principles of religious freedom. “As President, as guarantor of constitutional rights I will do all I can to defend the religious freedom in Ukraine. The religious freedom should be an object of our joint activities,” he said and added that “violence can never be a means of problem solving.”

Taking the floor, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine thanked the head of the state for the meeting and said the following:

“In this blessed season of Lent the Church calls for repentance, self-restraint, prayer and reconciliation with our neighbours. The task of the Church is to take care of things spiritual, moral, to lead people to God, to preach love, forgiveness and peace. The task of the state is to take care of the material dimension of human life, to enforce laws, etc.

“However, during this Lenten season, as well as during a long period preceding it, in our country such developments have been taking place in the religious sphere that grieve us. I mean seizures of church buildings, interference of government officials in church affairs and other offences.

“In particular, heads of village councils, city councils and administrations, as well as deputies convene meetings of territorial communities and initiate unlawful votes to change subordination of a religious community. It directly contradicts the law of Ukraine No.2683 (bill No. 4128-d) that says that only a religious community, not a territorial one, can do that with a two-thirds majority. As a result, our church buildings are being forcibly seized, our communities are being driven out. Our communities are forced to gather for prayer at houses in village. For instance, our communities gather for worship at houses in the Volyn region: in the villages of Nichegovka, Krasnovolya, Telchi and Godomichi (Manevichi district); in the villages of Zhidichin, Klepachi, Berestyanoye and Kulchin (Lutsk district); and in Berestechko, Peski, Zvinyache and Skobelka (Gorokhov district). Even for the Volyn region this is not the comprehensive data. There are many such cases in various regions. Often the police does nothing – just passively observes.

“I want to emphasize that it is not we who seize our churches, it is not our communities that cut off locks of their own churches, as mass media sometimes allege. People, alien to the Church and not churchgoers, come and do that.

“One of the recent outrageous incidents occurred in Baranovka town, Zhitomir region, where on the Forgiveness Sunday a deputy of the Radical Party, Oleg Kovalsky, convened “veche” and sent some 400 people to seize the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. As the result, the crowd poured into the church. Some 150 parishioners who were inside were beaten up, thrown down the church stairs and pushed out beyond the church fence.

“And for such illegal actions, for inciting interreligious enmity, for trying to seize church buildings none of the officials is held responsible. Instead, a priest of our Church who defends our churches and upholds the rule of law (I mean Archpriest Viktor Zemlyanoy from the Rovno diocese) has come under pressure: criminal proceedings have been brought against him. He is said to be suspected of breaching articles No. 161 (part 1) and No. 300 (part 1). All the accusations are artificial. Besides, attempts are being made to impose a pre-trial restraint on him. As we have known, pressure is being put on our priest by the order of Vasily Bedriya, head of the administration of the Security Service of Ukraine for the Rovno region.

“Similar criminal proceedings have been opened in other regions of Ukraine as well. We regard them as corrupt ones, as a means of placing pressure on the clergy and faithful of our Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and deem such persecution in a democratic society inadmissible and violating the right to the freedom of religion.

“The mass media are being spreading false information about the transfer of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s religious communities (some 450 parishes). However, according to our data, only 42 parishes decided to move to the OCU, and nine of them did it without their priest. The rest 55 of the so-called “voluntary transfers” were in fact seizures, with locks cut off and believers beaten up. One hundred and thirty-seven cases were registered, when a territorial community voted for the transfer to the OCU against the will of a religious community. In such cases our faithful with their priests stay and gather for worship in their churches, while local authorities report that the “transfer” of the community has taken place.

“Facts of threats and intimidation of clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, of pressure being exerted on them, as well as of discrimination and other violations of the rights and freedoms of our Church have already drawn attention of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and published in his report of 12 March 2019.

“All that is now going on in villages in various regions of Ukraine has a negative impact on the authority of governing bodies and on the authority of the President.

“Therefore I would ask you, Pyotr Alexeyevich, to give instructions to local officials to stop artificially initiating changes in subordination. It will put an end to conflicts between people.

“It is my conviction that all the developments affecting our Church and the Orthodox Christians in general are not the path which we should follow. It is surely not the path that will lead us to unity. It is necessary to admit the fallacy of this path, to learn from mistakes and seek other ways of church unity. Seizures and “dragging” of parishes only throw the process of unity back, to what it was decades ago. We already endured the same in the early 1990s. Therefore, if we cannot completely rectify the situation, we should at least start with not aggravating it.

“Mr. President, I want you to get me right. We, that is our Ukrainian Orthodox Church, are pro-Ukraine, we are supporters of an integral and unified state, tranquility, peace, mutual understanding and unity between our people. We have always defended and declared it. All that I mentioned above only harms the state. Make sure that it stops. I believe that it is within your power!”

In response to the address of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Mr. Poroshenko said that neither he nor any district state administration gave instructions at a local level concerning transfers of churches from one confession to another. The head of the state advised to file lawsuits in the aforementioned cases and proposed to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry to hold a separate meeting to discuss these critical issues.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry handed over to the President a list of seized churches and a document describing other offences against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The state leader charged his assistants to examine the situation and take measures in each specific case.

When the official part was over, Mr. Poroshenko held a brief personal meeting with His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, the Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reports, citing the UOC DECR website.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5400699.html






Russian edition of the book on the bringing of St. Nicholas’s relics from Bari to Russia is presented in Moscow



23 March 2019 - 11:07







On 22 March 2019, the presentation of the Russian edition of a book entitled “The Bringing of the Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from Bari to Russia (May 21 – July 28, 2017)” took place at the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR).

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, the DECR chairman, presented the book. Taking part in the presentation also were Metropolitan Sergy of Singapore and Southeast Asia and representatives of the Roman Catholic Church Msgr. Francesco Cacucci, Archbishop of Bari-Bitonto; Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio to the Russian Federation; and Rev. Hyacinthe Destivelle of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The publication was prepared through joint efforts of the DECR, the Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto and ‘Poznaniye’Publishing House. The Italian edition was presented at the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari on December 19, 2018.

In the core of the book are addresses and homilies delivered by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia during divine services celebrated at the relics of St. Nicholas. The forewords were written by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and Archbishop. Francesco Cacucci.

Metropolitan Hilarion greeted the participants and guests and said that this presentation gives a wonderful opportunity to recall one of the major recent church events. Suffice it to say that according to official statistics 2 million 392 thousand people venerated the holy relics during their stay in Russia. He added that the bringing of St. Nicholas’ relics was the first in the history of relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Moscow Patriarchate event which attracted attention of different strata of our society. This event became possible thanks to the meeting of Pope Francis and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill in Havana in February 2016.

Metropolitan Hilarion continued to say: ‘In his homily delivered during Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Trinity Cathedral of the Laura of St. Alexander Nevsky in St. Petersburg, which the delegation of the Roman Catholic Church with Cardinal Kurt Koch at the head, Patriarch Kirill underscored that the bringing of St. Nicholas’ relics had been conducive to the rapproachement between our Churches more that all church diplomacy. ‘Metropolitan Hilarion expressed gratitude to His Holiness Pope Francis, Archbishop Francesco Cacucci and all those who helped arrange the bringing of the relics.

In his address Metropolitan Hilarion noted that St. Nicholas’s relics were brought from Bari to Russia in the year that marked the centenary of the revolutionary upheavals, when the Russian Church and the Russian people had embarked on the Calvary path.

‘The Russian Orthodox Church and Orthodox Christianity in the world are undergoing difficult times due to the hard political and church situation in Ukraine, where secular authorities subject bishops and clerics of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to persecution, trying to induce them to join the new structure which consists of schismatics. We need help of this great saint who is the heavenly patron of those on journey and endure hardships and adversities. The historical path of the Churches and nations is also a kind of journey in time with its trials and temptations. We believe and hope that St. Nicholas would not leave our Churches without his aid and intercession,’ Metropolitan Hilarion said.

He mentioned that the book contained the lines about the place of St. Nicholas in the life of the Church and about his importance for Christian unity written by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Cardinal Kurt Koch and Archbishop Francesco Cacucci. Metropolitan Hilarion underscored: ‘I do hope that the book will be another contribution to the deepening of mutual understanding between our Churches.’

Also speaking at the presentation were Archbishop Cacucci and Archbishop Celestino Migliore. Rev. Destivelle read out a letter of Cardinal Koch, in which the President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity noted that the bringing of the relics, sometimes called ‘the second translation’ has become possible after the meeting of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill and that it took place 100 years after the Revolution of 1917. ‘Who could imagine thirty years ago that millions of pilgrims will venerate the relics accompanied by an honour guard. ‘The triumph of St. Nicholas after one hundred years of persecutions testifies to the victory of people and reveals God’s mercy.’

Metropolitan Hilarion thanked all those present and wished them St. Nicholas’ prayers accompanying them throughout their lives.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5400705.html






DECR chairman meets with President of Lebanon



26 March 2019 - 11:17







On March 25, 2019, Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), met in Moscow with President of Lebanon Michel Aoun.

The high guest was accompanied by Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Gebran Bassil, Ms. Mireille Aoun, special adviser to the president, Mr. Rafik Chlala, presidential media adviser; and other officials.

Taking part in the talk was also Metropolitan Niphon of Philippople, representative of the Patriarch of Great Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

From the DECR there were Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), DECR vice-chairman, Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for the far abroad; and Deacon Andrey Titushkin, DECR secretariat for the far abroad.

‘It is a long-expected visit’, Metropolitan Hilarion said addressing the head of the Republic of Lebanon, who has come to Russia for an official visit. The metropolitan stated that Mr. Aoun is the only president in the Middle East and through the Arab world, who confesses Christianity. His Eminence noted that he had a joyful occasion to meet with the president of Lebanon repeatedly during his visits to that country.

Metropolitan Hilarion greeted Michelle Aoun on behalf of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, noting that ‘His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was unable to meet with you personally but asked me to convey to you his best regards and wishes’.

The sides discussed the situation of Christians in the Middle East. Metropolitan Hilarion spoke in detail about the efforts of the Russian Church to defend Christians in the Middle East, also using international platforms. These problems are discussed at meetings of the Supreme Church Authority with state leaders, high representatives of international organizations and religious leaders.

Pointing out that the Republic of Lebanon is the only country in the Middle East to fix the rights of Christians in its Constitution, the DECR chairman expressed hope that joint peacemaking efforts of the Russian Orthodox Church and Christians in Lebanon will help preserve and strengthen Christian presence throughout the Middle East.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5400709.html






Chancellor of Ukrainian Orthodox Church supports rectors of churches seized by schismatics in Volyn region



27 March 2019 - 14:03







On 26 March 2019, at the Kiev Lavra of the Caves, with the blessing of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Antony of Borispol and Brovary met with rectors of parishes located in the Volyn diocese, whose church buildings had been seized by schismatics, the archpastor reported on his Facebook page.

The priests told the Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church about the situation in the parish communities which were left without their church buildings and had to find other places to celebrate divine services.

The hierarch thanked the rectors for their firmness in faith and diligent pastoral service at a time of hardships. As Metropolitan Antony noted, God always supports and will support those who serve Him and His Holy Church, no matter what oppressions and persecutions face them.

To conclude the meeting, Metropolitan Antony of Borispol and Brovary presented the Volyn region parishes affected by the schismatics’ actions with necessary church utensils.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5400715.html
__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old December 25th, 2019 #23
Alex Him
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His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: We pray and work to the end that the forces of evil may not shatter the unity of Orthodox Churches



2 December 2019 - 16:46







On 2nd December 2019, during a brotherly repast following the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia commented on the situation that had arisen in the world Orthodoxy after the recognition of the OCU non-canonical group by several Local Churches.

“Certainly, in every epoch the Church endures sufferings and afflictions. And us, as well, the Lord did not keep out of afflictions which pertain, first and foremost, to what is going on in the world Orthodoxy. It is amazing how under the influence of external political factors our Orthodox brothers are embarking on a path of recognition of the schismatics – people who have no lawful ordination, who, in fact, are laymen calling themselves clergymen! It is especially dangerous and sad that the schismatics receive support not from some marginal groups, as was formerly the case, but from among the canonical Local Churches,” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said

“Nobody yet knows the aftermath of this situation,” His Holiness continued, “Of course, we pray and work in order that the forces of evil may not shatter the unity of Orthodox Churches, that the good and evil forces may not mix and turn into some amorphous mass, wherein it is already impossible to distinguish the good from the evil, the verity from a falsity, the canonical order from trampling on the canons. In other words, we have entered a very difficult period, and our success in going through these ordeals depends to a large extent on the inner state of our Church. The stronger our unity is – both in tackling the tasks of internal development and in conducting the dialogue with the world Orthodoxy – the more successful our actions will be. We will have to look into and make sense of the processes going on in the world Orthodoxy today, and I hope that in the nearest future the Bishops’ Council will clearly define our position in relation to the schisms and to those of our brothers who, regrettably, support these schisms.”

“God help us, so that the ordeals which have befallen us, the current generation of the episcopate, clergy and faithful people, may not shatter our unity and weaken our strength, so that we could continue our steadfast journey on the path shown to us by our righteous ancestors, preserving the purity of Orthodoxy and of the canonical order while not yielding to any contrivances coming both from without and sometimes from within the Church,” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said in conclusion.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5543162.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk opens public museum at the Church of ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow’ Icon of the Mother of God in Bolshaya Ordynka Street in Moscow



4 December 2019 - 12:41







On 3rd December 2019, a church museum opened at the Centre of Religious Education in the territory of the Church of ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow’ Icon of the Mother of God in Bolshaya Ordynka Street in Moscow. Among the museum’s exhibits are works of art which had been kept at the parish or in private collections.

The opening ceremony was led by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations.

As the archpastor noted in his speech, at this new public museum visitors will see icons, vestments, church utensils, and various artefacts collected over the long history of the church and pertaining to the life of the parish. “Everyone can come to the museum and see its exhibits,” Metropolitan Hilarion said.

He cordially thanked all those who had helped creating the museum and restore the building which houses the exposition.

Among those who spoke at the opening ceremony was also Ms. Zelfira Tregulova, director of the State Tretyakov Gallery. She said, in particular: “It seems right to me when museums are being established at churches with the assistance of benefactors and serious experts. I regard such rapprochement as a matter of utmost importance, for what you are doing, what the museum and museum workers are doing is, in essence, showing concern for human memory and human soul. We should combine our efforts.”




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5543170.html






Primate of Russian Orthodox Church meets with His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada



6 December 2019 - 20:25






On 6th December 2019, at the Patriarchal and Synodal residence in St. Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada.

Representing the Russian Orthodox Church at the meeting were also Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Bishop Kliment of Krasnoslobodsk and Temnikov; Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; and Mr. Sergei Monakhov, DECR staff member.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon was accompanied by Archbishop David of Sitka and Alaska; Archimandrite Andrei (Hoarşte), bishop-elect of Cleveland, auxiliary to the archbishop of the Romanian Episcopate of the Orthodox Church in America; Archpriest Alexander Rentel, chancellor of the OCA; Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk, rector of the OCA Representation in Moscow; and Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak, secretary to the OCA Primate.





Prior to the brotherly meeting His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada celebrated a moleben at the Church of All Russian Saints.





During the meeting that followed His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expressed satisfaction with the high level of bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America.





His Holiness mentioned an educational project of the Summer Institute, organized by Ss. Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies for representatives of various Churches who come to Moscow to learn more about the life of the Russian Orthodox Church.





“In compliance with the agreement between our two Churches, among those studying in the Summer Institute are your representatives, your clerics. In particular, Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa took a course there. We believe that this means of developing bilateral relations is of great importance,” His Holiness said.





He spoke in favour of promoting pilgrimage visits to the Russian Church from the Orthodox Church in America. “We highly appreciate an opportunity to meet with representatives of your Church when they come to Moscow as pilgrims,” Patriarch Kirill added.





His Holiness especially emphasized the important role of the OCA Representation in Moscow, opened at the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherin In-the-Fields in 1994, in maintaining the bilateral relations.





Having mentioned some milestones in the history of the Orthodox Church in America, in particular, the 50th anniversary of its autocephaly, Patriarch Kirill said: “I remember what joy it was for the Russian Church to have an opportunity to affirm the autocephalous status of your Church and put an end to the divisions that had been caused by many factors, including the political ones, of the first quarter of the 20th century. The relationships between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church in America were not just resumed, but affirmed canonically, and despite a very complicated political context of the time there was a very important achievement, for the Eucharistic communion was restored and our Churches embarked on a path of brotherly cooperation.”





As the Primate of the Russian Church noted, the current difficulties in the Russian-American relations “do not prevent the two Churches from preserving the unity, sincere love and respect for each other.”





During the meeting His Holiness mentioned the situation of Orthodoxy in Ukraine, saying: “I would also like to thank you for rendering prayerful support to the suffering Ukrainian Orthodox Church, for your appeal in support of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry and the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, for the appropriate decision of your Church’s Synod. I would like to especially emphasize your principled position of non-recognition of the so-called ‘Orthodox church of Ukraine’.”





“Although we are now facing difficulties in developing the inter-Orthodox relations, our two Churches are in full cooperation and demonstrate like-mindedness on a number of very significant issues on the current pan-Orthodox agenda. I believe that the factor of our relationships can have a positive effect on the pan-Orthodox relations between the Local Churches,” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill added.





His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada thanked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for the meeting and for the warm hospitality in Moscow, saying in particular: “You labour under the burden of many pressures, and I would like to assure you of my personal prayers, as well as of fraternal support of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America.”





The Primate of the Orthodox Church in America said a few words about His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of blessed memory, who had led the Russian Orthodox Church for over 18 years. On 5th December the Russian Church commemorated the 11th anniversary of the demise of its 15th Primate. “His Holiness was a good friend of the Orthodox Church in America, and his visits to our Church are remembered with fondness, especially by the current Primate who as a young novice was blessed to present flowers to Patriarch Alexy when he visited St. Tikhon’s Monastery,” Metropolitan Tikhon said.

His Beatitude noted the importance of the bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America, having mentioned his meeting with Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk in October during the DECR chairman’s visit to the USA.

“Since receiving the gift of autocephaly the Orthodox Church in America has continued to be firm to the faith of the apostles, the faith of the Fathers, the faith of the Orthodox… I pray that this week’s celebrations will be full of joy that comes from our fraternal con-celebration and continued collaboration affecting the apostolic work of Holy Orthodoxy, and I ask for your prayers for the Orthodox Church in North America,” Metropolitan Tikhon added.

The participants in the meeting discussed a wide range of topics pertaining to the bilateral cooperation and the situation in the Orthodox world.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5546537.html






Session of Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church takes place



6 December 2019 - 22:40







On 6 December 2019, a session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) chaired by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine took place at the Kiev Laura of the Caves.

Official website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reports that the Synod expressed sorrow for the anti-canonical actions of the Primates of the Churches of Greece and Alexandria which entered into Eucharistic communion with the persons who were never ordained bishops, priests or deacons. The Synod noted that communion with representatives of the so called Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) does not solve the problem of church schism in Ukraine, but is bringing about schism in the world Orthodoxy.

Members of the Synod thanked bishops, clerics and laypersons of the Churches of Greece and Alexandria who have not supported anti-canonical actions and did not enter into communion with schismatics, and stated with regret that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church can no longer have eucharistic communion with the Primates of the Churches of Greece and Alexandria and with the hierarchs of these Churches who will maintain Eucharistic communion with OCU representatives.

The Synod issued a statement that will be read out in all churches of the UOC on Sunday.

The Synod expressed respectful support of peace initiatives of Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky pertaining to the settlement of the conflict in the east of Ukraine offered on December 4, 2019, at the meeting with representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, including His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine. The Synod stated that peace in Donbas is much desired by the multimillion flock of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and that prayers of fervent supplication for success of peacebuilding process and peace in Ukraine’s east will be offered up in all churches of the UOC during divine service on Sunday.

A new composition of the Liturgical Commission was approved; decisions were taken on the order of life in monasteries; new dates of celebration of the icons of the Mother of God and new dates of the commemoration of the saints were instituted.

The Synod expressed concern over Bill 00931 of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on preventing discrimination. The Synod noted that the draft limits the fundamental rights to the freedom of worldview and religious belief of the members of the UOC, called people’s deputies not to vote in favour of the bill and stated that even in case of its passing people whose life does not conform with Christian morals or their persuasions run contrary to the dogma of the Orthodox Church will not hold positions in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The Synod elected three new vicar bishops in the dioceses of Kiev, Lugansk and Chernigov.

At the end of the session the Synod heard reports on the activity of the Synodal institutions of the UOC for 2019.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5546563.html
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Statement of the Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of December 6, 2019



6 December 2019 - 23:14







The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, after careful deliberation of recent developments in the sphere of inter-Orthodox relations, makes the following statement:

1) We are compelled to declare that due to the anti-canonical actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine, and also in connection with the actions perpetrated by the Primates of the Greek and Alexandrian Orthodox Churches, namely by their entering into eucharistic communion with the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”, the situation in Orthodox Christianity has grown worse not only at the administrative but also at the spiritual level – that is, on the level of ecclesial communion in the Holy Sacraments.

2) It has become apparent that this crisis is not only a problem of bilateral relations between the Constantinopolitan and the Moscow Patriarchates, but it concerns the whole of World Orthodoxy, all the Local Orthodox Churches, since it is harming the very foundations of the life and missiology of Christ’s Church. This problem is not administrative but ecclesiological. The new conception of the Patriarch of Constantinople as “the first without equals”(“Primus sine paribus”) has reared its head in world Orthodoxy, and is something which the Orthodox Church has never known previously, and which in actuality is a clear violation of the principle of the Church’s catholicity and a consequence of the misunderstanding of the nature of the Church in general and of the role of the individual Local Churches, in particular. In addition, the Patriarchate of Constantinople began to concelebrate services with persons who were not canonically ordained, which in itself is a blasphemy and sacrilegious with regards to the Eucharist.

3) In view of this, the cessation of Eucharistic communion by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with the Patriarchate of Constantinople and with the Churches and hierarchs who have recognised the schismatics is not an abuse of the Eucharist, or blackmail of the Eucharist, as some people have alleged, but on the contrary it is a defense of the Eucharist and a safeguard of the canonical and spiritual purity as well as the integrity of the Church. After all, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the words of the Holy Apostle Paul: ” also loved the Church, and gave himself for it… That he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish”. (Ephesians. 5: 25-27).

4) For these reasons, it is false and manipulative to accuse the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of allegedly moving toward self-isolation, specifically, by its suspension of Eucharistic communion with those who have themselves entered into communion with unrepentant schismatics. In fact, we uphold the purity of the canonical traditions of the Church, and protect the Church from blasphemy. Otherwise, if persons who have no canonical ordination are admitted to the priesthood, and if the schism is recognised by the Church, but the true Church of Christ is ignored or falsely called the schism, then there is a danger that the true Church may be substituted. Moreover, such anti-Church actions blur the line between the Church and the schism. As a result, a so-called new “Church” structure is created, which is founded by men, in place of the true Church that was founded by our Lord Jesus Christ who: “hath purchased [it] with His own blood. “(see Acts 20:28).

5) One of the basic principles of Canon law of the Orthodox Church is such that whomever enters into Eucharistic communion with the excommunicated will be excluded from communion with the Church himself. In this regard, the entering into communion by certain Local Churches with persons who have fallen into schism in other Local Churches and who have not truly repented and who are not canonically ordained, automatically raises the question of whether their continued eucharistic communion with these schismatics also makes them complicit in this sin, and which, in fact, also causes them to be in violation of the abovementioned canonical principle?

6) We believe that the only way out of this crisis is to have a Pan-Orthodox Council discussion and find a solution to the whole range of these problematic issues. Recognising all the inherent difficulties involved in convening such a Pan-Orthodox meeting, we still have yet to see another way out of the crisis. Therefore, we welcome the initiative of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of the Holy City of Jerusalem and of All Palestine to convene a Pan-Orthodox Council in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. During the many difficult times in the history of our Church, there already such a case where the Patriarchate of Jerusalem provided assistance. This was in 1620 A.D. when His Holiness Patriarch Theophanes III of Jerusalem restored the Orthodox hierarchy in Kyiv, in order to replace those who had joined the Union under the pressure of the then Polish-Lithuanian authorities. We applaud, thank, and look forward to similar calls for a Pan-Orthodox meeting from the Primates and hierarchs of the other Local Orthodox Churches which, in fact, has already started to happen more and more frequently of late.

7) It is to be noted that geopolitical and political factors have, unfortunately, started to blatantly interfere in the internal life of World Orthodoxy in unprecedented fashion. As a result, individual Local Churches have been making Church decisions under the influence of these factors, contrary to Church canons and centuries-old traditions of the Church. We understand that each Local Orthodox Church does its ministry within a particular state, and sometimes several or many states. Often, one or another Orthodox nation is historically very closely connected to both its own state and its Local Church. However, it is our deep conviction, that every Local Church in its service to God must be above national, state, or political boundaries and interests, and not be subjected to external pressure, remembering that the Kingdom of God we preach of is not of this world. (see John 18:36). If each Local Orthodox Church associates itself solely with the interests of its own state, then world Orthodoxy cannot be united, since it is well known that states engage in conflict or in wars with each other, but the Church must always preserve unity and reconcile people, whilst not becoming a party or a means of confrontation. We express our hope that the Holy Orthodox Church, with the help of God, will find the strength to overcome these challenges and maintain its unity; rising above national borders and interests, because in Christ there is neither “Greek nor Jew…, Barbarian, Scythian,… but Christ is all, and in all. ”(Col. 3:11).

8) We appeal to the archpastors, pastors, monks, and laity of our beloved Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Dear Vladykas, Fathers, brothers and sisters! It is not without Divine Providence that we here in Ukraine and within our Church, and within the bounds of World Orthodoxy, that the boundary line between the true Church and the schism lies today. In this situation, we must preserve the purity of the canonical system and the teaching of the Church. Opponents are trying to scare us with the prospect of self-isolation. But as long as we continue to live in true faith, there cannot be any self-isolation. The blessed memory of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine reminds us that: “there can be no self-isolation with Christ”. In fact, our Ukrainian Orthodox Church today, through its various trials and tribulations, is upholding the unity of the whole Orthodox world. Don’t be afraid! You are part of the one true Church! Love the Church, keep the Church and yourself in it, because through it the Lord saves us. And leave the rest to the Will of God. Remember, it is not Man who directs the Church, but our heavenly Father Himself. Let us pray that the Lord through his Holy Spirit will correct all human error, purify us from all evil things, and save our souls!




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5542617.html






Primates of Russian Orthodox Church and Orthodox Church in America celebrate Liturgy in Moscow Church of St. Catherine In-the-Fields



7 December 2019 - 17:10







On 7th December 2019, commemoration day of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine In-the-Fields – Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America. This year marks the 25th anniversary of establishment of the Representation.

Concelebrating with the Primates were Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Metropolitan Dionisy of Voskresensk, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Ioasaf of Kirovograd and Novomirgorod; Bishop Foma of Pavlovsky Posad, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Secretariat; Bishop Kliment of Krasnoslobodsk and Temnikov; Protopresbyter Vladimir Divakov, Patriarchal secretary for Moscow; Archpriest Nikolai Krechetov, head of the Moskvoretskoye deanery in Moscow; Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; as well as members of the American delegation: Archbishop David of Sitka and Alaska; Archimandrite Andrei (Hoarşte), bishop-elect of Cleveland, auxiliary to the archbishop of the OCA Romanian Episcopate; Archpriest Alexander Rentel, chancellor of the OCA; Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk, rector of the OCA Representation in Moscow; Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak, secretary to the OCA Primate; and clerics of the OCA Representation.











Among the concelebrants were also hierarchs and clergy of the Local Orthodox Churches: Bishop Antonije of Moravica, representative of the Patriarch of Serbia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Archimandrite Feoktist (Dimitrov), representative of the Patriarch of Bulgaria to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), representative of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; and Archpriest Kakhaber Gogotishvili, cleric of the Georgian Orthodox Church.











Praying at the divine service were Protopresbyter Daniel Hubiak, first rector of the OCA Representation in Moscow; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; and a group of clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who had come to Russia on a pilgrimage together with Metropolitan Ioasaf of Kirovograd and Novomirgorod.











Among those present were Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apsotolic Nuncio to the Russian Federation; Mr. Bart Gorman, deputy chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow; Mr. Stephane Jobin, temporary charge d’affaires of Canada in the Russian Federation; Pilot Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko; and Mr. Valery Alexeyev, president of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations.











The Liturgy was celebrated in the Church Slavonic and English languages.











At the Litany of Fervent Supplication prayers were lifted up for the unity of the Orthodox Church and preservation of the Church from divisions and schisms.











After the Liturgy His Holiness Patriarch Kirill greeted His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada and all those present.











The Primate of the Orthodox Church in America thanked Patriarch Kirill, saying in response: “Your Holiness, dear brother in Christ, it is a great joy to concelebrate with Your Holiness and our brothers the bishops on the feast of the Great Martyr Catherine, patron of this sacred temple. This year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of establishment of the Church of St. Catherine In-the-Fields as the Representation of the Orthodox Church in America to the venerable Russian Orthodox Church. And we give thanks to God for He has allowed this concelebration to take place as a visible sign of unity of our Churches.”














Metropolitan Tikhon expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Kirill for rendering support to the OCA Representation in Moscow.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5546569.html






Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada presides over a symposium on the life of the Orthodox Church in America



9 December 2019 - 13:53







On December 8, 2019, His Beatitude Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, who is on a visit to Moscow for the 25th anniversary of the Moscow representation of the Orthodox Church in America, visited the Moscow Diocesan House – the main building of the St. Tikhon Orthodox University of the Humanities, to preside over a symposium devoted to the life of the Orthodox Church in America.

The symposium was attended by members of the OCA delegation including Archbishop David of Sitka; Archimandrite Andrei, Bishop-elect of Cleveland, Auxiliary to Archbishop Nathaniel of the Romanian Episcopate; Archpriest Alexander Rentel, chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America; Archpriest Daniel Andreyuk, OCA representative to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; and Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak, secretary to the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.

Present at the symposium were also Bishop Clement of Krasnoslobodsk and Temnikov; Archpriest Alexander Ageikin, deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate administrative secretariat; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; D. I. Petrovsky, DECR; Moscow clergy and laity, professors and students of the St. Tikhon University and other theological schools in Moscow.

Before the beginning of the symposium, the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America visited the museum of the Russian Church’s new martyrs and confessors formed in the university.

At the Diocesan House council hall, in which the historic 1917-1918 Local Council took place, Metropolitan Tikhon was met by the choir of the university’s department of theology who sang in English the hymns of praise to St. Tikhon the Patriarch of All Russia.

The rector of the university Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyev, in his welcoming speech remembered that almost 28 years ago, Protopresbyter John Meyendorff, dean of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, spoke at the first conference held by the university soon after its opening. Now the university was receiving with joy a delegation of the Orthodox Church in America led by its Primate, he said.

Metropolitan Tikhon delivered remarks on “The Apostolic Work of the Church in North America”. His Beatitude presented the conception of the internal and external life of the Orthodox Church in America giving special attention to the development of spiritual life, pastoral care, relations with those around, religious educational work and preaching of the gospel.

The next speaker, Archimandrite Andrey, focused on the conception presented by His Beatitude that calls upon all Orthodox Christians in America to rethink the essence of Christian life on the basis of a revival of the Eucharistic principles.

Hegumen Joseph (Kryukov) delivered closing remarks on “The Valamo mission in Alaska: Lessons of the past and prospects for the missionary work in America and Russia”. He presented a view of the spiritual life of the Church in America proceeding from the experience of the Valamo mission’s service in Alaska.

After that, the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America and members of his delegation answered numerous questions from university students.

In his closing remarks, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyev thanked His Beatitude Tikhon and presented him with an icon of his heavenly patron St. Patriarch Tikhon painted at the university’s church art department, and books by Protopresbyters Alexander Schmemann and John Meyebdorff published by the university. In his turn, the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America presented Father Rector with a decorated cross.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5546602.html






Primate of Orthodox Church in America visits Donskoy Monastery in Moscow



9 December 2019 - 20:05







On 9th December 2019, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, visited the Donskoy Stavropegic Monastery in Moscow.

The delegation led by His Beatitude included Archbishop David of Sitka and Alaska; Archimandrite Andrei (Hoarşte), bishop-elect of Cleveland, auxiliary to the archbishop of the OCA Romanian Episcopate; Archpriest Alexander Rentel, chancellor of the OCA; Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk, rector of the OCA Representation in Moscow; Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak, secretary to the OCA Primate; and Protopresbyter Daniel Hubiak, first rector of the OCA Representation in Moscow.

The delegation was accompanied by Bishop Kliment of Krasnoslobodsk and Temnikov and Mr. Dmitry Petrovsky, staff member of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and the delegation members venerated the holy relics of St. Tikhon the Patriarch of All Russia – the heavenly patron of the OCA Primate.

Greeting His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and those accompanying him, Bishop Foma of Bronnitsy, abbot of the monastery, said in particular: “Today we welcome you not as guests, but as our brothers who at some point in the past had left to deal with very important matters, but now have returned to the holy abode, dear to them, in order to together with us pray to and praise St. Tikhon, meet with us and regain strength to continue their labours. It is our heartfelt wish that such visits may be more frequent.”

Bishop Foma presented His Beatitude with a portrait of St. Tikhon the Patriarch of All Russia.

The OCA Primate cordially thanked the abbot and the brethren of the monastery for their hospitality and prayers and presented Bishop Foma with a holy panagia.

Earlier that day His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and the members of the OCA delegation visited the State Tretyakov Gallery and the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi where they venerated the Vladimirskaya Icon of the Mother of God.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5546606.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk presents DECR medal to the first rector of the OCA Representation in Moscow



10 December 2019 - 11:37







On 10 December 2019, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, presented a medal of St. Mark of Ephesus, 1st class, the highest departmental DECR award, to Protopresbyter Daniel Hubiak, the first rector of the Representation of the Orthodox Church in America in Moscow. Present was the OCA official delegation led by Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada.

In his welcome remarks Metropolitan Hilarion underscored the labours of Father Daniel as the first rector of the Representation and wished him good and strong health, God’s aid in his labours and many years of life.

Protopresbyter Daniel Gubiak cordially thanked Metropolitan Hilarion for the award and shared his warm reminiscences of his stay in Moscow.

Congratulating Protopresbyter Daniel were members of the OCA delegation, DECR deputy chairman Archpriest Nikolai Balashov and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5546614.html
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Speech by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the session of Supreme Church Council on 11th December 2019



11 December 2019 - 15:31






On 11th December 2019, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia chaired a session of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. His Holiness delivered an opening speech. Its text is given below.





I greet all the members of the Supreme Church Council.





We are holding a session of the Supreme Church Council, the last one this year. In this circle and at this table we are gathering for the last time in 2019, therefore, we can already summarize its results.





It was not an easy year – for our Church it was full of ordeals, but at the same time of manifestations of God’s mercy. On the one hand, we have become eyewitnesses of the aftermaths of the violation of the canonical norms; on the other hand, we have contemplated the unity of hierarchs, clergy and laity both within our Church and throughout the Orthodox world, preserving the faith and canonical purity of Orthodoxy.





We see that in the Greek church world, within the Churches of Alexandria and Greece, hierarchs, clerics and laypeople clearly expressed their opposition to the trample on the canons. For these people, just like for us, the unity of Churches is the absolute value; they consider it inadmissible to exchange this unity for the sympathy of the mighty of this world; they share the pain of and sympathize with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church jeopardized by the anti-canonical actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.








Our prayers and efforts were aimed at giving support to our brothers in Ukraine, where by the mercy of God the pressure upon the believers of the canonical Church decreased. The declaration on non-interference in church affairs, issued by President Zelensky, demonstrates that the state authority has now taken the only right position of not interfering in church disputes and not putting pressure on, among others, our canonical Church.





However, I have to say that the threat of interference in the affairs of the Church is still real, since not everyone in power in Ukraine has rejected the policy which was formulated by the former president and implied such interference. Yet, we see how adamant the children of our Church are in their position. Their fortitude and dignity are ever more evident against the background of endless strife among the Ukrainian schismatics and among their patrons. What is now going on within the schism indicates that it is ungraced. When the grace of God forsakes, people’s consciousness becomes darkened, passions overpower canonical responsibility, and a schism always gives rise to new schisms. We see the new deepest conflicts arise among the schismatics – such is the inexorable logic of any schism.








We shared the Paschal joy with our brothers and sisters from the Archdiocese of Western Europe who returned to the bosom of the Mother Church. The Merciful Lord turned into good all the attempts, canonically vain, to abolish this structure. It allowed us to put a long-awaited end to the story of division of the Russian church community abroad.





No matter what awaits us in the year 2020, we must always remember the words of the Saviour: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Lk 12:32). It is obvious that in the upcoming year we will have to respond to many challenges, make new endeavours aimed at strengthening the canonical purity of Orthodoxy, exert ever greater effort to preserve the unity of the Church, and in the places, where this unity was undermined, make attempts to find it again. We hope that the Lord will show us His mercy and help us in fulfilling the major task on the pan-Orthodox scale – to restore the unity and overcome the corrupting baneful power of schismatics who, indeed, bring dangerous seeds of discord and opposition.





Let us hope that by the mercy of God the schism will not spread, but, on the contrary, will be withering away. The Lord called all of us to be faithful to Him even unto death, and this faithfulness must manifest itself, among other things, in defending the unity of the Church. Today no one calls us to die as martyrs, but we all are called to be firm and resolute in preserving the unity of the Holy Orthodoxy, in remaining faithful to the canonical order of the Church.





With these words I would like to open the session, the last one this year.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5545894.html






Hierarchs of Moscow and Bulgarian Patriarchates attend celebrations of 142th anniversary of the liberation of Pleven from the Ottoman rule



11 December 2019 - 16:54







On 10 December 2019, Metropolitan Nikodim of Zhitomir and Novograd-Volynsky and Archbishop Leonid of Vladikavkaz and Alania, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), currently on a visit to Bulgaria, took part in the celebration of the 142th anniversary of the liberation of Pleven from the Ottoman rule. Metropolitan Ignatij of Pleven officiated at the Litiya for the soldiers at the chapel of St. George the Victorious. Concelebrating were Metropolitan Gavriil of Loveč, Metropolitan Grigorij of Vratsa, Metropolitan Nikodim, Archbishop Leonid, Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Bulgaria; deacon Valery Bobylev of the Vladikavkaz diocese, and clerics of the Pleven metropolis.

Attending requiem service were Mayor Georg Spartanski of Pleven; H.E. Anatoly Makarov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Bulgaria; staff of the Russian Embassy, representatives of non-governmental organizations and many residents of the city.

After the service, Archbishop Leonid greeted all those present, congratulated them on the anniversary of the liberation of Pleven and wished them peace and prosperity.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5547555.html






DECR chairman meets with Jordan’s Minister for Media Affairs



13 December 2019 - 14:41







On 13th December 2019, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, met with Mr. Amjad Adaileh, Minister for Media Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdome of Jordan, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Jordan to Russia.

Metropolitan Hilarion warmly greeted the Jordanian statesman, congratulating him on the recent appointment to the senior government post. On behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the hierarch thanked Mr. Adaileh for his personal contribution to the strengthening of cooperation between Russia and Jordan, between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The DECR chairman expressed his satisfaction with the results of the recent visit of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, to Moscow, and spoke in support of his suggestion to hold a meeting of the heads of the Local Orthodox Churches in Amman with the view of addressing the issues of preservation of the unity of the world Orthodoxy.

Metropolitan Hilarion thanked His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and members of the Royal family for the support that they provide to the Christians living in the Middle East.

The Jordanian politician thanked the DECR chairman for the meeting and conveyed his kindest regards to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. The Minister also expressed his gratitude to the Russian Orthodox Church for its support in preserving the places of worship in the Holy Land.

The participants in the meeting discussed various issues of mutual interest, including the promotion of pilgrimage to the holy sites in Jordan and the challenges facing the Local Orthodox Churches in upholding their unity.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5551779.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Ambassador of India to Russia



13 December 2019 - 16:26







On 13th December 2019, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, met with H.E. Mr. D. Bala Venkatesh Varma, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation.

They were joined in the meeting by Mr. Vipin Kumar, second secretary of India’s diplomatic mission, and Archpriest Sergy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for far abroad countries.

During the meeting the DECR chairman highlighted the history of relationships between the peoples of Russia and India, emphasizing their interest in each other’s culture and traditions, as well as interchurch dialogues.

The hierarch noted the centuries-old presence of Christianity in the Indian land. Metropolitan Hilarion shared with the Ambassador his concern over the plight of Christians in various regions of the world, in particular, over the fact of discrimination of Christians in India, and expressed his hope that safe environment for the religious minorities, including Christians, will be created in the country.

At the request of the head of India’s diplomatic mission, the DECR chairman told about the ministry of the Russian Orthodox Church, its canonical territory, its place and role in today’s society, its growth for the past three decades, its care for the compatriots residing abroad, and its youth work. The Russian hierarch also mentioned the difficulties facing the Orthodox world these days.

H.E. Mr. D. Bala Venkatesh Varma thanked the DECR chairman for the meaningful meeting.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5547564.html






A church building of the canonical Church is seized in Ivano-Frankovsk region of Ukraine



18 December 2019 - 11:58







On 15 December 2019, a group of unidentified individuals broke the doors to the church of St. Demetrius of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Proboinovka, Ivano-Frankovsk region, and sealed them. Website of the Ivano-Frankovsk diocese reports that the intruders who presented themselves as soldiers involved with the anti-terrorist organization, arrived at approximately 03.00 p.m. after the Sunday divine service.

Last March, a meeting of the village inhabitants took place with support of the village council’s chairman. A decision was taken to transfer the community of the canonical Church to the jurisdiction of the Orthodox church in Ukraine (OCU). The rector of the church of St. Demetrius and parishioners who are the true representatives of the religious community were not present at the meeting. Often enough, a meeting of the village inhabitants is identified with a meeting of religious community, but it is not so, and therefore any taken decision carries no legal weight. However, this has not prevented the organizers of the ‘transfer’ to present to the regional state administration the minutes of the meeting and other documents and ask to re-register the community with the change of its jurisdiction of a OCU community. The data were entered into the Unified State Register of Legal Entities with the change of the name of the religious community of the church of St. Demetrius, its constitutive documents and its jurisdiction.

Since then, the OCU representatives with a small number of their supporters came to the church occasionally, conducted their services on the church’s territory and exerted pressure on the believers.

At present the community of the church of St. Demetrius and its rector who have remained faithful to the canonical Church is left completely on the pavement due to assistance of local authorities and is deprived of the right to pray within the walls of their church.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5551794.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President Igor Dodon of the Republic of Moldova



19 December 2019 - 23:06







On 19 December 2019, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with the President of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Dodon, who was accompanied by H.E. Andrei Neguţa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Moldova to the Russian Federation.

They were joined at the meeting, which took place at the Patriarch’s working residence, Chisty side-street in Moscow, be Mr. Vladimir Legoida, chairman of the Synodal department for Church’s relations with society and mass media, and Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations.





The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church greeted President Dodon and noted the high level of relations between the Church and the state in Moldova. He said: ‘I suppose that Moldova is the leading European country in the number of active rather than statistical church goers per head of the population. This is evidence to the deep religious roots, which by God’s grace are not whither, but become even more solid.

‘Such religious commitment of the Moldavians helps them to cope with difficulties in their life and solve personal problems that exist in any society and any country. Indeed, by God’s grace peace and a relatively high level of social stability are maintained in Moldova. We are happy to see it.’





President Dodon underscored: ‘Orthodoxy is a foundation of Moldavian statehood,’ and added that 90% of the citizens of Moldova profess the Orthodox faith. He mentioned that the Moldavian state supports the faithful and noted: ‘The authorities, together with Metropolitan Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldova, do everything they can to restore churches and build the new ones. There are 1500 church buildings and monasteries in the Republic of Moldova at present.’

‘The Moldavians are looking forward to Your visit,” President Dodon said to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and expressed hope for this visit next year. His Holiness welcomed the invitation.





Discussed were issues pertaining to the support of family and strengthening of the role of traditional values in the life of society in Moldova.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5551798.html
__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old December 27th, 2019 #27
David Reiner
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Good stuff, Alex! Your pictures of the Divine Liturgy are magnificent.

Regarding the Ukraine and the Patriarchate of Constantinople, i found this interesting:

Quote:
It is interesting to note that the “Living Church” held its first “Council” in April of 1923, and that the Ecumenical Patriarch, Meletius Metaxakis held a so-called “Pan Orthodox Congress” in May of 1923. Although this “Pan Orthodox Congress” issued a statement supporting Patriarch Tikhon, its agenda was remarkably similar to that of the “Living Church.” This council was called “Pan Orthodox” despite the fact that Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem all refused to take part in it. In addition to the introduction of the New Calendar, they supported allowing priest to remarry, the shortening of the fasts and the shortening of the services.

Patriarch Meletios Metaxakis had a very interesting career. He began as a priest of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, but was expelled for "activities against the Holy Sepulcher." He then went to the Church of Greece, and was even made Archbishop of Athens, but was deposed by it because of his active participation in an Episcopal service in the United States (he was fully vested, venerated their holy table, gave a sermon, and blessed the people). However, the Church of Greece was pressured into lifting his deposition because he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople. And even this election was highly questionable. Another candidate was actually elected with 16 out of 17 votes, but he was pressured into withdrawing his candidacy, and Meletios Metaxakis was elected instead. Not long after his election, he held this “Pan-Orthodox Congress”. The faithful were so incensed by the decisions of that council that he was forced to resign. He was then elected Patriarch of Alexandria, through the influence of the British, who then occupied Egypt. In fact, at each step in his career, foreign governments used their influence to advance him, because they knew he would favor their agenda. At the second council of the “Living Church,” held in 1925, both Constantinople and Alexandria sent representatives and gave their support to the “Living Church” against the canonical Church of Russia. And also, soon after Meletios became Patriarch of Alexandria, he switched that Church to the New Calendar as well.

And we see from recent proposals of the Ecumenical Patriarchate that they have very much the same agenda as the Living Church even today. However, today, they make the Living Church look Traditional by comparison.

In the United States and in the English-speaking Orthodox world generally, we hear many voices from within the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which are supporting homosexuality, openly. The Archons have helped fund an Orthodox institute at Fordham University. The heads of this institute have used this platform to launch a website called “Public Orthodoxy” which regularly promotes homosexuality and other forms of deviancy. And it is not bad enough that they publish this material in English, but they now translate their articles into Russian, Greek, and Serbian. And they do this without the slightest hint of any rebuke from the Greek Archdiocese of America. In fact, whenever they have a big event, Archbishop Demetrios of New York is usually present, adding his authority to that event. (Fr. John Whiteford, "An American Perspective on the Ukraine Crisis", https://orthochristian.com/120177.html)
Notice particularly, "In fact, at each step in his career, foreign governments used their influence to advance [the Ecumenical Patriarch, Meletius Metaxakis], because they knew he would favor their agenda."
 
Old December 28th, 2019 #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Him View Post
Now this is a forum of firmly Orthodox Christianity

And I will invite an exorcist priest personally for you
I wonder what the forum owner Alex Linder thinks of this as well as his serbian sycophants.
 
Old December 29th, 2019 #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David Reiner View Post
Good stuff, Alex! Your pictures of the Divine Liturgy are magnificent.
Thank you very much, David!



Quote:
Notice particularly, "In fact, at each step in his career, foreign governments used their influence to advance [the Ecumenical Patriarch, Meletius Metaxakis], because they knew he would favor their agenda."

I read it with interest.

I completely don’t know the history of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the 20th century.






Quote:
Originally Posted by Rasen View Post
I wonder what the forum owner Alex Linder thinks of this
I hope he supports this
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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
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Old January 6th, 2020 #30
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Russia completes yet another stage in creating mosaic decoration for Cathedral of St. Sava in Belgrade



20 December 2019 - 09:15







On 18th December 2019, a meeting of the commission for acceptance of decoration works at the Church of St. Sava in Vračar took place at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Belgrade.

In compliance with an agreement between the ‘Hometowns’ Foundation for Support of Social Initiatives and the Serbian Orthodox Church of 23rd March 2019, a team of the Russian mosaicists from the Moscow International Foundation for Cooperation with UNESCO, led by Mr. Nikolai Mukhin, People’s Artist of Russia, created the mosaic decoration for the sanctuary and the central part of the Cathedral of St. Sava in Belgrade, in the total area of 2,000 square meters.

Greeting the participants in the meeting on behalf of Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, Archpriest Vitaly Tarasyev, rector of the Russian Orthodox Church’s metochion in Belgrade, said in particular: “I would like to recall the two great hierarchs of the Holy Orthodox Church – Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and Patriarch Pavle of Serbia – who laid the foundation of this joint Serbian-Russian project of decorating the Church of St. Sava in Vračar. Following in their footsteps in this endeavour pleasing unto God were the current Primates of our Churches: His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia. This grandiose Serbian-Russian project promotes and strengthens the centuries-old ties between the peoples of Russia and Serbia through the joint work at the holy site in the city of Belgrade – the Cathedral of St. Sava in Vračar.”

To conclude the meeting, the commission members signed the acceptance certificate. A reception followed, marking the completion of yet another stage in decorating the Church of St. Sava.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5551810.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill chairs joint session of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, first in a hundred years



25 December 2019 - 12:25






On the 25th of December 2019, in the Red Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, a joint session of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church began under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church delivered an opening address, noting, in particular, the importance of this session in the history of church governing institutions:








“We are opening a joint session of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.








“I would like to say a few words about the historical examples that provide a basis for the establishment of working bodies of church governance with the view of addressing pressing problems.








“As for the recently recreated Supreme Church Council, its history goes back to the previous century. The Supreme Church Council headed by the Patriarch was established by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on the 7th of December 1917. The Supreme Church Council was to tackle various ecclesiosocial, economic, financial, school and educational issues, so that the Holy Synod could deal not with the “horizontal” agenda, but with the “vertical” one, that is, resolve theological and canonical matters, as well as such issues as canonization of saints, opening of churches and monasteries, etc.








“Such was the agenda set forth by the Local Council of our Church in 1917, and, indeed, the Supreme Church Council began to function. At the post-Council time there appeared a practice of holding joint meetings of the two institutions – the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council – but the tradition stopped suddenly on the 20th of November 1920, when the last joint meeting took place, and after the death of Patriarch Tikhon the Supreme Church Council did not convene.








“In 2009 we set about forming new Synodal departments and were faced with a task of creating a body for discussing the agenda common for all the Synodal institutions. With the view of coordinating the work of the Synodal bodies we started holding meetings of their heads. Several such meetings took place, and in 2011 the Synod and then, in February 2011, the Bishops’ Council decided “to give to the meeting of the heads of the Synodal institutions the proper status with the name ‘Supreme Church Council’.”








“In other words, the Supreme Church Council established by the Bishops’ Council in 2011, undoubtedly, differed from the Supreme Church Council of the time of His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon. However, the Supreme Church Council was entrusted with the tasks, many of which were on the agenda of the Supreme Church Council under Patriarch Tikhon. On the 14th of April 2011, in the Red Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Supreme Church Council held its first session.








“Today is an important event in the history of church governing institutions. On the threshold of the centenary of the last joint meeting of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council we are holding the first joint session, reviving the tradition severed by the troubled 20th century.”








The joint session of the two bodies of supreme church governance was organized for the first time in a hundred years with the view of resolving ecclesiocanonical problems, addressing issues of church governance and efficient planning, and considering annual reports of the Synodal institutions.








On the 26th of December, at the Patriarchal and Synodal residence in St. Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow, the Holy Synod will continue its work.








The permanent members of the Holy Synod are: Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine; Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna; Metropolitan Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldova; Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, head of the Metropolitan area in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, head of the Metropolitan area of Central Asia; Metropolitan Varsonofy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga; Metropolitan Pavel of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and Metropolitan Dionisy of Voskresensk, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate. Invited to take part in the winter session (September – February) were Metropolitan Kornily of Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory, Metropolitan Grigory of Chelyabinsk and Miass, Metropolitan Dimitry of Chita and Petrovsk-Zabaykalsky, Bishop Ignaty of Vyborg and Priozersk, and Bishop Mathew of Sourozh.





The Supreme Church Council consists of: Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations; Metropolitan Dionisy of Voskresensk, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church; Metropolitan Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol, chairman of the Synodal Department for Mission; Metropolitan Merkury of Rostov and Novocherkassk, chairman of the Synodal Department for Religious Education and Catechization; Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk, chairman of the Synodal Department for Relations with the Cossacks; Metropolitan Ignaty of Vologda and Kirillov, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Finance and Economic Administration; Metropolitan Mitrofan of Murmansk and Monchegorsk, chairman of the Patriarchal Commission for Physical Culture and Sport; Metropolitan Tikhon of Pskov and Porkhov, chairman of the Patriarchal Council for Culture; Metropolitan Antony of Korsun and Western Europe, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administration for Institutions Abroad; Archbishop Feognost of Kashira, chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism; Bishop Irinarkh of Krasnogorsk, head of the Synodal Department for Prison Ministry; Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo-Zuevo, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Ministry; Bishop Foma of Pavlovsky Posad, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Secretariat; Bishop Serafim of Istra, chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs; Bishop Stefan of Klin, chairman of the Synodal Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies; Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, chairman of the Education Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church; Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov, chairman of the Patriarchal Commission for Family and Protection of Motherhood; and Mr. Vladimir Legoida, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church’s Relations with Society and Mass Media.

Invited to the joint session were also: Bishop Nikolai of Balashikha, head and editor-in-chief of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Publishing House; Bishop Foma of Bronnitsy, first deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Finance and Economic Administration; Bishop Savva of Zelenograd, deputy chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Hegumeness Ksenia (Chernega), head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Legal Administration; and Mr. Aleksandr Schipkov, first deputy chairman of the Synodal Department for Church’s Relations with Society and Mass Media.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5553908.html






Holy Synod of the Russian Church expresses its deep sorrow over uncanonical actions of Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria who entered into communion with schismatics



26 December 2019 - 17:15







On 26th December 2019, at its session held in Moscow, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church gave consideration to the consequences of the recognition by the Primate of the Patriarchate of Alexandria of the schismatic structure acting in Ukraine. Earlier, on 8th November, during the Divine Liturgy in Cairo, Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria commemorated at the Great Entrance, along with Primates of the autocephalous Orthodox Churches, the head of the Ukrainian schismatic group and officially announced his recognition of this uncanonical structure.

The Synod of the Russian Church expressed “deep sorrow over the uncanonical actions of Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria who had entered into communion with schismatics.”








As the Synod members emphasized, the decision of Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria to recognize the Ukrainian schismatics runs counter to His Beatitude’s repeated statements in support of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its Primate, Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, made on various occasions, in particular, in the course of his last visit to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on 27th September – 1st October 2018, three weeks after the intrusion of the Patriarchate of Constantinople into Ukraine by means of appointment of its “exarchs” to Kiev.








It was noted that the decision on the recognition of the schismatic structure in Ukraine had not been taken at the session of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria held on 7th – 9th October, nor had it been put to the vote of its hierarchs. Therefore, it does not have conciliar nature, but was taken by the Primate of this Church unilaterally.








The Russian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod confirmed the impossibility of commemorating the name of Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria in the diptychs, as well of the prayerful and Eucharistic communion with him.








At the same time the Russian Orthodox Church maintains church communion with the hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria, with the exception of those who supported or will support in future the legalization of the Ukrainian schism.








By its decision the Synod suspends the activities of the Representation (Metochion) of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to the Moscow Patriarchal Throne, reorganizes the Representation of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Alexandria into a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in Cairo and takes the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church located on the African continent out of the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, giving them a stravropegic status.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5556160.html
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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old January 12th, 2020 #31
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Live: January 6, 2020




59:22 - Switching to live broadcast from St. Petersburg.

01:05:25 - Switch back to live broadcast from Moscow.





















On the Nativity day the Primate of the Russian Church celebrated Great Compline at the Church of Christ the Saviour



7 January 2020 - 20:53







In the evening of January 7, 2020, the feast of the Nativity of the Lord God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Great Compline at the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.








His Holiness was assisted by a great number of bishops, priests and abbots. Among his concelebrants were also representatives of Local Orthodox Churches to the Moscow Patriarchal Throne, including Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, representative of the Orthodox Church of Antioch; Bishop Anthony of Moravici, Serbian Orthodox Church; Archimandrite Stephan (Dispirakis), Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, Archimandrite Feoktist (Dimirov), Bulgarian Orthodox Church; Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia; Archpriest Daniel Andreyuk, Orthodox Church in America.











Among the worshippers were abbesses, Moscow clergy, members of parish councils, staff members of synodal departments, and numerous believers. Present in the church was also the chairman of the State Duma committee for developing the civil society and for relations with public and religious associations.











The Patriarchal service was broadcast live by the TV Tsentr and Soyuz TV channels with commentaries made by Prof. A. Svetozarsky, Moscow Theological Academy.











Patriarch Kirill read the Gospel pericope from the old gospel of the time of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, which is brought out of the sanctuary twice a year for the Nativity and Pascha Great Compline.














After the service, Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutisty and Kolomna extended compliments of the season to Patriarch Kirill on behalf of the Holy Synod and all the worshippers, saying in particular, “Your Holiness, you address not only the faithful of the Church of Christ, but also show spiritual concern the salvation of the world and each human… We have invariably heard your primatial words and wise advice with analysis of what is going on in the world and in the Russian Orthodox Church”.














Patriarch Kirill also received flowers from theological students and young worshippers.











His Holiness addressed himself to the congregation with a primatial homily.











He also congratulated Metropolitan Juvenaly on the 60th anniversary of his ministry in holy orders and presented him with a pectoral icon.















Then, according to tradition, the clergy and laity of the diocese of Moscow extended congratulations to Patriarch Kirill as their ruling bishop.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5561300.html
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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old January 12th, 2020 #32
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I know VNNF is not a christian-approving forum, but those are nice pictures, Alex.
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Old January 12th, 2020 #33
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Quote:
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I know VNNF is not a christian-approving forum, but those are nice pictures, Alex.
Thanks a lot, Ray!

It would be strange if the main church of the country could not give good pictures.
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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
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(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old January 12th, 2020 #34
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Since many people like these pictures, I decided to publish here pictures from some past events in the interval between posts with news from the patriarchy





February 1, 2018























































































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
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Old January 12th, 2020 #35
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February 1, 2018 (II)


























































































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Old January 12th, 2020 #36
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September 10, 2017 - Pokrovsky Khotkov female monastery (Moscow region)


















































































































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
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Old January 12th, 2020 #37
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The photos taken from the site of Pokrovsky Khotkov female monastery.




Views of the monastery




































During holidays









These are eggs painted for Easter.














Visits of Patriarch Kirill





















In memory of Patriarch Alexei II















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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
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Old January 14th, 2020 #38
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November 18, 2018 - Service in the Moscow Diocesan House and the consecration of Archimandrite to the rank of Bishop
























































































































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
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Old January 14th, 2020 #39
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November 18, 2018 (II)
























































































































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Old January 15th, 2020 #40
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Christmas Message by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia



5 January 2020 - 17:00







Christmas Message by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the Archpastors, Pastors, Deacons, Monks and Nuns and All the Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church

Beloved in the Lord archpastors, all-honourable priests and deacons, God-beloved monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters,

From the depths of my heart I congratulate you all on the radiant feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The wondrous miracle of the incarnation of God, which was accomplished more than two thousand years ago, today fills our souls with ineffable joy. “Today God has come upon the earth and man ascends to the heavens” (Verse for Festal Vespers). The Maker and Provider of all things has appeared in the world, for by his grace he could not “behold mankind oppressed by the devil” (from the Office for Baptism); “overcome by love, he who has no beginning and who is beyond expression came to seek out his lost creation” (Kontakion for the Parable of the Lost Coin by St. Roman the Melodist).

The amazing prophecies of the great heralds of the Word of God have come true, and before humankind, which for thousands of years has awaited salvation and deliverance, exhausted by the burden of sin, suffering from a curse not only during its earthly life but also in the world beyond, the gates of heaven have now been opened. “From the ever-blossoming Virgin there received flesh” our Lord Jesus Christ (Canon for the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God), and the cherubim, guarding the entrance to paradise with a sword of fire, “withdraw from the tree of life” (Verse for Festal Vespers). The Divine Infant has been born for the salvation of the world, who was “born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children” (Gal 4:4-5).

Inconceivable is the Lord’s humility: in being the omnipotent Master, he appears to people as a helpless infant; in being God, he assumes corruptible flesh and endures the afflictions of earthly life; in being the Immortal One, he goes voluntarily to his tortuous and shameful death. And he does all of this not for the select few – the prophets, righteous and his faithful servants. Christ comes for each one of us, he desires salvation for all without exception – the sinners and the evildoers, the indifferent and the neglectful, the cowardly and the angry, even his murderers!

The Lord turns nobody away, never disdains anyone; on the contrary, he assumes our human flesh, renews it through his divine incarnation, his sufferings on the cross and his life-bearing resurrection; he raises it up into the bosom of the Holy Trinity and sanctifies it by his presence rightward the throne of God. And it is of the life-creating body of Christ, his most pure blood shed for each one of us that we partake in the sacrament of the Eucharist – and we become one with the same body and the same blood of not only with the Saviour but also with each other.

However, today we unfortunately see the waves of discord rocking the ship of the Church, the storm of arguments and contradictions undermining the unity of the Orthodox faithful, people, overpowered by the darkness of the enemy and tempter, discarding the Fount of living water in favour of the “the murky fount of ungodly heresies that is unfit to drink from” (Canon to the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council). At this difficult time, we must all recall that the Lord was born, crucified and rose from the dead for each one of us, that he founded on earth the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. In belonging to the Church, we are called upon to overcome discord, confrontation and conflict, to heal divisions, to help those who endure the horrors of war and suffer from oppression and injustice.

The Lord was born not in a royal palace but in a lowly cave in “abject poverty”. What, it would seem, could be worse than a cavern and poorer than a manger for cattle? Yet such a place does exist – it is the desert of the human heart scorched by sin, alienated from God, neither cold nor hot, wasted and enslaved by the passions. It is, however, within our power to make our soul a dwelling-place for God, to remember that the Lord is near, at the very gates, and that he humbly waits for us to finally see him with the eyes of faith, admit him into our lives, hear his words and respond to his love and allow him to act within us.

The whole world rejoices in the most glorious nativity of the Saviour: the angels sing hymns of praise, the shepherds are exultant, the magi worship and bring gifts to him, and it is only the embittered heart of Herod, full of envy, that does not wish to accept the divine truth, does not rejoice, yet trembles not from the fear of God but from cowardice. Let us ponder whether we too are not like him in our deeds, whether we do not make our priority our own well-being and comfort, whether we are not afraid that someone may be better than us, more talented, kinder, whether we do not do evil to such a person in trying to hurt or humiliate him before others, cast him down from his pedestal so that we may raise ourselves up a step higher. Is it not the case that the source of truth for us is not the Lord and his sacred commandments, but our very own selves? Do we not tempt others in passing off as truth our own self-serving fantasies, do we not rend asunder Christ’s robe through our ambitious actions, do we not sow the seeds of discord and discontent among our brothers and sisters in the faith?

As we gaze now upon the Divine Infant Christ and stand face to face with the divine truth, let us cast aside the “weight” of passions and “sin that clings so closely” (Heb 12:1), let us send up our ardent prayers for the strengthening of the unity of Orthodoxy and the increase of love, recalling that “love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things” (1 Cor 13:4-7).

The liturgical texts for the feast glorify not only the Lord who has been born for our salvation, but also those thanks to whom his incarnation became possible – the Most Pure Virgin Mary, the righteous Joseph the Betrothed and the holy forefathers. Let us also remember on this solemn day those who are close to us: let us visit our parents and friends, devote our attention to them, find kind words, and thank them for all they do for us. May our hearts, filled with love of God and neighbour, become the abode for the All-Merciful Christ, who is “Pre-eternal and Inconceivable, and Co-eternal with the invisible Father” (Sessional Hymn for Festal Vespers). Amen.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5552956.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill greets heads of foreign states with Nativity of Christ and New Year



7 January 2020 - 14:10







On the Feast of the Radiant Nativity of Christ and the New Year His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent greetings to heads of foreign states of the Orthodox tradition, in particular, to President of Greece Prokopios Pavlopoulos, President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, and President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski. The text of the message is given below.

Please accept my cordial greetings with the Radiant Feast of the Nativity of Christ and with the New Year!

Over two thousand years have passed since the coming into the world of the Son of God Who brought to humanity the deliverance from the bondage of sin and granted hope for salvation and life everlasting. In these holy days the Christmas joy fills the hearts of millions of believers, encouraging them to zealously perform good deeds and strive for spiritual perfection.

It is my hope that the joint efforts of state authorities, the Church and non-governmental organizations will help strengthen the God-commanded moral ideals in the life of people and build up peace, civil accord and mutual understanding.

I wish you good health and aid from the Lord in your further responsible work.

Yours respectfully,

+KIRILL

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5559641.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill greets Primates of Local Orthodox Churches with the Nativity of Christ



7 January 2020 - 16:00







His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent Christmas greetings to His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Ilya II of Georgia, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania, His Holiness Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria, His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus, His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, His Beatitude Metropolitan Rastislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada. The message reads as follows:

Please accept my heartiest greetings with the great feast of the Nativity of Christ.

Today the promise of our salvation, which was heralded through the prophets in ancient times, is fulfilled. Amazed at the mystery of God’s Incarnation, St. John Chrysostom exclaims with awe: “The feast of all feasts has come and filled the universe with joy. The feast of the crowning of all virtues, the source and root of all our blessings” (Homily on the Nativity of Christ). The Eternal Word of the Heavenly Father is seedlessly born from the Most Holy and Most Pure Virgin Mary.

In our minds stepping under the vaults of the Bethlehem cavern together with the wise men, in awe at the meeting with Jesus the Divine Infant, we are repeating with affection the song of the angelic host: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Lk 2:14).

Mindful of the astonishing humility and mercy of the Saviour, we are called to work without idleness for the sake of the preservation of the church unity, and to consolidate our efforts in order to overcome the arising disagreements, heal the divisions and restore the canonical order wherein it was destroyed.

On this great and holy day I prayerfully wish you good health and bountiful help from the Lord for many years of your Primatial ministry.

With brotherly love in Christ,

+KIRILL

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5559725.html






President of Russia visits Patriarchal Cathedral of Our Lady of the Dormition in Damascus



8 January 2020 - 12:01







On 7 January 2020, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, during his visit to Syria, visited the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition in Damascus.

At the cathedral church, the head of the Russian State, Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad and the officials who accompanied them were welcomed by His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Great Antioch and All the East, an assembly of archpastors and pastors of the Orthodox Church of Antioch, as well as Hegumen Arseniy (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Antioch.

After a short prayer at the cathedral, Patriarch John X and Vladimir Putin exchanged Christmas presents: the President of Russian gave His Beatitude an icon of the Most Holy Mother of God painted in Russia, while Patriarch John gave President Putin an icon of the Holy First-Hierarchal Apostles Peter and Paul, the founders of the Church of Antioch.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5561270.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Bishop Joseph Werth



13 January 2020 - 16:29







On 13 January 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), met with the Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of the Transfiguration in Novosibirsk, Bishop Joseph Werth, at the parish house of the church of Our Lady the Joy of All the Afflicted.

Participating in the meeting were also Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio to Russia, and Rev. Alexiy Dikarev, DECR staff member.

Metropolitan Hilarion welcomed the guests extending to them the Nativity and New Year greetings. During their talk, they discussed the present state of Orthodox-Catholic relations in the territory of Russia and issues of mutual concern.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5575672.html
__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
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