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Old November 7th, 2020 #101
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Moscow Patriarchate clergy took part in the funeral service for Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)



27 October 2020 - 18:23







With the blessing of the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, and the acting administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States of America, Bishop Matthews of Chersonesus, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) and Rev. Mark Rashkov of the Russian Orthodox Church’s representation in the USA attended the funeral service for the former Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor) who passed away in the Lord on October 19, 2020.

In the evening of October 22, in the Church of John the Baptist in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, the place of His Eminence Theodosius’s childhood and beginning of his church service, an assembly of hierarchs and clergy of the Orthodox Church in America, led by His Beatitude Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All America and Canada, held the funeral service for the departed.

According to the will of the deceased, the burial service took place at the cemetery of the Convent of the Holy Transfiguration in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. On October 23, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon led in this convent the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, during which he was assisted by hierarchs and clergy of the Orthodox Church in America, as well as Bishop Irenej of Eastern America, Serbian Orthodox Church; Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), secretary to the administration of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA; and Rev. Mark Rashkov, head of the office of the Moscow Patriarchate Parishes in the USA.

After the liturgy, the hierarchs delivered funeral orations. Messages of condolences from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk were read out by Father Mark Rashkov.

After the prayer for the repose of the dead and the reading of the prayer of absolution, the bishops, priests and sisters of the convent led by Abbess Christophora, and lay people saw the departed Metropolitan Theodosius on his way.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5714646.html






Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus: Position of the Russian Church on the Ukrainian autocephaly is fair and wholly justified



28 October 2020 - 18:35







In connection with the fact that on October 24, 2020, His Beatitude Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus, recognized one of the Ukrainian schismatic communities and with the comments he gave on this occasion to the press, published below is the text of the message of greeting that His Beatitude had sent to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in 2018 on the occasion of the celebrations devoted to the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia.



His Beatitude Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

Moscow

Your Beatitude,

Our memory continues keeping the indelible impressions of our trip to your great country last December when we magnificently celebrated together with you the centenary of the restoration of the Patriarchate in the Russian Church. We experienced your generous hospitality and could feel the Russian people’s love of their Church, as well as their pride for her.

Now today too we become participants in another great joy of celebrating the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia. We personally feel an immense joy because God vouchsafed us to take part in similar festivities devoted to both the millennium and the 1025th anniversary of this unique event. In the memory of peoples, these great events of history tower up as bright beacons, which the people, looking on them with hope, draw inspiration from them, an example, a new moral light and new spiritual resources.

And this year, the Church of Cyprus, in the persons of our representatives, namely, the Most Reverend Metropolitan George of Paphos and Archimandrite Stylianos (Stylianou), take part in these celebrations and wish a blessing of the Lord to the historically younger but numerically larger Russian Church in everything for the glory of God worshipped in the Trinity and for the glory of holy Orthodoxy.

The event celebrated is great indeed! It is such not only for the Russian Church and for the people of God dwelling there but also for the whole Orthodoxy and the whole Church of Christ. Since the Christian truth caught on the good Russian olive-tree, the Russian people have acquired a lasting tie unique in its importance and proved to be capable of great deeds. They have created a new civilization by transmitting the truth to other peoples as well. Being with Christ, the Russian people have realized that history is the fulfillment of divine goals and has the divine predestination: the transfiguration of the world by the life ‘in Christ’ and the assertion of the Kingdom of God over all. And now this truth has inspired them for their further journey up to this day. However, the celebrated event is also important for the whole Orthodox world. Without the Russian people we as Orthodox would be a small minority amidst other Christians. And if it were not for your glorious and great country, then what defense could we, all the rest, could feel in severe and difficult times? The adoption of Orthodoxy by Rus’ has changed the course of history.

The action of the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles has made a decisive influence on the destiny of the Russian people. Throughout the Christian universe, his name resounds in a reverential echo. The traces of his actions are indelibly sealed in the hearts of all Russian Orthodox Christians, and his glory shines forth throughout this great country. In him the assertion finds conformation that a vision of the future can be successful only if it comes from persons unique and gifted with resourcefulness and also from the voice and deeds of true leaders. And this action resulted in that the local Church became autocephalous and later acquired the status of Patriarchate. We are aware of the importance of this action and wholly accept a special feeling that the devoted Russian people and their episcopate have for the place of that mass baptism which became the womb that was bearing the Russian Church.

And for this reason the Church of Cyprus will never deviate from her position, which we have set forth for you on many occasions, that is to say, we will use all our resources to support the position of the Russian Orthodox Church on the issue of the so-called autocephaly in Ukraine. She believed this position to be fair and wholly justified. In it are your spiritual roots and you cannot be torn away from them. In this issue, we as Cypriots understand you in a special way, looking at the tomb and monastery of St. Barnabas, the founder of our Church, which are inaccessible for us because of the Turkish invasion. The main reason for which we have hastened to respond to your invitation to attend these events was to assure you again of the invariability of our position.

Your Beatitude, for over a thousand year-old history of your Church, you, naturally, experienced both the days of celebrations and the days of persecutions and went through ‘glory and disgrace’. But for the whole Church the periods of sorrows are more frequent. The Church has never said that spiritual life is easy. And Christ, too, warned us that ‘narrow is the gate’ and ‘sorrowful is the path’ though leading us to eternity. But for all the difficulties Christ intends to transform the human being, to turn the human from a mixture of the mortal into the power of resurrection.

And today, in this world of alienation, discord, a world causing oppressiveness, when spiritual insensitivity is spilt around us, history again entrusts the Orthodox Church with a unique role to serve as the salt of the earth and the light of the world, to oppose spiritually certain phenomena of our time, such as globalization, nationalism, technology and achievements in the entertainment industry, to give her spiritual answer, leading the world to salvation in Christ. All together, we are called to respond to this call of history.

Congratulating you once again upon this significant anniversary in the religious life of the devoted Russian people and reasserting the identity of the position of the Church of Cyprus to that of your position on the Ukrainian issue, we remain,

With love in the Lord,

Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus

In the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus, 26 July 2018




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5711688.html






DECR chairman meets with Ethiopian ambassador in Russia



29 October 2020 - 14:17







On October 29, 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Department for External Church Relations (DECR), met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in the Russian Federation Mr. Tegenu Aargau, at the DECR.

They were joined in their talk from the Ethiopian side by Mr. Kassa Gebreyohannes Gebremichael, deputy head of the Ethiopian diplomatic mission, and Hieromonk Stephen (Igumnov), secretary for inter-Christian relations, from the DECR.

The sides discussed the situation in Ethiopia where in the last year there have been attacks of extremists on churches, clergy and the faithful of the Ethiopian Church.

They also dealt with topics concerning the development of cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian embassy in Russia.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5714657.html






DECR representative speaks at Section II of the international forum on Theological Heritage of Muslims of Russia



29 October 2020 - 15:12







On October 29, 2020, the conference on Forming the Civic Identity of the Muslim Youth in Russia and Abroad has begun in Kazan as part of the International Forum on Theological Heritage of Muslims of Russia. Along with the Bulgarian Islamic Academy, the event has been organized by leading Muslim religious boards and organizations in Russia with the support of state authorities.

The event is attended by religious leaders, experts and students of theological schools in Russia and abroad.

With a blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), the section on Interreligious Dialogue in Educational Space: a Potential for Strengthening Civic Identity was attended in the online format by Deacon Iliya Kashitsyn, DECR secretariat for interreligious relations. In his report on International Cooperation in Theological Education, he pointed to growing provocations and speculations with regard to people’s religious feelings. In this context, he noted the negative influence made by the secular ideology on relationships between religions and peoples, on the peaceful coexistence of the faithful of various traditions. Deacon Iliya Kashitsyn underscored the key role played by religious education and development of theology in opposing and preventing radical manifestations and for strengthening healthy interreligious relations in society. In conclusion of his speech, he pointed to the importance of the joint opposition of traditional religions to the vices generated by the aggressive secular ideology.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5714669.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Slovakian ambassador in Russia



29 October 2020 - 16:18







On October 29, 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations (DECR), held a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovakia in the Russian Federation Peter Priputen, who is completing his mission in Moscow.

Participating in the talk were also Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovski), representative of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for the affairs of the far-abroad diaspora, and Ms. Martina Poikansova-Nedbalova, first secretary of the Slovakian embassy.

Metropolitan Hilarion warmly welcomed the head of the Slovakian diplomatic mission to the synodal department responsible for the international relations of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The diplomat, in his turn, thanked the hierarch for the possibility of meeting and for the joint work carried out during the past years.

Metropolitan Hilarion pointed out the high level of relationships between the Department for External Church Relations and the Slovakian diplomatic mission in Moscow, to which Mr Priputen had made a considerable personal contribution.

The hierarch mentioned the great importance of the historical event to take place in 2021 – the 70th anniversary of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

At the ambassador’s request, the DECR chairman recounted the present relationships between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church including the historical meeting of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill with Pope Francis of Rome in 2016 in Havana.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Metropolitan Hilarion wished Mr Priputen God’s help in his further service.

The sides exchanges tokens of the meeting.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5714661.html






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Patriarchal service on the feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (November 4, 2020)















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Old November 8th, 2020 #102
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Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations meets with ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain



29 October 2020 - 17:43







On October 29, 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations (DECR), met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Russia Mr. Ahmed Al Saati.

Participating in the talk was also Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for the affairs of the far-abroad diaspora.

Metropolitan Hilarion warmly welcomed the diplomat to the oldest synodal department.

In his turn, the ambassador thanked the hierarch for the possibility to meet and greeted the metropolitan on behalf of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain. The diplomat noted the respect enjoyed by the Orthodox Church in the country. He also introduced Metropolitan Hilarion to the interreligious initiatives and projects, including those of international level, implemented with the support of the Bahrain authorities.

The DECR chairman recounted the experience of the functioning of the Interreligious Council in Russia and the Christian Inter-Confessional Committee, which have on their agendas the pressing problems of social development.

They also discussed topics of mutual interest and outlined areas for cooperation in the future.

In conclusion of the talk, the sides exchanged tokens of the meeting.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5714665.html






Condolences of Patriarch Kirill over the death of people as a result of a terrorist action in Nice



29 October 2020 - 18:04







His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has expressed condolences to President of the Republic of France Emmanuel Macron and to Bishop André Marceau of Nice over the death of people as a result of the armed attack in the Church of Notre Dame in Nice.



***

To His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, President Republic of France

Your Excellency, Dear Mr. President,

I am deeply grieved by the news about the death and injuries of parishioners of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Nice as a result of an attack committed by a man armed with a knife. I deeply empathize with you and all the French people at this dark hour.

The monstrous atrocities committed with the sacrilegious use of religious slogans will not be able to shake people’s desire of peaceful life, to make them follow the evil will of criminals and to recognize as norm the inhuman ideology of atrocity and violence.

I would like to express the words of condolences to the relatives and loved ones of those who were killed and affected. I pray to the Merciful Lord for a speedy recovery of the wounded and their recovery from the ordeal they have experienced.

With profound condolences,

+ Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia



***

The Right Reverend André Marceau, Bishop of Nice

Your Grace,

With the feeling of profound grief I have taken the news about the terrible atrocity that has been committed within the Basilica of Notre Dame de Nice – a brutal attack made on parishioners by an extremist, which has caused people’s death and injures.

I would like to express my sincere condolences to you, to the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Nice, to the relatives and loved ones of those who were killed and injured.

May the Lord, who said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (Jn. 11:25) repose the soul of those who were killed in the mansions of the righteous and may He give consolation to all the afflicted.

With sincere condolences,

+ Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5712028.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with new Apostolic Nuncio in the Russian Federation



29 October 2020 - 18:55







On October 29, 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations (DECR), met with the new Apostolic Nuncio in the Russian Federation, Archbishop Giovanni di’Agnello, who has just arrived in Russia.

The archpastor warmly welcomed the guest to the synodal department responsible for the external contacts of the Russian Orthodox Church. Then the sides discussed matters of mutual concern.

In conclusion of the meeting, His Eminence Hilarion presented his interlocutor with a token of the meeting and wished him success in his new diplomatic service.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5714673.html






Condolences of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church over the demise of Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral



30 October 2020 - 15:11







In his message to His Holiness Patriarch Irenaeus of Serbia, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has expressed profound condolences over the passing away of Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral.



His Holiness Irenaeus, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, Patriarch of Serbia

Your Holiness, beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant at God’s altar!

On behalf of the archpastors and pastors, monastics and lay people of the Russian Orthodox Church and on my own behalf, I extend to our fellow-archpastors and to the whole God-loving Church of St. Savva our profound condolences upon the passing away of His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral.

The Lord Jesus Christ has called to Himself an outstanding hierarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, with whose name the rebirth of Montenegro will be associated for good in history after a long epoch of theomachy, an unparalleled tireless struggle for the salvation of the shrines of the forefathers and the preservation of the unity of the people of God in the land of Ss Basil of Ostrog and Peter of Cetina.

In our prayerful memory Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral will stay as a lamp that burned and gave light (Jn.5:35), as a gifted theologian and inspired preacher, a defender of the Holy Church of Christ fearless in face of the powerful of this age.

I pray for the repose of the departed Eminence in the dwellings of the righteous where there is neither illness, nor sorrow, nor signing but everlasting life.

May his memory be good and eternal!

With brotherly love in the Lord,

+Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5713069.html






Condolences of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill over the earthquake in western Turkey



31 October 2020 - 10:05







His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, has expressed condolences to President of the Republic of Turkey Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the death toll caused by a destructive earthquake in the Izmir Province.



His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President Republic of Turkey

Your Excellency, dear Mr. President,

With pain in my heart I have learnt about the destructive earthquake in the Izmir Province. The element has taken the lives of people and many of the victims happened to lie in hospitals and caused a considerable damage to apartment houses, city facilities and infrastructure. Please accept my sincere condolences.

I am grieving together with the Turkish people and the relatives and loved ones of the victims. Please convey them the words of consolation and support, and my wishes of a speedy recovery to the injured, and physical and spiritual fortitude to those who are working to remove the debris.

With profound condolences,

+Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5713515.html






Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church attends the funeral service for Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral



2 November 2020 - 14:24







On November 1, 2020, His Holiness Irenaeus, Patriarch of Serbia, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica and held the funeral service for Metropolitan Amfilohije (Radovic) of Montenegro and the Littoral who passed away in the Lord on October 30.

His Eminence was assisted by Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary, chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb and Ljubljana, Bishop Ioanikije of Budimlja and Niksic, Bishop Irinej of Bac and other hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as Metropolitan Anthony of Elbasan, Albanian Orthodox Church.

Present at the Liturgy were President A. Vučić of Serbia with a delegation of the government, Mr. M. Dodik, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Republika Srpska; Mr. A. Becic, chairman of the Parliament of Montenegro; Mr. Z. Krivokapic, candidate for the prime minister position; parliament members, cultural figures, representatives of the diplomatic corps and the public.

After the Liturgy, the funeral service for Metropolitan Amfilohije took place in the cathedral square in the presence of a great number of Montenegrins. The hierarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church was buried in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5714690.html






Metropolitan Hilarion: Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus’s decision to make the liturgical mention of the head of Ukrainian schismatics has provoked a negative reaction in the Church of Cyprus



2 November 2020 - 20:14







On October 31, 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, during the Church and the World talk show broadcast by Saturdays and Sundays by the Russia-24 news channel, answered questions from anchor Ekaterina Gracheva.



Gracheva:

Good day, here Ekaterina Gracheva with you. It is the time for ‘The Church and the World’ program in which we weekly question Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. I greet you, Your Eminence.



Metropolitan Hilarion:

Good day, Ekaterina. Good day, dear brothers and sisters.



Gracheva:

In France, there have been a whole series of attacks that have already been called terrorist attacks: three persons were killed in Nice. All this is a consequence of the fact that in France a Muslin beheaded a teacher who showed students caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. After that, President of France Emmanuel Macron sternly raised a question about the need to review and tighten the teaching of religion in school and the foreign financing of mosques. This statement was not taken unambiguously by all: Turkey has declared a boycott on Macron. In light of all these statements and the latest events – terrorist actions in France, what can this religious confrontation of the two civilization lead to?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

First, I would like to express my profoundest condolences to the president and all the people of France, as well as to Bishop Andre Marceau of Nice. I do it following His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, who immediately after having heard about what had happened sent his condolences to both the president of France and the Catholic Bishop of Nice.

There is no and can be no justification of actions committed by terrorists, and such things should be rebuffed in the strictest way. All the culprits should be punished and it is very important that in future such crimes should be prevented. Therefore, it is really needed to increase control over the preachers who under the pretext of Islam preach a misanthropic ideology.

It is not an interreligious conflict. We should understand that there is over a billion people living on the planet, who confess Islam, and they are not responsible for the actions of terrorists. However, at the same time a beast should not be teased. The statements made after the first terrorist action spoke of a certain misunderstanding or underestimation of the danger existing today.

Indeed, in point were caricatures of the founder of Islam, and this insults the feelings of millions of adherents to this religion throughout the world. Why has the right to publish such caricatures to be defended in this situation? Is not it more correct to prohibit the publication of such caricatures in France and in the rest parts of the world? In order to protect the feelings of believers through a law prohibiting blasphemy and sacrilege, would not it be better to introduce a law in France such as that existing in our country, a law on the offence of the feelings of the faithful, than to get concerned over the right of caricaturists to continue their work thus provoking radically- and aggressively-disposed people?

It seems to me that it would be the right response to the sad and tragic events that have happened today.



Gracheva:

The Presidential Council for Culture and Arts has met this week. The head of the Duma Committee for Culture, Ms. Yelena Yamposlkaya raised an interesting topic: age marking of literary works. I, for instance, did not know that our authors Victor Astafyev, Vasily Shukshin, Daniil Granin are marked “16+”. Romeo and Juliette is marked the same. The Bible and the Quran are also 16+ in our country, that is to say, according to the law a teacher can be persecuted if he reads extracts from the Bible or the Quran to an audience younger than that. What do you think about reassessing the age restrictions, and is it necessary to lower this bar and to do it in all cases?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

I listened to that speech attentively and agreed with the remarks and proposals made, anyway as far as sacred books are concerned. It seems to me that the proposal to leave only one marking 18+ is very correct. This boundary is very relative of course as it divides people into adults and minors. The category to be marked as 18+ should include the literature that can shock a child and make a negative impact on him or her. Certainly, the sacred texts of the traditional religions should not be marked at all. We teach our children according to the Bible, the Gospel. How can these sacred book be marked 16+? In my view, it is utterly absurd.

I believe this statement has shown a very essential arbitrariness, which can be seen today in this sphere; that is to say, marking is made quite arbitrarily. Even the works included in the school syllabus are marked 16+. That is, the school syllabus includes a literary work but a schoolchild cannot buy this literary work in a bookshop because he or she turns out to be too young to read a book marked 16+.

In case of sacred texts, it seems to me in general that the sacred texts of traditional religions, even if abridged, should be included in the school syllabus, including that on literature.



Gracheva:

I would like to raise this issue: Archbishop Chrysostom of Cyprus made a liturgical mention of the head of the schismatic church in Ukraine. The mass media immediately began to speak that the Church of Cyprus will be the next after the Churches of Alexandria and Greece to recognize officially the legitimacy of the OCU. Will the Moscow Patriarchate react to it in any way?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

We will discuss this situation at the Synod and make a synodal decision. I would like to stress that the Archbishop of Cyprus did it without notifying in due time the Synod of his own Church but contrary to the Synod’s recommendations. The Archbishop was in a hurry (evidently under pressure) and made the unilateral decision that he would mention the head of the Ukrainian schismatics during the Divine Liturgy.

It has aroused a negative reaction in the Church of Cyprus. One of the metropolitans present at the liturgy stood up and left. Three more left together with him. Altogether four hierarchs of the Church of Cyprus signed on a statement strictly condemning Archbishop Chrysostomos’ action and expressed their categorical disagreement with the liturgical mention of the head of the Ukrainian schismatic and with the decision of the Patriarch of Constantinople to grant the so-called ‘tomos of autocephaly’; to the so-called ‘Orthodox Church of Ukraine’.



Gracheva:

Your Eminence, this week the mass media has widely quoted the Pope of Rome who gave an interview for a documentary speaking in support of the legalization of same-sex unions. The Vatican has already tried to justify this action by saying that his statement was translated rather incorrectly and it was misunderstood altogether. Have you heard this statement of the head of the Roman Catholic Church? Can it be understood in two ways? What do you think about it?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

On one hand, I think these statements have certainly caused a considerable indignation; they have shocked many, including in the Catholic Church, both those who uphold traditional values and those who stand for the preservation of traditional family way of life. But I have also heard a version that these statements were cut out from the interview, which, in the first place, was given not now but a year or two ago in Mexico.

The first part of these statements – that those with non-tradition orientation cannot be expelled from their families – was made in this context: when, say, parents find out that their child has a non-traditional orientation, in some cases a child is driven out of the family. I have heard that the Pope spoke precisely about this.

The second phrase, which was cut out from the same interview and pasted to the previous phrase, created an impression that the Pope advocates the non-traditional family, but it spoke in fact about civil unions. In my understanding, the point in the interview from which this phrase was cut out was about the notion of the family that should not be applied to same-sex unions, and such unions should be registered differently. It is the position alleged to be voiced, but since only small fragments were cut out, it created an impression that the Pope voiced some non-traditional point of view.

On the other hand, I would like to underscore that the position of the Russian Orthodox Church in this regard is perfectly unambiguous. We maintain not only that a homosexual union is not a family but also stand against its legalization in any legal form. We believe that any way of its legalization thus legalizes unnatural co-habitation and give this union the features of the family even if formally it will not be called a family in the legislation. As far as I know, the official stand of the Catholic Church is similar, at least in the document published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons – ed.) in 2003. Certainly, it would be very important that the Vatican press-service should have responded to all the statements made about this matter lately and still have officially explained what Pope Francis meant and what is the teaching of the Catholic Church on this.



Gracheva:

The position of the Russian Orthodox Church is unchangeable. And your position is that one’s sexual inclinations to those of the same sex can and must be struggled with; this sin is not acquired. Then I have this question: a news has come from a Dutch zoo. A pair of gay penguins want very much to be parents (for some reason, the press service of the zoo reads these event in this way), stole an egg from a pair of lesbian penguins, doing it for the second year in row; the first time the egg did not hatch anyone. How is this can be commented? May be, nature does its own selection?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

You had better ask Nikolay Drozdov about it or somebody who is versed in the animal life better they I am. What did happen in the Dutch zoo; do these penguins really have non-tradition orientation – this is a matter of interpretation and it is rather zoologists who will give a better answer to this question.

If we speak about humans, then we discern indeed one’s inclinations and way of life. For instance, we know that some people have or develop alcohol dependence. Moreover, we know that drinking parents sometimes beget children who, upon their adulthood, begin drinking as well. What is it – inherited or acquired? Each person chooses his or her own way of life. If one chooses precisely this way of life, it means that one consciously chooses a position contrary to the teaching of the Church.

We treat those who have non-traditional orientation with pastoral responsibility: we do not drive them out of the church, nor do we excommunicate them from the Church. They come to us to make confession. We work with them and help them overcome this inclination if they really desire to overcome it. But to legalize cohabitation and say that it is normal, as psychologists would say today maintaining that if one has such inclinations it means that it is normal and that one should fulfill oneself in this way, not otherwise, is something we cannot agree in any way.



Gracheva:

Thank you very much, Your Eminence, for having commented on the latest events.



Metropolitan Hilarion:

Thank you, Ekaterina.



In the second part of the program, Metropolitan Hilarion answered questions from the viewers, which came to the website of the Church and the World talk show.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5714342.html
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Old November 10th, 2020 #103
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The Solovetsky Monastery - PART I



Patriarchal visit to Solovki. Arrival (20 August 2020)



"The Solovetsky Monastery is located on the shores of the Prosperity Bay (бухта Благополучия) on Solovetsky Island (White Sea). The monastery is surrounded by massive walls with a height of 8 to 11 m and a thickness of 4 to 6 m. The wall incorporates 7 gates and 8 towers (built in 1584–1594 by an architect named Trifon), made mainly of huge boulders up to 5 m in length. There are also religious buildings on the monastery's grounds with the principal structures interconnected with roofed and arched passages. They are in turn surrounded by multiple household buildings and living quarters, including a refectory (a 500 m² chamber) with the Uspensky Cathedral (built in 1552–1557), Preobrazhensky Cathedral (1556–1564), Church of Annunciation (1596–1601), stone chambers (1615), watermill (early 17th century), bell tower (1777), and Church of Nicholas (1834).

The Solovetsky Monastery was founded in 1436 by the monk Zosima, however, monks Herman and Savvatiy from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery lived on the island from 1429 to 1436, and are considered to be co-founders of the monastery. Zosima later became the first hegumen of the monastery."

The text was taken from Wikipedia.






















Patriarchal visit to Solovki. Inspection of the monastery. Workshop on the development of the Solovetsky archipelago (20 August 2020)


















































































Patriarchal visit to Solovki. All-night vigil in the Solovetsky Monastery (20 August 2020)




























































__________________
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 November 10th, 2020 #104
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The Solovetsky Monastery - PART II



Patriarchal visit to Solovki. Liturgy in the Solovetsky Monastery (August 21, 2020)




















































































__________________
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 November 10th, 2020 #105
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Opening of the XIV Assembly of the Russki Mir foundation



3 November 2020 - 16:46







On November 3, 2020, the regular XIV Assembly of the Russki Mir foundation has opened. According to the tradition established since 2007, the Assemblies are held by the Russki Mir Foundation on the eve of the Day of the People’s Unity. Due to the unfortunate epidemic situation, this year the Russki Mir Assembly is held for the first time in the online mode; it has united a number of issue events to be held for several days.

The theme of the XIV Assembly is ‘The Russian World Online’. The forum was opened by V. A. Nikonov, chairman of the Russki Mir Foundation Board, chairman of the State Duma Education and Science Committee.

Messages of greetings were brought to the organizers and participants of the Assembly from President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Chairman of the Russian Government M. Mishustin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, S. Lavrov and others.

In his message to the forum, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted in particular:

‘For the last months, humanity has had to learn to live in a new reality linked with the spread of the coronavirus infection. Restrictions that we all have to observe today to prevent a growth of morbidity have shown us how fragile our world is and how valuable is our communication face to face and the opportunity for us to meet with our kin and loved people. At the same time, the pandemic has compelled us to master profoundly the modern means of communication, to develop further various cultural projects and educational work in the network format’.

After the solemn opening, a panel discussion on the main theme took place; participating it is were K. Kosachev, chairman of the Council of the Federation Committee for International Affairs; V. Tolstoy, president of the International Association of Russian Language and Literature Teachers; M. Shvydkoy, Presidential special representatives for international cultural cooperation; Academician A. Torknov, rector of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations; М. Drozdov, chairman of the World Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots Living Abroad; Ms. Z. Tregubova, general director of the State Treryzkov Gallery; Prof. Raphael Guzman Tirado, Chair of Slavonik and Greek Philology, Universithy of Granada, Spain; Prof. Carol Apollonio, Duke University, USA; N. Svetnitsky, chairman of the Board of the Association of Leaders of Russian Theaters Abroad, president of the International Culture-Education Union ‘Russian Club’, director of the Griboyedov Tbilisi State Russian Drama Theatre, Georgia.

With a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations was represented by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, DECR chairman, member of the Patrons’ Board of the Russki Mir Foundation. Addressing the Assembly’s theme ‘Russian World Online’, he said:

‘Pastoral care and charitable works are especially relevant today when people have come to feel keenly their loneliness. Using modern telecommunication means, we seek to convey to our compatriots the beauty of the Orthodox liturgy, to answer people’s disturbing questions by means of teleconferences. Today, projects for religious education are developed in the online mode. This extraordinary situation has given us all an excellent opportunity for think over the goal of one’s life. Readiness to support one’s neighbour, to sacrifice oneself in hard conditions – these are the basics of the Russian world and Russian soul’.

The archpastor also reminded the audience of the important date that falls on this year – the centenary of the exodus of our compatriots from the Crimea:

‘In November 1920, the last squadrons of the Imperial Black Sea Fleet left the Crimea taking to obscurity those who could not reconcile themselves to the trample upon the faith, ideals and values handed down by ancestors and cherished by contemporaries. Uncommon and sometimes tragic human destinies created a basis for a great community, which we call today the Russian near and far abroad or Russki Mir. It was not only people of noble families who found themselves in diaspora but also people from other estates for whom there was no longer a place in the Motherland. A considerable part of the episcopate, clergy and laity of the Russian Orthodox Church had to suffer the same fate. The arrangement of church administration, the forced break up with the central church leadership that remained in Moscow became a painful wound on the body of our Church. It had to be healed and ways to restore the God-commanded unity had to be found.

The actions of many church workers brought forth their fruits: by God’s mercy, decades later we managed to come to unity. Thus in 2007, the canonical community of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia with the Church in the Motherland was restored, and a year ago today, during the Divine Liturgy in the Church of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented Archbishop Ioann (Renneto) of Dubna with a charter on restoration of the unity of the Archdiocese of Western European Parishes of Russian Tradition with the Russian Orthodox Church. It has certainly become an historic event for our compatriots living in Europe, the real scale of which can be assessed by historians in future. Looking back at the past, we, with gratitude to God, can speak of the gathering of once dispersed Russian Orthodoxy’.

A round-table conference on Interreligious Dialogue Online will take place on November 9 as part of the Assembly with the participation of representatives of traditional religious communities in Russia. It will deal with the educational-humanitarian work with believers outside churches and with network support for this work.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5715474.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has expressed condolences to Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Sebastian Kurz over the death of people as a result of the terrorist action in Vienna



3 November 2020 - 17:22







His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has expressed condolences to Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Sebastian Kurz over the death of people as a result of the terrorist action in Vienna.



His Excellency Sabastian Kurz, Federal Chancellor Republic of Austria

Your Excellency,

I am deeply grieving over the killing and wounding of peaceful people as a result of a series of attacks which have happened in various places in Vienna, including near the building of the synagogue.

Sharing the pain of the tragedy with the Austrian people, I ask you to convey to relatives and loved ones of the victims my words of support and my wishes of a speedy recovery to all those who have been affected.

May Merciful God give strength to those who have been touched by this terrible disaster and send peace and consolation to people’s hearts.

With sincere condolences,

+Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5714611.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill takes part in a talk of Russian President Vladimir Putting with leaders of religious association in Russia



4 November 2020 - 16:38







On November 4, 2020, the National Unity Day, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had a traditional talk with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and leaders of the religious associations in Russia. This year the meeting was held in videoconference mode.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church took part in the talk from the Patriarchal Chamber of the Many-Faceted Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin.





The visual communication also connected the Presidential study in the Kremlin with the Central Muslim Board in Russia located in Ufa, Moscow Cathedral Mosque, North Caucasus Coordination Center in Cherkessk, Ivolginsky Datsan, Lutheran Cathedral of Ss Peter and Paul in Moscow and other establishments.

Greeting the assembly Mr. Putin noted in particular, ‘The traditions of kind, respectful relationship between people of different ethnicities and religious beliefs have been left to us by our ancestors. But it is not enough to be simply proud of this living spiritual heritage and the experience of creating a unique civilization. Of course, we have the right to be proud and we should be. But this is not enough. These values need to be protected, strengthened and nurtured. This is our common duty to this generation and future generations as well’.





‘Interethnic and interreligious peace is the keystone for our huge country. It needs constant attention from the authorities, from civil society and from the media. The work here should be delicate, meticulous and comprehensive. And we are trying to act so – in the most delicate and constructive manner’, the President stated.

After that, the participants in the meeting were addressed by His Holiness Kirill. ‘The true power of our people is in unity’, the Primate of the Russian Church underscored. ‘It seems to me that representatives of religious communities are playing an important role in forming this unity today because religions themselves can draw lines of both opposition and even confrontation, and this did happened in history. But by God’s mercy, our people, having gone through internal civil confrontations, are clearly aware today of the need for unity’.





According to His Holiness, it is remarkable that leaders of religious organizations in Russia can get together and meet with the head of the state in order to talk with each other and to underscore by the very fact of such meetings their ‘commitment to the unity of our people and, certainly, to re-affirm their readiness for interreligious interaction and cooperation’.

His Holiness was followed by other religious leaders. Participating in the videoconference with the President of Russian were:





Chairman of the Central Muslim Board in Russia Talgat Tadzhuddin,
Chairman of the Muslim Board in Russia, Chairman of the Council of Muftis in Russia Ravil Gaynutdin,
Chairman of the North Caucasus Muslim Coordinating Centre Ismail Berdiyev,
Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar,
Head of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia Pandito Khambo Lama Damba Ayusheev,
Head of the Russian and Novo-Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Ezras Nersisian,
Metropolitan Kornily of Moscow and All Russia of the Old-Rite Russian Orthodox Church.
Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia Dietrich Brauer,
Chief Bishop of Russia’s Union of Evangelical Faith Christians (Pentecostals) Sergei Ryakhovsky,
First Deputy Chairman of the Euro-Asian Division of the General Conference of the Church of Christians of Seventh Day Adventists Oleg Goncharov.





The online conference was also attended by A. Vaino, head of the Presidential Administration, and S. Kiriyenko, first deputy head of the Presidential Administration.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5715506.html






The Gorny Convent celebrates the patronal feast of the church of Our Lady of Kazan



5 November 2020 - 17:13







On November 4, 2020, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was celebrated in the Gorny Convent in the Holy Land, which has a church dedicated to it.

The history of the special veneration of the Kazan icon in the convent goes back to 1916, a difficult period when the sister had to make their bread by working outside the convent at the construction of the Jericho Road. As a result, cholera, which was brought to the convent, began rapidly spreading. As the nuns had no opportunity to receive aid on the earth, they lifted up ardent prayers to the Heavenly Queen reciting with tears the akathystos to her before an Icon of Our Lady of Kazan. The sisters recited it repeatedly until the illness stopped. Since that time, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, before which the sisters prayed, is a specially venerated icon in the convent.

The venerated image kept in the Gorny Convent is a small icon, which in the beginning was placed in the sanctuary and brought out twice a year during feasts or sister’s taking monastic vows. As the number of nuns grew in the 21st century, the icon was brought out for veneration by the faithful and celebration of thanksgivings and was placed in a specially made icon case.

The celebration of the patron saint’s day of the church of Our Lady of Kazan began with the solemn All-Night Vigil led by the Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Alexander (Yelisov) assisted by the clergy of the mission.

According to the local tradition, the All-Night Vigil lity was followed by a procession around the church. After the service, Mother Superior Ekaterina (Chernysheva) and the sisters recited the akathistos to the Mother of God before Her miracle-working icon, soliciting Her protection and majestic help to all those who suffer from the pernicious coronavirus infection.

On the feast day, Archimandrite Alexander presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Gorny Convent. He was assisted by Archpriest Victor Mnoian, Hieromonk Innokeniy (Bespalkv), Hieromonk Dometian (Markarian), Hieromonk Afanasiy (Bukin), and Deacon Iliya Drachuk. The sermon after the communion prayer was delivered by Hieromonk Dometian (Markarian), deputy head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission.

After the liturgy, a thanksgiving was celebrated before the miracle-working Kazan Icon of the Mother of God followed by a procession with the cross and the reciting of the akathistos. After the statuary ‘Many Year of Life’, Archimandrite Alexander greeted the worshippers and congratulated Mother Superior Ekaterina and the sisters on the convent’s patronal feast.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5716877.html






The first ever Orthodox divine service celebrated in the church of St. Bartholomew in Granada



5 November 2020 - 18:55







On November 1, 2020, the first ever Orthodox divine service was celebrated at the church of St. Bartholomew in the city of Granada. The Catholic Archdiocese of Granada has transferred this church to the Orthodox community of the city for use after a meeting between Archbishop Nestor of Madrid and Lisbon and Archbishop Francisco Javier Martinez Fernandez of Granada, which took place on October 13.

The Community of the Protecting Veil was incorporated in the diocese of Spain and Portugal of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2018.

The San-Bartolome church is located in the square of the same name in the Albaicín district in the center of the city. The church, the construction of which was completed in 1574, is built in the synthetic architectural Mudejar style traditional for Spain in the 12th-15th centuries as it shows in particular the characteristics of gothics, plateresco and classicism.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5716881.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has expressed condolences over the killing of believers of the Ethiopian Church in the Vallega region of Oromia state



6 November 2020 - 14:24







His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has expressed condolences over the killing of believers of the Ethiopian Church in the Vallega region of Oromia state.



His Holiness Abune Mathias, Patriarch-Catholicos of Ethiopia

Your Holiness, beloved Brother in Christ,

With profound sorrow I have taken the news about extremists’ armed attack and murder of believers of the Ethiopian Church in the Vallega region of Oromia state.

On behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church, I would like to express sincere condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the victims of this terrible crime. Kindly convey my words of consolation and spiritual support to all those who have been affected by this terrifying tragedy.

May the All-Merciful Saviour send a longed-for peace and accord to the blessed land of ancient Ethiopia.

With love in the Lord,

+ Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5715496.html






XIV International Film Festival ‘Russia Abroad’ opens in Moscow



8 November 2020 - 18:37







On November 7, 2020, the XIV International Film Festival ‘Russia Abroad’ was opened at the Alexander Solzhenitsyn House of Russia Abroad.

The festival has been held since 2007 and represents a contest of fiction films and documentaries the aim of which is to introduce viewers to films devoted to the cultural and scientific legacy of the Russian diaspora, the history of World War I, the 1917 state coup d’état, the Civil War in Russia, and the problems of migration in general. This year the festival is held in online format and thanks to it its program can be assessed not only by Moscow residents, but also by people all over Russia as well as compatriots living abroad.

The principal founders and organizers of the festival are the House of Russia Abroad and the Russian Way film studio with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moscow City Department of Culture, and the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations.

Messages of greetings were brought to the organizers and participants by Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs S. Lavrov, and Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Affairs Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk.

The present film forum will show fiction and non-fiction films from ten countries including Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Serbia, Sweden and the USA.

In 2020, the organizers prepared screening and memorial evenings timed to various commemorative dates: centenary of the Russian exodus, centenary of the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, 75th anniversary of the Great Victory over nazism, Alexander Kuprin’s and Ivan Bunin’s 150th birthdays, American actor of Russian background Yul Byinner’s 100th birthday.

Viewers will be introduced to little-known pages in the biographies of film director Andrey Tarkovsky, choreographer Boris Volkov, singer Alla Bayanova, writer Vladimir Nabokov, biologist Sergey Chakhotin, psychologist Yelena Antipova, who made a revolution in pedagogics, circus artist and ‘the strongest man on earth’ Alexander Zass, and other outstanding figures of the Russian diaspora.

The jury of the film contest includes our compatriots representing creative professions from Australia, Belgium, Poland, Serbia, as well as Russian filmmakers.

The Russia Abroad film festival will last till November 14. Its full program is available on the festival’s website.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5717088.html






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Patriarchal service on 22nd Week after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (November 8, 2020)















In the open book that is in the hands of Jesus it is written:
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." gospel of John 8:12
and "If you remain in my word, [you will truly be my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.]" gospel of John 8:31-32









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Matins with the reading of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (April 1, 2020)






















































__________________
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 November 19th, 2020 #106
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Metropolitan Antony of Borispol and Brovary: Metropolitan Amfilohije was surrounded with love of all Montenegrins



9 November 2020 - 16:08







Metropolitan Amfilohije (Radović) of Montenegro and the Littoral passed away in the Lord on October 30, 2020. Metropolitan Antony of Borispol and Brovary, chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, told about his personal contacts with the hierarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church and his ministry in the interview given to ‘Orthodox Life’ web portal.



Vladyko, you have met Metropolitan Amfilohije many times. What is your main impression?

He was a saint. It is difficult to find a more recognized authority in the Church. He was a real national spiritual leader! His demise is a great loss for the people of Montenegro, Serbia and South America for which he had cared as well as for many Orthodox Christians living on all continents.

Have you made your acquaintance in Montenegro?

I have learned about Metropolitan Amfilohije when I was a student. He was an outstanding contemporary theologian. We read his books and had an opportunity to meet him when he visited the Laura of the Holy Trinity. A more close acquaintance happened when I was rector of the Kievan Theological Academy. Metropolitan Amfilohije was awarded an academic degree of doctor of theology. Alas, we missed an opportunity to present it.

When I visited Montenegro I saw with my own eyes his love of his people and his anxiety about the situation in the country. It is well known that Metropolitan Amfilohije was surrounded with love of all Montenegrins, from child to old man. He was called a father, a grand-father and an apostle. The secret of such appreciation and reverence involves his being a real father of the nation. Metropolitan Amfilohije sermons were always permeated with evangelical love and power and were so topical and timely that people took his words as addressed to them personally. He loved people and cared for his flock.

A year ago Metropolitan Amfilohije invited me to the celebration of the feast of Archangel Michael. There are no traditional name days in the Serbian Church as we understand them, but there is Slava – glorification of one’s family patron saint. This custom is passed from generation to generation. Radović family’s patron saint is Archangel Michael. After the Divine Liturgy I saw him, aged eighty-two, standing the whole day surrounded by people who wanted to congratulate him. I was told later that he received congratulations the whole week through.

He was a part of the Montenegrins. Orthodoxy in Montenegro is inseparably linked with Metropolitan Amfilohije. He became hierarch after the fall of the socialist regime and began to revive the life of the Church. Church buildings were built, monasteries were open. Over seven hundred churches and monasteries after the years of devastation and desolation! The monasteries were open not as buildings or architectural complexes, but as real monasteries. Knowing his spiritual zealotry and love of monasticism many people came to Montenegro from various corners of the world to take monastic vows. There were many people from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus among them. He made all tonsures himself.

His monastic way is unique because he was conversed with people who were canonized later. He was a spiritual son of St. Justin (Popović) and St. Paisius of Mount Athos. They all had in common the unity of the spirit and friendship of souls.

Metropolitan Amfilohije was a zealot of our time, a sincere and audacious opponent of any church schism. Certainly, we wish such courageous, strong and authoritative people – and he was a most authoritative theologian and hierarch in the whole Orthodox world – to stay with us much longer. His words in defense of canonical order, concerning our situation in Ukraine in particular, were always effective and had precise value. Many hierarchs of other Local Churches took their lead from him.

His demise is very sad to us, yet I believe that he will remain a defender of the Orthodox Church in Heaven praying at God’s Altar and beseeching the Lord to make us wiser and grant us unity, correct understanding and responsibility for the destiny of the Orthodox Church.

Vladyko, you attended the funeral service for Metropolitan Amfilohije. Please share your impressions with us.

It seemed to me that the whole country attended. The people’s love was seen in this doleful hour when the Lord was receiving his soul. But this hour was mournful only in terms of the earthly life as the Lord knows when to give us life and when to take it away.

The main feeling at the funeral was that the unlinkable was linked. It was the weeping crowd of thousands, including children, young people and adults, but there was no despondency. The weeping that tears your soul because of frustration is one thing, but weeping at this funeral filled the soul with hope, because Metropolitan Amfilohije managed to educate the Montenegro flock in correct understanding of life and death.

This weeping and lamentation was a spiritual joy and triumph for Montenegro when it was paying last respects to its son and its father. Metropolitan Amfilohije had been the father for the people, not afraid to endure anything for the sake of the Church and devoting his energies to its revival and flourishing.

A lot of people have come to see Metropolitan Amfilohije to his last journey. The whole square in front of the Cathedral that he had built was filled with people. Everything Metropolitan Amfilohije had done, the construction of the cathedral including, had been done thoroughly and has a spiritual meaning.

What is the meaning of the construction?

Looking at the beautiful large Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica, we see its lower part consisting of rude stones, the worked stones higher, and fine tiles of exquisite workmanship atop. I would like to add that the stones for construction had been brought from all parts of Montenegro.

The lower rude stones can be compared to people who have just come to church, being rough, uncut, with their irregularities and inequalities. The worked stones are like people being transformed in the Church by the grace of the Holy Spirit that cuts away all their inequalities. The stones atop can be compared to those who are really growing in the Church thus becoming a work of art.

The Orthodox world is so divided at present. What can be done for its unity?

Just stick to the truth courageously. St. Mark of Ephesus said, “O man, whatever concerns the Church can never be put right through compromise; there is nothing in between truth and falsehood.”

It is a difficult time in the history of the Church now. Both the Ukrainian Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro are suffering persecution and seizure of church buildings. Let us recall Metropolitan Amfilohije’s behavior all that time. When the previous authorities of Montenegro decided to seizure the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church, he courageously rallied to its defense, and people have heard his voice. It was a real miracle to see enthusiasm of the tens of thousands believers who defended their faith and their Church.

Once Metropolitan Amfilohije learned of the arrest of some people. He went to the police station and said, “Arrest me and release them, I am the ringleader.” Despite his age and all his health problems he did not hide but was ready to be imprisoned for the release of those people.

Metropolitan Amfilohije’s courage and integrity are an example to follow. He was a kind-hearted and steadfast warrior of Christ! Let us remember him in prayers and hope that he will pray for us at God’s Altar.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5716918.html






Patriarch Kirill’s book ‘Think about the Future of Humanity’ published in Serbian



10 November 2020 - 16:13







His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s book entitled ‘Think about the Future of Humanity’ has become available to Serbian readers.

Its Russian version came out in April 2018 in Moscow Patriarchate Publishers. The translation for publishing by the Moscow Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church was made by Bishop Anthony of Moravici, rector of the representation and Patriarch of Serbia’s representative to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

In his book, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church analyses the state of society today, Russian and Western, and comes to the conclusion that a broad spectrum of human existence has been plagued with moral corrosion. His Holiness finds the origins of the moral decay in the Renaissance when the reformation of the Church began in the West and led to a multitude of schisms. Gradually the value of Christian traditions were lost to be replaced by the idea of anthropocentrism, which in the Age of Enlightenment led to the declaration of individual freedom as predominant over all. The notion of sin was blurred; humanity was turning away from God. At present, the Tradition and traditional morality is being replaced by a secular system of values, an idea emphasizing human rights.

In Patriarch Kirill’s opinion, liberalism occupies too large a place in today’s life; it is based on the substitution of the notion of freedom for the notion of sin. In many European countries today, it is impossible even to mention and condemn sin as it is forbidden legally. At the same time, Christian traditions are trampled for the sake of supposed tolerance: schoolchildren are forbidden to wear small crosses, Christmas is gradually turning into a secular feast that has almost nothing to do with Christ, and attempts were made to prohibit installing Christmas trees in city streets. What is asserted is the human freedom to live by passions, the right to sin without repentance, and if in doing so one does not violate law, one does harm only to oneself, not one’s neighbour, as it becomes exclusively one’s personal affair. However, the ideas of extreme individualism cripple not only a fallen individual but also the whole society by liberating him or her from now unnecessary and even impeding morality, which leads to a decay of such fundamental institutions as family and school.

The world has long lived by various phobias; the internet, literature and cinematography are full of them – Islamophobia, homophobia, etc. However, at present a new notion has developed – Christianophobia. Under the pretext of protecting religious minorities, Christians, who make up a majority in Europe, have begun to be oppressed.

Suddenly Christians have found themselves in a very vulnerable situation. The moral norms, which seemed to be unshakable, are thwarted. Asserted and approved legally are same-sex marriages, euthanasia not only for adults but also for children, abortions. No help come from thousands-strong rallies, nor protests of believers, nor references to Holy Scriptures and the Tradition. Politicians, laying special stress on the multiculturalist and multi-religiousness of modern society, are gradually forcing out the Christian culture – the basis on which Europe has grown and brought forth fruit for so many centuries. Dechristianization has become a problem of world outlook for the whole globe and it is on its solution that the future of humanity depends.

His Holiness is confident that the Church should not stand aside from solving this problem and that, though the ideal of liberalism has been supported by many worthy people, it is failing today. What has happened is a fracture caused by the fact that the philosophy of liberalism has legalized sin by actually excluding from life the notions of good and evil. The Church is called to preserve the spiritual and cultural tradition and say to society the truth about what is unlawful. Concern for the development of human personality is also a task of the Church, as she should give people lessons of love, charity and compassion emulating the Saviour Himself and His holy apostles. In His Holiness’s opinion, the future is impossible without prayer and belief in intransient values defined by the Lord Himself, the Official Portal of the Russian Orthodox Church communicates with reference to the information from the Moscow Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5721334.html






Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Representation to European international organizations calls upon international organizations at an OSCE meeting to react actively to violations of the rights of believers



10 November 2020 - 17:15







On November 9, 2020, Bishop Victor of Baryshivka, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s representation to European international organizations, attended the annual OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM) on Freedom of Religion or Belief. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held online. Participating in it were representatives of states from Europe, North America and Asia and non-governmental human rights organizations, the Representation press-service reports.

In his remarks, Bishop Victor noted that in Ukraine violations of the rights of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church continued. In particular, he reported to the international community the facts of beatings of the faithful in the Zadubrovka village, Chernovtsy Region, and gross fermentation of enmity at the Zolochev town, Lvov Region, and reminded the meeting that the problems of capturing churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and of the discriminatory ‘law on renaming’ still remained unsolved.

A written statement of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Representation was distributed to the participants in the conference. It contains references to the document database on facts of violations of the rights of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was created by the Public Advocacy human rights organization and placed on the UN website in the form of written reports. In recent years, a considerable amount of documentary evidence on the violation of rights of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was published through the UN and OSCE human rights mechanism.

Considering the fact that the informing of the international community has been made by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s Representation to European international organizations and by human rights organizations for several years now, a natural question arises: what are the specific actions that can be undertaken by international organizations such as the OSCE and others to make an influence on a situation of mass and systemic violations of the rights of believers and is it possible to expect that this influence will be effective? At present this question remains open, but there are some signs showing that the reaction of authoritative international organizations to the raised question is gradually beginning to form, the Representation press service reports.

Some documents on the violations of the rights of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which have been placed on the OSCE and UN internet resources in recent years, are available on the website of the UN documents, the Russian Orthodox Church official portal reports with reference to the Information-Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5721343.html






DECR representative attends OSCE meeting on freedom of religion in Europe



11 November 2020 - 11:12







On November 10, 2020, Deacon Feodor Shulga, staff member of the Secretariat for Inter-Orthodox Relations, Department for External Church Relation, Moscow Patriarchate, attended the third Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Due to the quarantine measures the meeting was held in the teleconference mode.

Among other things, the OSCE annual meetings consider the progress made by states in the implementation of their commitments in the humanitarian sphere such as religious freedom, non-discrimination, prevention of hate crimes, and struggle with racism, xenophobia and intolerance.

Deacon Feodor Shulga made a report on the current situation of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the territory of Ukraine and the recent facts of violation of their rights in several regions of the country. He emphasized that, despite a certain improvement in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s situation, a number of problems and threats to religious freedom remains pressing for her, among them, the discriminatory law aimed against her and still not reconsidered; the threat of the forcible renaming of her communities, and impossibility for her to register her dioceses, monasteries and parish communities.

The rapporteur also pointed to the facts of violence against the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and capture of churches in some Ukrainian western regions. He also mentioned the pressure exerted by regional authorities who maintain close cooperation with paramilitary organizations. He cited as an example the conflict at the town of Zolochev, Lvov Region, in which the mayor of the town repeatedly came out with discriminatory and offensive statements with regard to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and her faithful while the local militants organized an attack on a private house of her cleric.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5721349.html






On the role of religious organizations in post-war restoration of Syria



12 November 2020 - 14:05







Report of Archbishop Leonid of Vladikavkaz and Alania, deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relation (DECR), to the international conference on Syrian refugees’ and internally displaced people’s return to their homes, November 10-12, 2020, Damascus.



Esteemed representatives of state leadership, ministries and departments in Russia and Syria,

Distinguished assembly:

I greet you on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church and personally His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

As you know, from the very beginning of the present crisis the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian State have been with our Syrian brothers.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited Damascus in 2011 and saw with his own eyes the tragedy, which had already begun, and raised his voice in defense of this much-suffering country. We were concerned for the future of Christianity in this biblical region in which it existed from the earliest days. We have empathized with all the Syrians regardless of their religious or confessional affiliation – both Christians and Muslims, seeing in each of them the neighbor to whom the Lord has commanded us to help. These feelings have been strengthened by the bonds of our centuries-old friendship.

Our priority task was to break the information blockade and to bring the truth about the suffering of the Syrian people to the world public. We invariably promoted this topic in our contacts with world state leaders and religious leaders, as well as at major international platforms.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s deep concern for the destiny of the Syrian people and for dangerous developments in the Middle East as a whole became the principal reason for organizing his meeting with Pope Francis of Rome in February 2016 in Havana. After a common statement of the two leaders of the largest Christian communities in the world it became no longer possible to hush up the truth about the Syrian tragedy. Immediately after the Havana Meeting, the first joint humanitarian projects were launched in Syria.

Earlier the Russian Orthodox Church had already given aid to Syrians by raising funds for it in her dioceses, parishes and monasteries and asking public organizations and benefactors for help.

For the Russian Orthodox Church the priority partners in realizing humanitarian projects are traditional religious confessions in Syria, above all the ancient Orthodox Church of Antioch, with which we are tied by ages-old fraternal bonds. The role of religious organizations in the post-war restoration of Syrian is very significant. The indisputable authority they enjoy among the local population, their concern for the prevention of their exodus from their native land, closeness to people, and profound awareness of their urgent needs – all this enhances the effectiveness of the humanitarian work and makes it possible for us to give it a specific and targeted nature. It is important to note that religious organizations seek not to restrict the aid only to people of their own faith but also to help all those who have been affected by the war, regardless of their confessional affiliation, which has been repeatedly emphasized by His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch in his statements. With the support of our Church, the Patriarchate of Antioch has carried out quite a number of socio-charitable projects: distributing food packages to families in the Damascus regions affected by the war, as well as in Homs, the Valley of Christians, Latakia, Tartus; paying for surgical operations are paid for; re-equipping medical establishments; restoring the church education compound in Arbin, which is close to completion.

In 2017, with a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, the Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations set up an Interreligious Working Group for aid to the Syrian population. It included representatives of Christian and Muslim communities in Russia and a number of public organizations. For this occasion an Interreligious Foundation for Assistance in Implementing Joint Humanitarian Projects was established.

In churches and mosques in Russia, ordinary believers began raising funds for purchasing humanitarian aid for Syria. In 2017, two aircrafts with humanitarian cargo were sent to the country. With the assistance of the Russian army group in Syria and the Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides, the aid was distributed to the neediest people in Latakia, Homs and recently liberated Aleppo. On behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Interreligious Working Group, I would like to thank the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence and personally the head of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, for the support of our projects in Syria.

In February 2018, 77 tons of high quality foodstuffs were delivered to Damascus and the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, where there are many Syrian refugees. The food was distributed to families in need. The distribution was made in Syrian churches and mosques together by Syrian and Russian Christians and Muslims. It also became a visible symbol of our solidarity.

In November 2018, an aid supply was conveyed to the Damascus boarding school for children of the fallen Syrian military, and by the New Year the classes of this school and dormitories had been fully equipped with warm floors.

In March 2019, the Interreligious Group delivered to Damascus and distributed 15 tons of foodstuffs for Syrian families in need.

All these humanitarian actions of the Interreligious Working Group were carried out together with religious leaders in Syria. To coordinate the efforts of the Working Group and Christian and Muslim communities in Syria, joint meetings and roundtable conferences were held in Damascus.

As a vice-chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, I would like to say that our department, on the instruction of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, has supervised all this work. The problem of Syria was and is one of the principal items on our agenda.

In September 2018, a high-level interreligious conference took place at the Patriarchate of Antioch in Damascus. It was attended by heads and representatives of all the religious communities in Syria. The interreligious delegation from Russia was led at that time by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. The conference was chaired by His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Great Antioch and All the East and His Excellency Shaikh Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed, Minister of Awqaf. At that time, the Syrian brothers spoke of the need to restore the social structure in Syria and asked the Interreligious Working Group to take upon iself one of the socially important facilities.

After consultations with religious leaders in Syria and representatives of the state authority, we chose the ruined general education school in the Barza district in Damascus. The eastern part of this district had been in the hands of terrorists for a long time, and the children there were subjected to ideological indoctrination in the militants’ special centers. Children in the western part Barza, who saw all the terrors of war and violence, were deeply traumatized psychologically. Thanks to the restoration of the school, these and other children now can receive valid education. The work was carried out on a high quality level and within a short period of time, and already in September 2019 the children came to the restored school.

I would like to emphasize that the funds for a good cause were collected in churches and mosques in Russia by ordinary believers. A weighty personal contribution was made by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

A great help in implementing this project was given by the Russian Federation Ministry for Foreign Affairs, personally by Mikhail L. Bogdanov and Sergey V. Vershinin.

Separately I would like to thank the Russian Embassy in Syria, the present ambassador Alexander Yefimov and his predecessor Alexander Kinshchak with all the staff members of the embassy, who are performing a heroic service in Syria. They are well aware of the projects of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Interreligious Working Group and give continued assistance in their implementation.

This conference and activities on its side-lines show the great attention that the Russian state and our president have given to the problem of post-war restoration of Syria and to providing it with humanitarian aid. The Russian Orthodox Church is ready to share her experience of this work.

We believe that in discussing this matter it is necessary to take into account the opinion of the religious communities in Syria. Among the priority items in the program for the rebirth of the country should be the restoration of destroyed holy places – churches, mosques, monasteries. Precisely these shrines represent the focal point of the normal life of Syrian cities and villages.

Much has already been done. With the help of Russian benefactors, the Patriarchate of Antioch has carried out restoration work in the Convent of St. Thecla Equal-to-the-Apostles in Maaloula, which had been in the hands of terrorists for a whole year, as well as in the Monasteries of St. George the Victor in Al-Humeira and Seyednaya, the Convents of the Most Holy Mother of God in Seyednaya and Blemman, and the church of Mar-Ilyas in the Louvaylia suburb of Damascus. In the final stage of restoration at present are the church of St. George the Victor in Arbin and the church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in Az-Zabadani.

We plan to intensify our cooperation with the Patriarchate of Antioch in this sphere. We have already received from His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch a list of religious places in need of restoration. Restoration documents have already been prepared for some of them, for instance, for the Orthodox church in Daraya.

We would like to see Syrian authoritative religious leaders continuing to be among the principal coordinators of our joint projects from the Syrian side.

It is necessary to continue restoring schools and other educational establishments and to help with educational and methodological aids. Many young Syrians have shown the wish to learn the Russian language. The school in Barza restored with the help of Russia can become one of the centers for teaching Russian.

There is still an acute need for restoring houses of Syrians who were affected by hostilities, as well as hospitals and clinics. In this connection, it is necessary to complete the projects for restoration of the Patriarchate of Antioch’s hospital in Al-Hosn, in which the catheterization and cardio-surgery wards have been opened recently. The purchase of equipment and control of the quality of the equipment purchased in Russia for these wards has already started.

Throughout the year 2019, a program, negotiated with the Orthodox Church of Antioch, for prosthesis and rehabilitation of Syrian children, who have lost their limbs in bomb and mine explosions, was carried out.

Already 11 children undertook treatment, prosthesis and rehabilitation in Moscow. The coronavirus pandemic has prevented us from active continuation of children’s treatment in Moscow in 2020. We plan to open together a children’s center of prosthesis and rehabilitation in the nearest future to function at the representation of the Russian Orthodox Church to the Patriarchate of Great Antioch and All the East. Since early 2021, we will be able to help children locally, taking care of both new children and those who have already completed rehabilitation and now need to renew the prosthetic device, to undergo an additional treatment and to be given psychological help. It concerns both children and their parents.

It is important to take into account the fact that in the situation of the post-war devaluation of the Syrian currency, the unemployment is growing rapidly. We should think about developing complex measures for supporting the population and helping with the development of small-to-medium businesses.

As our friends in the Patriarchate of Antioch and other religious communities in Syria inform us, there is still a need for the following:

- Humanitarian food packages for affected families;

- Help with the payments for medicines and medical services (for instance, operations) for low-income sections of the population;

- Targeted aid to widows and orphans in Aleppo and other cities, who still cannot return to their homes and still have the status of internally displaced;

- And many other things.

We believe it important that at this conference we should develop a clear plan of concrete actions for short-term and longer-term outlook and begin implementing it together.

Thank you for your attention.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5718544.html






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Patriarchal service on 23rd Sunday after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (November 15, 2020)

























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Patriarchal service on the 4th week of Great Lent in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow (March 29, 2020) - PART I




























































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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
 
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Patriarchal service on the 4th week of Great Lent in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow (March 29, 2020) - PART II






























[During the Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill ordained Deacon Alexander Larionov, teacher of the Moscow Theological Academy, cleric of the Intercession Church of the Moscow Theological Academy, to the rank of presbyter.]




































































__________________
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 November 24th, 2020 #108
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The Contemporary Ukrainian Issue and Its Resolution according to the Divine and Sacred Canons by Nicephorus, metropolitan of Kykkos and Tillyria. Conclusions



16 November 2020 - 11:58







Below is the translation into Russian of the conclusions at which Nicephorus, metropolitan of Kykkos and Tillyria (Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus), arrives in his work on the Ukrainian ecclesiastical question.



In summing up for the present the ecclesiastical, theological, canonical and historical information on the Ukrainian issue, by way of conclusion let us note the following:

1. The annulment of the validity of the Patriarchal Letter of 1686 and the acquisition by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the right of jurisdiction over the ecclesiastical territory of Ukraine is a unilateral act, unauthorized, uncanonical and consequently has no validity. The ecclesiastical mind of both the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Russian Church, as well the pan-Orthodox mind (that is, all the Local Autocephalous Orthodox Churches), without hesitation and doubt, has been in agreement that for the past 332 years (from 1686 to 2018) the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has been in the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Orthodox Moscow Patriarchate and was a part of its canonical territory. This experience of all the Orthodox Churches has been constantly, without any objections or qualifications, testified at the pan-Orthodox concelebrations and at convocations, during official visits, at international conferences and in many other instances.

2. The granting to the schismatic groupings of Ukraine of false autocephaly without the preliminary informing and agreement of the other autocephalous Orthodox Churches and even the Mother Church, which in this case is the Russian Church, is an act that completely contradicts the centuries-old canonical tradition and established ecclesiastical practice, and therefore from the perspective of the sacred canons it cannot be justified.

3. The reception of persons deprived of their holy orders and anathematized without their preliminary sincere and deep repentance on the one hand, on the basis of the uncanonical assertion that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople from earliest times has had and continues to have the privilege to receive and examine appeals of clergy not only from Churches within its own jurisdiction but also from other Orthodox Patriarchates and autocephalous Churches on the other, is in complete contradiction to the sacred canons which these actions so crudely violate. Therefore, the granting of autocephalous status to Ukraine cannot but have actual canonical consequences and which must not be accepted by the other Local Autocephalous Orthodox Churches.

4. The uncanonical granting of false autocephaly to the schismatic structures of Ukraine in no way has returned the Ukrainian people to canonical regularity, as the Ecumenical Patriarch asserts, since the overwhelming majority of the Ukrainian Orthodox people continue to remain loyal to the canonical Church with the metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine Onuphrius at its head. The actions of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, on the contrary, have caused as a result a catastrophic division of the Ukrainian Church and a painful schism of her pleroma in Christ. As a consequence of this, the destructive schism threatens all of the ecumenical Body and world Orthodoxy.

5. The unilateral, unauthorized and uncanonical decision of the Ecumenical Patriarch to grant the status of autocephalous Church to the schismatic groupings of Ukraine, apart from engendering a serious ecclesiastical problem and threatening unity through a hateful schism, at the same time irreversibly undermines the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the coordinating centre of the Orthodox Patriarchates and autocephalous Churches.

6. The rupture in eucharistic communion between the two Churches, when it has been caused by dogmatic reasons or the violation of the divine and sacred canons, is not only permissible but is prescribed by the very canons as ages-old ecclesiastical practice. Consequently, in applying the sacred canons (the 10th and 15th canons of the Apostles, the 5th canon of the First Ecumenical Council, as well as the 2nd canon of the Council of Antioch), the Orthodox Moscow Patriarchate has acted correctly in breaking off communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the hope, of course, that the reasons which have led to the impossibility of the sharing of the chalice will soon be removed, and relations between the two Churches will once more restored “in faith and love”, a natural consequence of which would be the restoration between them of eucharistic communion.

7. Against the background of these events surrounding the Ukrainian question is yet one more canonical claim that for world Orthodoxy the archbishop of Constantinople the Ecumenical Patriarch is not the “first among equals” but the “first without equals”. This fact of “primacy of ministry” becomes the “primacy of authority”, which leads to the violation of the principle of conciliarity which has been part of life of the Orthodox Church since time immemorial.

8. At the height of this very dangerous and unjustified crisis which has arisen within the bosom of Orthodoxy as a result of the Ukrainian question there has appeared also a new dogma that the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is the head of the Universal Orthodox Church. By reinterpreting the 34th canon of the Holy Apostles, those close to the Ecumenical Throne claim that the Ecumenical Patriarch should be considered the first and head of all the other Primates. That is, all the Patriarchs, Primates and bishops should recognize the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as the head of the Universal Orthodox Church. However, this new theory cannot sustain criticism either from the historical or canonical or dogmatic or ecclesiological perspective because the Universal Orthodox Church has no other Head than our Lord Jesus Christ. The natural Prince and immortal Head of the Church is her Author, Saviour and Redeemer Christ.

9. There can be no doubt nor can any objections be advanced that in Ukraine the principle of conciliarity, which is foundational in the administration of the Orthodox Church, has conceded to the principle of the unauthorized and despotic authority of one person, that is, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who by the irony of historical events four years ago called together, headed and coordinated the work of the Holy and Great Council on Crete (18th to 25th June 2016). And this Council in its epistle proclaimed that “the Orthodox Church expresses her unity and catholicity by conciliar means. Conciliarity permeates her organization and is the means by which decisions are taken and the path determined.”

10. Finally, we note that “on the basis of historical truth and canonical tradition, in order to avoid a definitive schism, the Greek-speaking Churches must support the historical rights of the Russian Church which are predicated on the sacred canons and should neither openly nor in silence support the uncanonical interference of Constantinople into another Churches’ jurisdiction. If by reason of love for their people and patriotism they act otherwise in supporting the Greek Patriarch, they then fall into the heresy of ethnophiletism, which was condemned by Constantinople herself in 1872.”




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5720675.html






Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion Views as Important the Renewal of Consultations between Religious Leaders оf Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on the Issue of Regulating the Conflict in Karabakh



18 November 2020 - 17:40







On 14th November 2020 on the The Church and The World TV programme which comes out on Rossia-24 on Saturdays and Sundays, the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion answered questions put by the channel’s presenter Yekaterina Gracheva.



Gracheva:

Hello. This the The Church and The World TV programme on Rossia-24. We will put putting questions on important events in Russia and the world to the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion. Hello, Your Eminence.



Metropolitan Hilarion:

Hello, Yekaterina. Hello, dear brothers and sisters.



Gracheva:

Undoubtedly, the most important political news of the week is that an agreement has been reached between Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on a ceasefire in Nagorny Karabakh. The peace-keeping contingent provided for in the peace resolution presupposes that on a regular basis two thousand soldiers from Russia will be located in the conflict zone. The agreement has been viewed ambiguously in Armenia and has already led to a power crisis. Those who protest against it have called the Armenian prime minister Nikola Pashinian a traitor to the Armenian people. Margarita Simonyan, in reaction to these events and speaking of Russia’s role in the negotiation process, has written on social media the following: “Military action in Nagorny Karabakh has ceased. Thank you, Mother Russia. As always. Any Armenian who dares to criticize Russia ought to cut off their dirty tongue. Citizens of Armenia can criticize only themselves.” Your Eminence, how do you evaluate the role of Russia in the peace agreement that has been achieved?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

First of all, I would like to say that the restoration of peace in Nagorny Karabakh is an undoubted political achievement and great foreign policy victory for the Russian state and personally for president Putin, in spite of the fact that not all sides are equally happy with it. The most important thing was to stop the bloodshed and save peoples’ lives. And that has now been achieved.

Secondly, I would like to remind people that throughout the time this conflict has lasted (and it has been going on for thirty years now), religious leaders have voiced the opinion that the conflict should be directed towards a peaceful resolution. There has been and remains a mechanism of tripartite negotiations whereby the Armenian patriarch, the head of the spiritual directorate of Muslims in the Caucasus and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus get together, discuss the relevant issues and make the relevant decisions. I believe that the time has come to return to this format because the countries must heal their wounds and this is the right time when the voice of religious leaders must be heard.

It is very important at the present that religious leaders call not for the continuation of the conflict but that they call for peace and accord. It is quite natural that each religious leader is a citizen of his country and as a citizen of his country he will be in sympathy both with the authorities and the army, but at the same time it is equally important that the voice of religious leaders be an appeal to peace. For thirty years we have heard this from the Armenian patriarch and from the head of the spiritual directorate of the Muslims of the Caucasus.

I hope very much that religious leaders, through the mediation of the Moscow Patriarchate, will be able to make their contribution to a peaceful resolution of the situation and the establishment of a lasting peace not only in the land of Nagorny Karabakh but also in the two countries between which there exists a conflict and disputed territory.



Gracheva:

Your Eminence, does the Russian Orthodox Church participate in negotiations on the fate of church buildings and other Christian holy sites on territories that have gone over to Azerbaijan?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

The tripartite format of which I spoke has not yet been fully restored after the conflict got worse. However, I very much hope that in the near future negotiations will be renewed between the religious leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan through the mediation of the Moscow Patriarchate; then it will be possible to decide, amongst other things, issues linked to the restoration and normal functioning of objects on the territory of both countries.



Gracheva:

Your Eminence, the presidential election in the United States of America is coming to a close. It has been a long-running soap opera which we’ve all been following with great interest. As a result, Joe Biden has won out over Trump in this battle. I know that you are personally acquainted with Mr. Biden, that you have met, and that there are photos of your meeting with him on the internet. I would like to know what personal, human impression did Joe Biden make on you, and what impression did he make as a Christian? What is the story behind him being denied communion in the Catholic Church?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

I met with him in 2011 during his visit to Russia when he was still the vice-president of the USA. He met with the then Russian president Dmitry Medvedev as part of an official visit. At the US embassy at an event organized by the US ambassador I had a short meeting with Mr. Biden. The meeting left on the whole a favourable impression on me. I used the opportunity to tell him about the inter-religious cooperation which happens in Russia and on inter-Christian dialogue, and he even invited me to America to continue the conversation.

Regarding Mr. Biden’s religious allegiance, I believe that it is very important that his stance as a citizen corresponds to the stance of the religion to which he belongs. We know what the Catholic Church teaches regarding the value of human life, regarding abortion and regarding sex-change operations. Mr. Biden has often expressed views that do not correspond to this teaching. I would like to hope that, now that he has become president, he will act according to the teaching of the religion to which he belongs, that he will come to the defence of human life, that he will not publicly support abortion and that he will re-examine his stance regarding sex-change operations.

I personally believe and have repeatedly stated in our programme that sex-change operations are a falsehood as there is no genuine change of sex, there is only the external alteration of certain secondary sexual characteristics, that is, someone can acquire the external appearance of a representative of the opposite sex, but in reality he or she remains a representative of his or her own original sex. Little is said about this, and in the West it is mostly past over in silence as there is a whole industry for transgender operations. Psychologists and surgeons have a vested interest in this as they make huge money from it. Many in the West are afraid to state directly what in reality all of this is or simply are unable to do so. I hope very much that the new US president will take a stance which is in accordance with that of the Catholic Church, of which he is member.



Gracheva:

Your Eminence, American new agencies have carried a story that seems rather odd to me. A school administration forbad a schoolgirl to wear an anti-coronavirus mask with ‘Jesus Loves Me’ written on it, while at the same time in the same school pupils are wearing masks defending the rights of people of colour with Black Lives Matter written on them. We should say that the presidential election campaign took place against the background of the Black Lives Matter protests which, as many experts have ascertained, in many ways determined the outcome of the election. It will be now interesting to see whose interests Joe Biden will defend, on whose side he will be on – whether he will come to the defence, for example, of those schoolchildren who have been denied their right to express their love for Christ.



Metropolitan Hilarion:

The new president of the USA will in the first instance have to contend with the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, the current US administration’s reaction has been less than adequate. We have heard from president Trump repeated promises that the pandemic will soon be defeated while the pandemic in fact continues apace. There are in America more than ten million people infected, while nearly a quarter of a million have died from the virus. These are very high and frightening statistics. I believe that president Biden will have to mobilize the entire US health system in order to develop a vaccine, to inoculate as many people as possible with this vaccine and halt the spread of the virus.

Regarding the ideological set up which exists in contemporary America, then it would be better for Americans to discuss this than for us who live and observe it all from a distance. But I believe that everyone who belongs to a particular religion has the right to express publicly his or her opinion and stance if it does not violate the rights of other people and if it isn’t aggressive. I believe that anyone who belongs to a Christian denomination should enjoy the right to wear clothing with whatever inscriptions. This is not something that should be subjected to control.



Gracheva:

Your Eminence, we usually end our programme by discusses the coronavirus. The head of the UK armed forces Nick Carter in an interview with Sky News warned of the global risks as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This is what he believes the risks are linked to and I quote: “Economic crises in the past have led to security crises which in turn spilled over into world wars.” General Carter does not exclude the possibility of a new world war. Your Eminence, do you think such concerns are justified? Will we see a new world war?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

The danger of a new world war exists, we felt it even before the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. I don’t think that the coronavirus pandemic has added any new dimensions to the international political scene in which today we can observe a polarization between certain centres of power and influence. Polarization can always be seen as dangerous as the world in which we live is a powder keg and all it takes is one fuse for the keg to explode. And the amount of weapons, including nuclear ones, is such that it would only take a small part of them to destroy life on the planet. I believe that a great responsibility rests on the leaders of those super powers which have nuclear weapons.

Of course, in spite of the current political disagreements, it is important to come to some arrangement and dialogue between each other should not be done through the language of sanctions, threats or blackmail but precisely through the language of dialogue. We have to learn how to respect various approaches while remembering that we all live in the same world, that this is the only world we have and that we are all responsible for maintaining peace on earth.



Ye. Gracheva:

Thank you, Your Eminence. I look forward to meeting you next week.



Metropolitan Hilarion:

Thank you, Yekaterina.



In the second half of the programme metropolitan Hilarion answered questions put to him by viewers through the The Church and World website.



Question:

Are there any prayers that a believer can recite during the pandemic? People more than ever are in need of the Lord God’s help.



Metropolitan Hilarion:

The main prayer is today read in churches at the Divine Liturgy and is recited by the priest. It has been published and its text was confirmed by the Holy Synod, and at every Divine Liturgy we lift this prayer up to God. You can read this prayer at home, and you can also pray in your own words for yourself, for those close to you, for our country, for the city or town in which we live and for the whole world because today we are all in need of God’s aid.

Moreover, in prayer we call upon the Most Holy Mother of God, we ask her to protect us from all evil by her precious veil. We turn towards our beloved saints. One of the saints who has repeatedly appeared to believers, in particular in Greece and in Bulgaria, is a twentieth-century Greek saint called the Venerable Nicephorus the Leper and many people today pray to him. In the church on Bolshaya Ordynka St. street named after the icon of the Mother of God called the ‘Joy of All Afflicted’ – the church where I serve – we have a particle of the relics of this saint, and we pray to him for the cessation of the coronavirus pandemic.



Question:

“Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will be all yours’” (Lk 4. 5-7). Does this mean that the world is controlled by the devil and that the kingdom of heaven is controlled by God?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

It means that the devil is a deceiver. In no way does he control the world. The world is controlled by God. God is the lord of the heavens and the earth, while the devil is the one who pretends to be a lord, who enjoys only illusory power yet passes it off as real and thereby deceives people. When the devil appears to people to tempt them, he never says ‘I am the devil, I am the bearer of evil’. He always passes himself off as the bearer of good, and this is what his strength and weakness consist of simultaneously. An illusory strength, yet if people in any way are attracted by it, they can become subject to it; and the weakness is in that if people know who the devil is and know by which methods he operates, then they have no difficulty in withstanding the temptations of the devil.

The gospels speak of how Jesus Christ resisted the temptations of the devil, and it is a story of how we should all remind ourselves how to relate to the temptations of the devil. If you want to know more about this story, you can read the commentaries of the holy fathers on the gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke where it is told, and you can also read the remarkable work of our Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky The Brothers Karamazov. One of the chapters is entitled ‘The Grand Inquisitor’ which contains a profound philosophical analysis of the three temptations which the devil uses against Jesus Christ and which he uses to tempt any person. I hope that this reading will help you to understand better the meaning of this story and to understand better who the devil is, why he lays claim to a certain power over peoples’ minds or even over the kingdoms of the world and how to resist him.



Question:

I watched a video clip on your YouTube channel and the thought entered my head that you are saying that Jesus was God on earth in the form of a human being, he became tired, he felt pain and so on, but he was without sin. When God created the human person and henceforth he knew that there would be many people, did he reward us with sin or did he punish us? If he rewarded us, then for what purpose? So that we be tormented and struggle with it all our lives? And if he punished us, then what for?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

The Orthodox Church teaches that God is not the author of either evil or sin. Evil and sin were brought into our lives through the free will of human beings. God created us as free. We are not puppets in a theatre which unthinkingly and unwillingly fulfill another’s will, even the will of God. God has placed us in a situation whereby at every concrete moment of our lives we have the chance to fulfill his will or our own will. Our own human will may coincide with his will but it also may be opposed to his will if, for example, we fall for the devil’s temptations.

And the question of the meaning of sin, I believe, should be asked by every person not in an abstract philosophical way or in relation to other people, but in relation to oneself. You have a particular moment in your life when you can do good or not do it, you can do evil or not do it. And every time you stand at a crossroads: nobody will ever force you to do sinful or evil acts, no one has that power over your soul. You make your own choice, so it is wrong to speak in terms of whether God has punished or rewarded you with sin. God has granted us the right to life, he has endowed us with free will. God has granted us the opportunity to choose always between good and evil. We can see by the example of many saints and simply virtuous people that through the course of their lives they were consistent in their choice in favour of the good. I very much wish that you be equally consistent in this choice and fulfill the will of God.

I would like to conclude today’s programme with the words of the apostle Paul from the epistle to the Romans: “Do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions” (Rm 6.12).

I wish you all that is good. Take care of yourselves, take care of those close to you, and may the Lord preserve all of us.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5721473.html






Holy Synod states the impossibility of Eucharistic communion with Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus



20 November 2020 - 16:59







On 20th November 2020, during its session, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church considered the consequences that ensued from the commemoration by the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus of the schismatic structure acting in Ukraine (Minutes No. 77).

On 24th October 2020, during the Liturgy in the Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos Chrysorrogiatissa near the city of Paphos, Archbishop Chrysostomos II of New Justiniana and All Cyprus commemorated the head of one of the schismatic groups in Ukraine in the diptychs of Primates of the autocephalous Orthodox Churches. Later Archbishop Chrysostomos admitted that he had not discussed his decision with the members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus and they had known nothing about the coming commemoration.

Metropolitans Athanasios of Limassol, Nikephoros of Kykkos, Isaiah of Tamassos and Nicholas of Amathounta issued a joint statement, condemning the Archbishop’s act as a “gross violation of the conciliar, collegial and democratic order of our Orthodox Church and of the way in which the Orthodox Church functions on the basis of this system,” and calling upon him “to cancel immediately his anti-canonical and invalid action.” The statement notes that the granting of “autocephaly” by the Patriarchate of Constantinople to the Ukrainian schismatics “is an arbitrary, uncanonical and anti-church action since the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate.”

Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou said during his archpastoral meeting with the faithful of the Metropolis of Morphou, “Metropolitan Onufry was, is and, I hope, will remain the canonical bishop of the city of Kiev,” noting that even if the majority of bishops will support Archbishop Chrysostomos, “it will not make Yepifany a canonical hierarch.”

The participants in the session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed their deep regret over the anti-canonical commemoration of the head of one of the Ukrainian schismatic groups in the diptychs of the Orthodox Primates, which indicates that Archbishop Chrysostomos entered into communion with schismatics.

As was emphasized during the meeting, Archbishop Chrysostomos took the aforementioned decision alone, without the agreement of the members of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus; therefore, the decision does not have conciliar nature.

It was taken into consideration that the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, at its session on 18th February 2019, chaired by Archbishop Chrysostomos, expressed lawful “doubts about a possibility to legitimatize post factum the ordinations performed by the defrocked, excommunicated and anathematized bishops,” meaning the “episcopate” of the newly created schismatic structure in Ukraine.

It was also noted that Archbishop Chrysostomos’ decision ran counter to his repeated official statements on the Ukrainian issue, in particular, to his letter of 26th July 2018, addressed to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, in which the Archbishop of Cyprus gave the following assurances: “The Church of Cyprus will never deviate from her position, which we have set forth for you on many occasions, that is to say, we will use all our resources to support the position of the Russian Orthodox Church on the issue of the so-called autocephaly in Ukraine. She believes this position to be fair and wholly justified.” The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church stated the impossibility of commemorating the name of Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus in the diptychs, as well as of maintaining prayerful and Eucharistic communion with him and concelebrating with those hierarchs of the Church of Cyprus who would enter into ecclesiastical communion with representatives of the Ukrainian schism.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5724026.html






Metropolitan Hilarion: “Christians in Europe are feeling themselves to be a discriminated against minority”



22 November 2020 - 20:18







“For many years the leaderships of the countries of Europe have been combatting so-called Islamophobia and antisemitism, while at the same time they forget that for along time now in Europe there is such a thing as Christianophobia, and that the passing over in silence of the Christian tradition, the ignoring of Christian symbols is what European Union citizens repeatedly run up against at the present,” said the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion. He was commenting on the case highlighted by the media in Sweden when a child during a photo session was required by the photographer to remove his cross since, the child was told, the presence of a religious symbol on his breast “may offend the other schoolchildren.”

Metropolitan Hilarion noted that the incident in Sweden was far from an isolated one. “This has become almost the dominant trend in modern-day Europe,” stated the DECR chairman. “That is, Europe is consciously rejecting its Christian roots, consciously passes over in silence its Christian past and present, and Christians in Europe are now feeling themselves to be a discriminated against minority.”

An eloquent illustration to this situation was the drafting of the Constitution of Europe which was unsuccessfully drawn up at the beginning of the 2000s, the metropolitan noted. “In the published draft it was stated that Europe was the inheritor of the Greco-Roman tradition, but not a single word was said of Christianity. This, of course, created great indignation among Christians throughout all of Europe as Christianity is an integral part of the European identity. All you have to do is to go to any European city and look at the architecture to see how many Christian churches there are and realize how important Christianity is and was for the past for the continent of Europe.”

“So, when we hear that crucifixes are removed from school classrooms and assembly halls, that schoolchildren are forced to remove their crosses in order not to shock Muslims (although why would they be shocked at a Christian wearing a cross?), all of this evokes within my memory recollections of our comparatively recent past when teachers tore crosses off schoolchildren at a time when atheist ideology and atheist propaganda dominated Russia,” the metropolitan emphasized.

“I hope very much that Europe does not go as far as this and repeat those same mistakes which we in Russia paid for so dearly,” the metropolitan said in conclusion.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5724556.html






Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion Attends the Funeral of His Holiness Irinej Patriarch of Serbia



22 November 2020 - 21:01







On 22nd November 2020 the divine liturgy and funeral took place in the Church of St. Sava in Belgrade of His Holiness Irinej Patriarch of Serbia (1930 – 2020), who died on 20th November.

The service was headed by the locum tenens of the Patriarchal throne of the Serbian Orthodox Church the metropolitan of Dabar-Bosnia Hrizostom; concelebrating were the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion and the chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church the metropolitan of Boryspil and Brovary Anthony, the archbishop of Ochrid John, the metropolitan of Zagreb and Ljublin Porphyrius and other bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Among the concelebrating clergy were the cleric of the Antiochian Patriarchate archimandrite Procopius (Taiar), the secretary of the DECR for inter-Orthodox relations archpriest Igor Yakimchuk and the deputy chairman of the DECR of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church archpriest Nikolai Danilevich. Attending the service in the church were leading Serbian politicians the Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić, the president of the National Assembly Ivica Dačić, prime minister Ana Brnabić and government ministers. Also present were the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik and the prime minister-elect for Montenegro Zdravko Krivokapić, the Russian ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, representatives of Serbia’s traditional religions, diplomats and public and cultural figures.

After the funeral oration by the locum tenens of the Patriarchal throne the metropolitan of Dabar-Bosnia Hrizostom, the chairman of the DECR read out condolences from His Holiness Kirill Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus. Obituaries were also read out by the dean of the St. Michael Cathedral of Belgrade archpriest Petar Lukić, the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik and Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić, who noted the good relations which the newly-reposed Primate of the Serbian Church had enjoyed with Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church.

After the funeral service the coffin with the newly-reposed Patriarch was solemnly buried in the crypt of the Church of St. Sava at the site chosen as the resting place for the Primates of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

On the same day the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion had a conversation with the Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić. The Serbian head of state expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church for their participation in the project for the interior décor of the Church of St. Sava in Belgrade. The chairman of the DECR also talked with the president of the Serbian National Assembly Ivica Dačić, the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik and the prime minister-elect for Montenegro Zdravko Krivokapić.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5724560.html






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Divine Liturgy at the Alexander Nevsky Monastery on the birthday of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill (20 November 2020)



















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Patriarchal service on 24th Sunday after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (November 22, 2020)





















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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 November 24th, 2020 #109
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Patriarchal service on the Week of the Cross in the Church of the Blessed Prince Igor of Chernigov in Peredelkino, Moscow (March 22, 2020) - PART I
















































































__________________
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 November 24th, 2020 #110
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Patriarchal service on the Week of the Cross in the Church of the Blessed Prince Igor of Chernigov in Peredelkino, Moscow (March 22, 2020) - PART II
































































































__________________
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 November 28th, 2020 #111
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Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion: For the Patriarch the prayerful support of the whole Church is important



24 November 2020 - 09:40







On 21st November 2020 on the The Church and The World TV programme which comes out on Rossia-24 on Saturdays and Sundays, the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion answered questions put by the channel’s presenter Yekaterina Gracheva.



Gracheva:

Hello. This the The Church and The World TV programme on Rossia-24 where we will put putting questions to the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion. Hello, Your Eminence.



Metropolitan Hilarion:

Hello, Yekaterina. Hello, dear brothers and sisters.

We have received news from Belgrade that in his 91st year the Patriarch of Serbia Irinej has died from the coronavirus infection. He was in good health and, if it was not for the coronavirus, he most likely would have lived to be a hundred. His indefatigability surprised his aides who were much younger than he was.

We in the Russian Orthodox Church will always remember in our prayers His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, more so as he unambiguously and clearly supported canonical Orthodoxy in Ukraine. He was many times a guest of the Russian Orthodox Church, he visited Moscow, Kiev, St. Petersburg and Minsk. We also often visited him, and the relationship between us was one of remarkable trust. There was a very warm relationship between him and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. We will pray for Patriarch Irinej, we will give thanks to God for the life he led. In this programme I would like to express condolences on behalf of both His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and myself personally, and on behalf of the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church to all the faithful of the Serbian Orthodox Church which has endured this sad loss.

And now let us turn to other news.



Gracheva:

Your Eminence, in one of our recent programmes we spoke of how many immigrants in Europe, by which we mean Muslims, live not according to the law of a particular country but according to Shariah law. There have appeared very curious figures, I think: the results of an opinion poll taken in France show that more than fifty percent of young Muslims living in France put Shariah law on a higher level than local laws. Do these figures surprise you?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

I am not surprised by these figures because I have visited Europe many times, I lived in Europe for a number of years and know the processes that are at work there. I believe that these processes are in many ways connected to the immigration policy which has been and remains in place for many years in most European countries and which ignores the religious allegiance of people who have arrived on the European continent. I think that this is a huge omission.

I know Hungary very well, there immigration policy differs from that of the majority of EU countries. Hungary has refused to take in the quota of migrants which was imposed upon the country by the EU leadership. In Hungary immigration happens on a very selective basis: each individual’s past is looked into, as well as his views and also his religious allegiance.

The conscious rejection of Christian values which we see in most EU countries has led to countries unthinkingly accepting people who even more so have no intention being integrated into the society of a particular country. And in general, I would like to state that a non-religious society is not the best environment into which a religious person can integrate. It would be far better if the rights of all religious traditions were respected so that freedom of religion exists for all without exceptions, so that people can take advantage of the opportunity of being a religious person in the society which he joins, while at the same time the state sees to it that religious traditions coexist peacefully.

I believe that Russia here can offer a good example. In Russia for many centuries there have coexisted Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and people of other religious traditions, and we all live in peace and harmony. State policy is aimed at ensuring that inter-religious contradictions do not become any worse, at smoothing them over, and at the same time at ensuring that people of all religious traditions feel themselves at home and not as guests.



Gracheva:

Your Eminence, there was a case in Sweden recently whereby a schoolboy during a photo session was pressured by the photographer to remove his cross. The photographer said that this religious symbol on his breast may cause offence to the other pupils. The boy’s father was indignant and said that if in Sweden someone was asked to remove their hijab or the star of David, there would be a public outcry, while to do the same regarding a Christian symbol causes no reaction. Do you think this criticism is justified?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

I think this criticism is justified and it can be applied, unfortunately, not only to the leadership of Sweden. For many years the heads of European countries have been combatting Islamophobia and antisemitism but have forgotten that for a long time now in Europe there is such a thing as Christianophobia, and this passing over in silence of the Christian tradition and the ignoring of Christian symbols is what EU citizens constantly run up against. I think that the case in Sweden is not a solitary instance but has become almost the dominant trend in modern-day Europe, that is, Europe is consciously rejecting its own Christian roots, Europe is passing over in silence its Christian past and present, and Christians in Europe are already beginning to think of themselves as a discriminated against minority, whereas they remain the majority.

There was a very eloquent example of this when at the beginning of the 2000s they started to draft the European Constitution. It came to nothing, but the draft of the Constitution was published. It stated that Europe is the inheritor of the Greco-Roman tradition, but not a single word was said of Christianity. This of course caused great indignation among all of Europe’s Christians because Christianity is an integral part of the European identity. It is enough to visit any Europe city and look at the architecture and see how many Christian churches there are in this city to realize what importance Christian had in the past and continues to have for the European continent.

So, when we hear that crucifixes are removed from school classrooms and assembly halls, that schoolchildren are forced to remove their crosses in order not to shock Muslims (although why would they be shocked at a Christian wearing a cross?), all of this evokes within my memory recollections of our comparatively recent past when teachers tore crosses off schoolchildren at a time when atheist ideology and atheist propaganda dominated Russia. I hope very much that Europe does not go as far as this and repeat those same mistakes which we in Russia paid for so dearly.



Gracheva:

Your Eminence, not so long ago the Russian Orthodox Church presented its design for the new church for Moscow State University which will accommodate a thousand people and the height of which will be forty-six meters. It’s no secret that there has been plenty of criticism of this church: some compare it to the Hogwarts school in the Harry Potter books, saying that a church on the territory of an higher educational establishment is not necessary at all, that there is the Church of St. Tatiana on Mokhovaya St. (the original university church), and so why build a second church for MSU students when in Moscow there is still a large number of churches awaited restoration. Do you think that is quite fair criticism or not?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

It is my opinion that this criticism is quite unfair because, firstly, the campus of Moscow State University is scattered around various parts of our capital city, and the university church on Mokhovaya St. is a long way from Vernadsky Avenue where most of the student contingent is to be found. So, there is nothing unusual in MGU, where tens of thousands of students study and who are scattered all around Moscow, having more than one church building.

I studied at Oxford University. If you go to Oxford and ask where the university is, then you will find that it is located everywhere because it comprises a confederation of approximately forty or so colleges and each one of them has one or more church, that is, Oxford University by my calculation has at least one hundred churches which serve as university chapels. But MSU will have not one hundred, or forty, but two churches. I don’t think this is too many for such a huge university.

If we are to speak of why a church is needed on the territory of the university, then I think my reply is quite evident. Among the students of MSU there are many Orthodox believers and this church is being built for them. It is being built not for Muslims, not for those who belong to other religious traditions, not for atheists, not for those who want to pray to the ‘spaghetti monster’ as some students have written, but for Orthodox believers who comprise a large number at MSU. I believe that it is quite right that Orthodox students should have their own church on the territory of the university.



Gracheva:

Your Eminence, this Friday on 20th November His Holiness Kirill Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus will be seventy-four years old. Is it at all acceptable to say how old the Patriarch is? How did you congratulate him? How does the Patriarch prefer to spend this day? Many people will find this interesting.



Metropolitan Hilarion:

Under normal circumstances the celebration of the Patriarch’s birthday begins with the Divine Liturgy which he heads in the Christ the Saviour Church with other bishops concelebrating. Then at the end of the Liturgy the senior concelebrating bishop congratulates him, and then there is a celebratory meal. But in the present circumstances all of this has been impossible because of the pandemic. So, the Patriarch prayed in his domestic chapel in the small monastery where he permanently lives, while each of us prayed in our own churches or others simply at home. Some of us were able to congratulate His Holiness the Patriarch by telephone.

His Holiness always reminds people that the prayerful support of the whole Church is very important to him. I have many times accompanied him on trips, and every time when he meets the faithful, he says: Pray for the Patriarch, I feel this support. I hope that on this day too, in spite of the unusual circumstances, His Holiness the Patriarch felt the support of the whole Church thanks to the prayers that were lifted up for him in both the churches of Russia and in churches of other countries of the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church.



Gracheva:

On behalf of Rossia-24 TV channel I can only add my voice to these congratulations and wish His Holiness many and good years. Thank you, Your Eminence, for answering our questions.



Metropolitan Hilarion:

Thank you, Yekaterina.



In the second half of the programme metropolitan Hilarion answered questions put to him by viewers through the The Church and The World website.



Question:

Why is suicide considered to be a sin if a person seeks the solution to his problems and does not want to suffer? Why should people on earth endure suffering? To what purpose?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

Suicide is a sin because in resorting to it, it is impossible to solve our problems, while at the same time it may create new problems for oneself. We believe that human life continues after death. We are given life on earth so that we may here, on earth, solve our problems and the most important problem for a human person is the relationship he has with God.

If we live with God, we can never think of ourselves as the owners of our own lives. We know that God has determined for us the day when we are born and the die when we die, and that every day is given to us so that we can fulfill the will of God. We think about this and strive towards this, while problems that arise we solve in the light of this religious perception of the world. This is why none of these problems ever finds its solution in suicide.

If someone finds it impossible to cope with life’s problems and situations, if he does not place his hope in God but only in himself or herself, if God is not present in this person’s life, then there may arise a situation when he or she will say: why should I suffer, why should I solve my problems? Would it not simply be easier to kill myself? Yet the life of a person continues. If he or she suffered here and found no solution to his or her inner problems, then this suffering will continue there, and in the case of suicide these problems will of course not merely continue but will be become ever more burdensome because the person has committed a sin of which he or she can no longer repent.

The question of why people on earth ought to endure suffering and to what purpose they suffer is a question which has vexed philosophical minds for many centuries, and no single philosopher has yet to answer this question. Christianity has its own answer to this question and it is this: suffering is a school that we go through. Suffering, if we accept it with true Christian humility, with hope in the will of God, is a means of cleansing the human soul. Moreover, we are not alone in suffering because God himself too suffers alongside us. When God died on the cross, this was when God’s solidarity with suffering humankind was made manifest to the highest degree. When we suffer, God is alongside us and with us. So, we are not alone, we should never fall into despair, but we are called to endure suffering as something that God has permitted so that we may be purified and so that we ascend to a higher degree of spiritual perfection and the spiritual life.



Question:

Is it OK to change a child’s name from that of a Muslim one to a Christian one if at birth the father named his son in honour of the prophet Mohammed? My son is fourteen years old and he is not baptized.



Metropolitan Hilarion:

I think that if your son is not baptized, then it would be wrong to change his name, but if you decide to bring him up in the Orthodox faith, then every person at baptism when he is baptized is given a new name also. But to which faith to belong depends upon you or your child.



Question:

I have a question for you regarding alcohol at funerals. I think that it is quite wrong when people drink and nobody understands that they have come to remember the departed. Could you please say how the Church looks upon all this? Explain to me please, as an Orthodox Christian, where this tradition came from?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

This tradition is in fact very old, but the way you describe it, we are not dealing with a tradition but rather a distortion of a tradition. This is what would happen in the early Church. When people lost somebody close to them, when a martyr or a Christian died, then people would gather for a meal which was both commemorative and eucharistic. That which we know today as the Divine Liturgy, the Church’s main service, originally existed in the form of a meal, that is, people sat at the table, ate food together, Scripture was read aloud and towards the end there was the breaking of bread, that is a eucharist (thanksgiving). Gradually the eucharist evolved into solemn worship, while the meal remained as a common meal for Christians, as well as a commemorative meal. Of course, a commemorative meal, even when alcohol is available at it, should never degenerate into a banal drinking session. In this instance alcohol is to be drunk in moderation and really only for the purpose of recalling the deceased.

It should also be remembered that the person who has departed for the other world is in need not so much of abundant libations in his memory as our prayers. That is why in the Church there are traditions and rules regarding the commemoration of the dead. We commemorate the deceased every day for a period of forty days after his death, and then we continue to commemorate them either every day, or if not every day, then at least on those days instituted by the Church for the commemoration of the dead and on days connected with their memory, for example, on the anniversary of their death.



Question:

Could you please tell me how I should receive communion if I am categorically against the use of alcohol?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

At communion one usually receives a small amount of alcohol. This is the blood of Christ which has the physical properties of wine. But if for some reason you cannot take alcohol at all, you should approach your local priest, speak to him about this and come to some arrangement on how he can give you communion. In exceptional cases it is permissible to give communion under one species, that is, for example, only through the body of Christ or only through the blood of Christ. For example, infants who are unable to chew solid food are given communion only with the blood of Christ.

I would like to conclude our programme with the words of the apostle Paul from his epistle to the Ephesians: “We are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life” (Eph 2.10).

I wish you all that is good. Take care of yourselves, take care of those close to you, and may the Lord preserve all of us.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5724416.html






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Patriarchal service on the eve of the Week of the Cross in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow (March 21, 2020)


































































__________________
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 November 28th, 2020 #112
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Patriarchal service on Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent in the home church of the Patriarchal Residence in the Danilov Monastery (March 14, 2020)






















































__________________
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 December 3rd, 2020 #113
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Archpriest Anastasios Gkotsopoulos Examines Prof. Vlasios Fidas’ Claims



27 November 2020 - 16:16







Archpriest Anastasios Gkotsopoulos Examines Prof. Vlasios Fidas’ Claims



1. The Canonical Affiliation of Ukraine

(The self-refutation of Prof. Phidas)

In his work The Synodical Praxis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (1686) and the Autocephaly of the Church of Ukraine, Prof. Phidas refers to Ukraine’s violent annexation to the Church of Russia, to the Metropolitan of Kiev’s anti-canonical participation of the Patriarchal Synod of Moscow and that the Church of Ukraine has always belonged to the See of Constantinople. The professor states the following verbatim:

a. ”With this Synodical Praxis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (1686), not only were the eastern eparchies of Ukraine and Belarus not fully and permanently transferred to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow, as the theological advisors of the Patriarchate of Moscow dubiously assert, but to the contrary the inviolability of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s jurisdiction in Ukraine was declared throughout the territory of the Metropolis of Kiev,” (Fidas, Synodical Praxis, p. 5).

b. ”Following the decisions of the Synodical Praxis of Ecumenical Patriarch Dionysios IV (1686), “Little” (Ukraine) and “White” Russia came under the direct canonical jurisdiction of the Metropolis of Kiev, which depended on the Ecumenical Patriarchate,” (Fidas, Synodical Praxis, p. 22).

c. ”The Patriarchate of Moscow has struggled for five centuries forcibly and with purely political or ethno-phyletistic criteria to subordinate the Church of Ukraine to its dynastic jurisdiction and for this reason the ecclesiastical hierarchy, the sacred Clergy and pious laity of Ukraine always refused to accept this dependency,” (Fidas, Synodical Praxis, pp 35-36). The professor’s claim is completely arbitrary and inaccurate. In fact, to the contrary, “the [canonical] ecclesiastical hierarchy [of about 90 hierarchs], the sacred Clergy and the pious laity of Ukraine” counts 12,000 parishes and 5,000 monks who remain in the canonical Church despite the persecution and state and para-state terrorism exercised against them.

d. ”Of course, this unique, substantial independence is enshrined in its Charter, since the Holy Synod of the Church of Ukraine elects and ordains not only all the hierarchs of Ukraine, but also its Primate, the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine. Nevertheless, this regime of the Church of Ukraine’s substantial independence is relativized and weakened by the Patriarchate of Moscow’s anti-canonical claim that the Metropolitan of Kiev is also a regular member of the Holy Synod of Moscow, apparently to express the arbitrary claim of its full dependency on its jurisdiction” (p. 37). Where did the professor realize that the “Patriarchate of Moscow’s claim that the Metropolitan of Kiev is also a regular member of the Holy Synod of Moscow” is “anti-canonical”? He had previously written the complete opposite of this (see paragraph e. below). The participation of the Metropolitan of Kiev in the Holy Synod of Moscow is provided by her statute in a decision of the Council of 1945 which, indeed, had inter-Orthodox participation (including from Constantinople)! So now the professor recalls that it is an “anti-canonical claim”!

A most complete refutation of the new opinions of the professor above has been provided by the professor himself in his previous publications. In a whole series of scholarly publications over a period of forty years (1966-2005), Prof. Fidas has written the following, which makes it the full, canonical jurisdiction of the Church of Russia in Ukraine absolutely clear:

a. Fidas, Ecclesiastical History of Russia, pp. 273-274: “Dionysios of Constantinople placed the Metropolitan of Kiev under the canonical jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Moscow (1687).”

b. Fidas, Ecclesiastical History of Russia, pp. 317-318 and idem, “The Russian Church,” ΘΗΕ 10 (1965), p. 1055: “The Metropolitan of Kiev participates in the Synod of the Church of Russia as one of three permanent members (along with those of Moscow and Saint Petersburg).”

c. Fidas, Ecclesiastical History of Russia, pp. 301-304: The Theological Academy of Kiev is one of the four most important academies of the Patriarchate of Moscow.

d. Fidas, Ecclesiastical History of Russia, pp. 335: The Metropolitan of Kiev served as president of the All-Russian Council of 1917 at which the patriarchal institution was reestablished in Russia.

e. Fidas, Ecclesiastical History of Russia, pp. 348-349 and idem, “The Russian Church,” ΘΗΕ 10 (1965), p. 1077: Of particular importance and, indeed, with inter-Orthodox participation is the Council of 1945, which drafted the administrative regulation of the Church of Russia. Prof. Fidas writes, “Taking part in the Synod of 1945 were Patriarch Christophoros of Alexandria, Patriarch Alexander of Antioch, the ‘Patriarch-Catholicos’ of the Church of Georgia Kallistratos, the representative of the Patriarch of Constantinople, Metropolitan Germanos of Thyateira, the representative of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Athenagoras of Sebasteia, the representative of the Serbian Church, Metropolitan Joseph of Skopje, Bishop Joseph of the Church of Romania, etc. … The Synod also drafted the “Administrative Regulation of the Church of Russia.” According to Article 19 of the Regulation, the Metropolitan of Kiev participates as a permanent member of the Standing Synod! Does there exist the slightest reservation in good faith that the Metropolitan of Kiev does not depend on the Church of Russia, according to the unanimous decision of the Churches above?

f. Fidas, “The Russian Church,” ΘΗΕ 10 (1965), p. 1077: among the eparchies of the Church of Russia is Kiev and all Ukraine, as well as all the monasteries of Ukraine!

From the above historical facts cited by Prof. Fidas himself, it is clear that in recent centuries the Orthodox in Ukraine have participated in all facets of the ecclesiastical life of the Patriarchate of Russia (monachism, theological schools, administration, including the Holy Synod, persecutions, etc.) and not in that of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

In the works: Nicephoros, Metropolitan of Kykkos and Tellyria, The Contemporary Ukrainian Question and its Solution according to the Sacred Canons (Nicosia: Study Center of the Sacred Monastery of Kykkos, 2020), p. 34ff; Priest Anastasios Gkotsopoulos, Ukrainian Autocephaly: A Contribution to Dialogue (Thessaloniki: To Palimpsiston, 2019), pp. 15-36; idem, “Ukrainian Autocephaly: An Invitation to Ecclesiastical Unity or an Invitation to the Unity of the Church?,” homily given on January 1, 2020, available as a pdf in Greek here, pp. 4-7, there are many facts (most of which from Constantinople!) that demonstrate the fullness of the canonical jurisdiction of the Church of Russia in Ukraine.

In any case, however, apart from the documents and facts, the pan-Orthodox ecclesiastical consciousness, which for 332 years has considered Ukraine to be part of the Church of Russia, suffices on its own.

Moreover, we should not forget the fact that it is without any Tomos or Praxis, but rather solely on the basis of longstanding ecclesiastical consciousness and practice that Eastern Illyria belongs to the See of Constantinople and not that of Rome.

The transfer of Eastern Illyria (Crete, Achaia, Thessaly, Albania, Macedonia) from the Patriarchate of Rome to the Patriarchate of Constantinople did not take place with the issuance of a Tomos, as would be normal, but on the basis of ecclesiastical custom.

Until 731, Eastern Illyria canonically belonged to the jurisdiction of the then-Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.

In 731, the Iconoclast Emperor Leo III the Isaurian, against the emphatic protests of the Orthodox Pope Gregory III, by imperial decree seized Eastern Illyria and transferred it to the Patriarchate of Constantinople with the aim of punishing the Pope of Rome, who was Orthodox and did not agree with the destruction of icons!

Consequently, just as Eastern Illyria belongs to Constantinople because of ecclesiastical custom, despite the fact that there does not exist any ecclesiastical praxis (“Tomos”) transferring jurisdiction from Rome, all the more so the Metropolis of Kiev belongs to the Patriarchate of Moscow, since there exists the Patriarchal and Synodical decision of 1686, which ecclesiastical consciousness both in Constantinople and at a pan-Orthodox level has interpreted as having created an ecclesiastical custom for 332 continuous years.


2. Misinterpretation of the Praxis of 1686

The misinterpretation and manipulation by Fidas of the texts relating to the Synodical Praxis of 1686 is obvious. For a concise review of the interpretation of these texts, see Priest Theodoros Zisis, Ukrainian Autocephaly: The anti-Canonical and Divisive Intrusion by Constantinople (Thessaloniki: To Palimpsiston, 2018), pp. 75-95.

Besides, the consistent, stable and uninterrupted ecclesiastical consciousness of three centuries creates an ecclesiastical custom that authentically and authoritatively interprets the Praxis of 1686 as the full and canonical transfer of Ukraine to the Patriarchate of Moscow.


3. Regarding the Right to Hear Appeals

For a thorough refutation of Mr Fidas’ views about whether Constantinople has the right to receive the appeals of clergy from other Orthodox jurisdictions, see Nikephoros, Ukrainian Question, p. 86ff.

The professor refers to Filaret’s appeal on pp. 65-71. But Mr Fidas artificially conceals the fact that Filaret appealed to Constantinople in 1992, as soon as he was condemned (June 11, 1992) and the Ecumenical Patriarch immediately rejected his appeal in his letter of August 26, 1992, accepting the condemnation by the Church of Russia as canonical.

The appeal was already heard and conclusively rejected in 1992! For this reason, all the Churches accept Filaret as deposed and anathematized! (See Nikephoros, Ukrainian Question, pp. 110-113; Gkotsopoulos, homily, pp. 9-14; idem, Ukrainian Autocephaly, pp. 55-60).

Mr Fidas writes with regard to Filaret’s deposal: “In the same spirit, the Patriarchal Synod annulled the anti-canonical and unjustly-imposed deposal as canonically unjustified and abusive, as can be deduced from the reasoning of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is, moreover, widely-known that the deposal of Metropolitan Filaret of Kiev by the Patriarchate of Moscow took place unjustly and anti-canonically… In the same spirit, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate annulled the anti-canonically imposed penalty and restored the unjustly-deposed Metropolitan of Kiev to his episcopal dignity,” (Fidas, Synodical Praxis, pp. 68, 70).

With these unsubstantiated allegations, the professor directly insults the Ecumenical See:

Did it take 26 years (1992-2018) for the Patriarchate to understand that Filaret’s deposal was “canonically unjustified and abusive”?

Did it have to leave the “unjustly-deposed” Filaret, an elderly person (today he is 91) under the “anti-canonically imposed penalty” for 26 years? Completely unreasonable!

And most importantly: the professor forgets that Patriarch Bartholomew himself noted regarding Filaret’s deposal: “Our Holy Great Church of Christ, recognizing in full the… exclusive competencies of the Most Holy Church of Russia under You, receives that which was synodically decided regarding the person in question, not wishing at all to cause any difficulty for Your Sister Church” (Letter of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Patriarch Alexei of Moscow, protocol no. 1203/26.8.1992). Regarding the anathematization of Filaret (1997), the Ecumenical Patriarch states in his letter to the Patriarch of Russia: “Taking cognizance of the above decision, we share it with the Hierarchy of Our Ecumenical See and impel it henceforth not to have any ecclesiastical communion with those mentioned” (Letter of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Patriarch Alexei of Moscow, protocol no. 282/7.4.1997).

Finally, when the Ecumenical Patriarch stated in writing that the Patriarchal Synod “receives that which was synodically decided regarding the person in question, not wishing at all to cause any difficulty,” did he mean that it recognizes it as “canonically unjustified and abusive,” as Mr Fidas writes later?

Mr Fidas only refers to the appeal of Filaret. Does he once more keep silent about the shocking case of Makary and the fifteen “bishops” with him? Why?! Obviously, he cannot justify unjustifiable things. The professor understands that Makary, with his band, is not entitled to exercise an appeal because he was never deposed since he is completely unordained! He draws his “consecration as a bishop” from the charlatin and imposter Chekalin. So what “restoration to hierarchical dignity” is the Patriarchate talking about? This is an absurd and impractical legal position.

Unfortunately, however, the Patriarchal Declaration of October 11, 2018 also refers to the appeal of Makary! “Third, to accept and review the petitions of appeal of Philaret Denisenko and Makary Maletich and their followers who found themselves in schism not for dogmatic reasons, in accordance with the canonical prerogatives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to receive such petitions by hierarchs and other clergy of all the autocephalous Churches. Thus, the above mentioned have been canonically reinstated to their hierarchical or priestly rank, and their faithful have been restored to communion with the Church.” What appeal? Against what judgment was it made?


4. Procrustean Scholarship…

Professor Fidas refers in his work to the very important letter of Patriarch Jeremias III (September 23, 1723) which was issued in response to a request from Tsar Peter the Great. It makes the grievous impression that he is hiding some very critical phrases of the letter that completely subvert his argument!

The professor’s citation (in Fidas, Synodical Praxis, p. 28) is as follows: “Our mediocrity… confirms, concludes and declares that that which was established by the most pious and serene autocrat… is and is called the sister in Christ Synod in the great and holy Russian Kingdom by all pious and Orthodox Christians… And it has the right to perform and institute that which the four most holy Apostolic Patriarchal Sees do. [Our mediocrity] councils, motivates and prescribes it to preserve and secure inviolate the customs and canons of the holy Seven Ecumenical Councils and all else that the holy Eastern Church holds and remains steadfast in all things unto the ages. (K. Delikanes, Patriarchal Documents, vol. 3, 234-235.”

The full letter to Peter the Great is as follows: “Our mediocrity, by the grace and authority of the most-holy life-giving and sacredly-governing Spirit, confirms, concludes and declares that that which was established by the most pious and serene autocrat, the holy king of all Muscovy, Little and White Russia, and all the Northern, Eastern and Western [lands] and all the many parts of the dominion of kyr kyr Emperor Peter Alexievich, very beloved of [our mediocrity], is and is called the sister in Christ Synod in the great and holy Russian Kingdom by all pious and Orthodox Christians, clergy and laity, rulers and ruled, and by every personal dignitary. And it has the right to perform and institute that which the four most holy Apostolic Patriarchal Sees do. [Our mediocrity] councils, motivates and prescribes it to preserve and secure inviolate the customs and canons of the holy Seven Ecumenical Councils and all else that the holy Eastern Church holds and remains steadfast in all things unto the ages.”

From the letter it is clear that the canonical jurisdiction of the Russian Church and of her Synod extends to the territorial authority of the Russian Empire, namely: the territory of “all Muscovy, Little and White Russia, and all the North, East, West and all the many parts”! In other words, Patriarch Jeremias III of Constantinople recognizes the canonical jurisdiction of the Synod of the Church of Russia over “Little… Russia,” that is, Ukraine! It is obvious why the professor concealed the clause that describes the limits of Russia’s jurisdiction. This amounts to a falsification of historical events.

Moreover, in the letter of Peter the Great to Patriarch Jeremias III, Mr Fidas adds in parentheses the word “(= appeal)”, which serves his argument. Unfortunately, however, Peter the Great did not write this word:

The professor’s quote is as follows (in Fidas, Synodical Praxis, 27-28): “So if ever they ask Your All-Holiness for any good advice for the benefit and stronger economy of the Church (= appeal), in such circumstances please do not deprive them of this, for the common interest of the Orthodox… (K. Delikanes, Patriarchal Documents, vol. 3, 231-234).”

The letter as it is written: “So if ever they ask Your All-Holiness for any good advice for the benefit and stronger economy of the Church, in such circumstances please do not deprive them of this, for the common interest of the Orthodox…”

The professor deliberately added the non-existent word (“= appeal”) to the letter, however it is not included in the original text.


5. When the scholar chooses not to have contact with reality…

Mr Fidas writes, “Therefore, the only canonical path to resolving their longstanding and sharply irreconcilable differences is the immediate proclamation of the autocephaly of the Church of Ukraine, which will satisfy a persistent and just demand of the great Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”

The professor conceals the fact that not only did there not exist any “demand of the great Orthodox Church of Ukraine” (Fidas, Synodical Praxis, p. 38), but to the contrary, the request of Hierarchs, the other clergy and the faithful laity was not to receive autocephaly. Proof of this is that the faithful people remained on the side of the canonical Church and refused to join the autocephaly.

And naturally, “the immediate proclamation of autocephaly” did not bring about the “resolution of their longstanding and sharply irreconcilable differences” that the professor assumed. To the contrary, indeed, it increased the violence.

Finally, the degree of seriousness of the study (corresponding to that of its author’s broader scholarly contribution) is demonstrated in its conclusion: “Therefore, the only canonical path to restoring the internal unity of the divided ecclesiastical body of the severely-tested Great Orthodox Church of Ukraine is, as in all the autocephalous Orthodox Churches of modern times, the immediate proclamation of autocephaly, which will prove to be particularly beneficial not only for the restoration of the internal unity of the ecclesiastical body, but also for the strengthening of the Patriarchate of Moscow’s fraternal bonds with the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine” (Fidas, Synodical Praxis, p. 71).

Inferring from what has been mentioned above, the “immediate proclamation of autocephaly” proved neither “to be particularly beneficial not only for the restoration of the internal unity of the ecclesiastical body,” nor “for the strengthening of the Patriarchate of Moscow’s fraternal bonds with the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” nor for pan-Orthodox communion!

Violence, state action against the faithful, schism within schism and all the unrest in worldwide Orthodoxy prove that Constantinople and its fellow-travelers in Ukraine had no contact with Ukrainian reality when they planned Ukraine’s “autocephaly,” which proved to be a headache.

And the most tragic thing: they turned the problem of one local Church into a pan-Orthodox problem with unforeseen consequences for the unity of Orthodoxy.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5726048.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk: the schism provoked by Constantinople is developing outside the folds of our Church



30 November 2020 - 13:53







On November 25, the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus issued a communique stating that ‘it does not object to the decision’ of Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus who has begun to mention during the liturgy the head of the Ukrainian schismatics Epifaniy Dumenko as primate of the Church of Ukraine. The decision has split the episcopate of Cyprus into two parts. What developments can ensue from this decision, Ekaterina Gracheva, hostess of the Church and World TV program asked the head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk.

‘It is difficult to predict how this schism will develop in the Orthodox world but I would like to emphasize that this schism is happening outside the folds of our Church’, His Eminence Hilarion said, ‘The Russian Orthodox Church remains united and consolidated, her episcopate both in Russia and Ukraine and Belarus and other countries is solid’.

Speaking about developments in other Local Orthodox Churches, the DECR chairman stated, ‘We can see that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has become the initiator of this schism and is its principal culprit. It was expected that the Churches which look to Constantinople (and these are primarily those which speak Greek, such as those of Greece and Cyprus) would eventually follow Patriarch Bartholomew. He is perceived in these Churches not as first among equals but actually as their chief. Therefore, if he pointed out something to them and insisted on something, they would sooner or later obey it’.

However, as far as the Church of Cyprus is concerned, Metropolitan Hilarion believes that the synodal decision made this week has not put an end to the story since the recent developments have shown that there is a serious division in the Synod over the Ukrainian issue. ‘The members of the Synod who voted against the decision have remained unconvinced – they will neither concelebrate with the schismatics nor mention the schismatic leaders during the liturgy; in this regard, they remain very first and staunch. And we will yet see how the situation will develop further within the Orthodox Church of Cyprus’, the DECR chairman summed up his answer.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5728065.html






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Patriarchal service on the 25th Sunday after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (November 29, 2020)

























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Patriarchal service on the eve of the Feast of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (December 3, 2020)






















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Patriarchal service on the Week of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (March 8, 2020) - PART I
































































__________________
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 3rd, 2020 #114
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Patriarchal service on the Week of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (March 8, 2020) - PART II















































































































__________________
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 7th, 2020 #115
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Patriarchal service on Saturday of the first week of Great Lent in the Intercession (Pokrovsky) Monastery in Moscow (March 7, 2020)




















































































__________________
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 10th, 2020 #116
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Metropolitan Nikephoros of Kykkos and Tellyria on Archbishop of Cyprus’s recognition of head of the UOC: “We refuse to accept this decision because affects our faith”



3 December 2020 - 13:48







In a talk with a Sigma TV reporter (Republic of Cyprus), Metropolitan Nikephoros of Kykkos and Tellyria spoke about the situation in the Orthodox Church of Cyprus with regard to the decision of the Synod on Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus’s liturgical mention of the Ukrainian schismatics leader Epifaniy Dumenko as ‘primate of the church of Ukraine’ and about the events and circumstances that preceded it.

The archpastor set forth very minutely and precisely the story of the Ukrainian church problem showing all the invalidity of the actions of Constantinople which declared in 2018 ‘the cancellation’ of the more than 300 year-old history of the document which transferred the Metropolis of Kiev to the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate and ‘the reinstatement of the ranks’ of Ukrainian schismatics, including those who had no canonical ordination, and which later granted ‘autocephaly’ to an ‘OCU’ made up of a few schismatic groups. After his overview of the subject, Metropolitan Nikephoros noted in particular that what did matter was the question of who has the right to consecrate and judge bishops.

At the same time, he pointed out that he respected, loved and revered the Ecumenical Patriarchate for its great merits in the past. However, in his opinion, even if the Ecumenical Patriarch does have the right to grant autocephaly, it is only provided that there is a consent to it by other autocephalous Orthodox Churches.

Answering the question of who has the right to define the boundaries of autocephalous Churches, His Eminence cited solid arguments explaining that each Patriarchate has its own list of dioceses indicating all the metropolia belonging to it.

When the talk turned to accusatory statements made by opponents to his stand, the metropolitan wondered about the interests he is alleged to have and pursue in Russia and stated that he had no such interests. He emphasized that the allegations about certain ‘Russian investments’ are untrue. His Eminence attested to his concern for a possible development of a serious schism in the fold of Orthodoxy, which is the deepest sin that makes him act as he does.

The archpastor was also perplexed by accusations of egotism against the Cyprian archpastors who opposed to taking part in the legalization of the Ukrainian schism through the recognition of its head Epifaniy Dumenko. ‘Then what egotism will we satisfy – that we will become metropolitans in Russia?’ he said.

The metropolitan also said that by his recognition of Epifaniy, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus ignored the decision of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus made on 18 February 2019. At that session, having expressed an opinion that the actions undertaken by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine were aimed to achieve appeasement and unity in the local Church, the Synod stated; ‘at present this aim has not been achieved’. In case the unification of Ukrainian Orthodoxy never happened, the Church of Cyprus deemed it important to convene ‘a Pan-Orthodox Council or a Synaxis of the Primates’. As for the apostolic succession of the structure newly created in Ukraine and recognized by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, it was underlined that ‘the two millennia-old experience of the Church of Cyprus as well as that of the whole Orthodox Church gives rise to our doubts as to the possibility to legitimate in retrospect the ordinations administered by bishops who had been defrocked, excommunicated and anathematised’.

Metropolitan Nikephoros also noted that even if, along with the liturgical mention, concelebration with the head of ‘the OCU’ should take place, it would already become a direct schism in the Church.

He said that for the sake of oikonomia the liturgical mention of the Archbishop of Cyprus should be continued, but if he keeps mentioning Epifaniy during the liturgy, nobody will concelebrate with him.

At the same time, His Eminence emphasized that His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos cannot threaten to defrock those who disagree with his position on the Ukrainian problem. ‘I am not scared by the fright of defrocking’, he said adding that, at all appearances, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople did not mean something like it’. ‘He is not a bad man, and we know him better’, the hierarch stated.

To the journalist’s question whether the decision of the Holy Synod is binding, His Eminence suggested reflecting on the question: did not Archbishop Chrysostomos ignore the 2019 Synodal resolution on the Ukrainian topic? ‘We are always obedient to the Statute of our Church but when the point is faith, canons and dogmata, we have the right to refuse to attend the Synod’, he said.

His Eminence continued the talk mentioning Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol with whom the Archbishop of Cyprus and the Metropolitan of Pathos had refused to concelebrate for nine years. ‘If the Church tolerated it for nine years, why it should be so strict now?’ the hierarch asked, ‘We refuse to accept this decision because it affects our faith’.

He mentioned the changeability of the stand taken by some hierarchs at the latest session of the Synod of the Church of Cyprus. Thus, initially among those who opposed the recognition of Epifaniy was also the Metropolitan of Pathos. In addition, the seven bishops who opposed the decision were initially joined by the Metropolitan of Trimythous, who, already at the second session, ‘acted contrary to his hierarchal conscience’.

Speaking about the compromise settlement he proposed to the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Nikephoros explained that he was concerned not with objection to the liturgical mention of Epifaniy but with a possibility for going over to concelebration and, more broadly, to the Eucharistic communion with him. However, His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos deemed the second part of the proposal offensive.

Metropolitan Nikephoros was also concerned for the danger of ontological defilement of the episcopal corps on the pan-Orthodox level, since the leaders of the ‘OCU’ have no apostolic succession.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5731010.html






On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields the representation of the Orthodox Church in America



8 December 2020 - 10:08







On December 7, 2020, the commemoration day of St. Catherine the Great Martyr, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, officiated at the festive service at the Moscow representation of the Orthodox Church in America – the Church of St. Catherine In-the-Fields.

The archpastor was assisted by Bishop Anthony of Moravichi, representative of the Patriarch of Serbia to the Patriarch of Moscow; Protopresbyter Vladimir Divakov, secretary to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), representative of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Archpriest Daniel Andreyuk, rector of the St. Catherine Church and representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchal see; Archpriest Kakhaber Gogoshvili, Georgian Orthodox Church, acting dean of the Moscow church district; Archpriest Sergiy Tocheny, rector of the Church of Jacob Zabedee in-Kazennaya Sloboda and the Church of the Finding of the Lord’s Sepulcher in-Barashi; Archpriest Leonid Kalinin, rector of the Church of Great Martyr Clement the Pope of Rome In-Zamoskvorechie and chairman of the Experts Council for Church Art, Architecture and Restoration; as well as clergy of the St. Catherine Church.

After the Prayer of Fervent Supplication, Metropolitan Hilarion lifted up a prayer read at a time of the spread of a pernicious infection.

After the liturgy, Archpriest Daniel Andreyuk greeted Metropolitan Hilarion and thanked his concelebrants for their prayers and read out the message of greetings from His Beatitude Tikhon, Metropolitan of All America and Canada.

“A year ago we marked together a feast timing it to the 25th anniversary of the representation church of the Orthodox Church in America in Moscow. At the time of our joyful celebration, no one of us knew what hardships the coming 2020 year would bring to us. Indeed, it has been a hard year filled with sorrow and confusion. But we are inspired by the example of martyrs who had to overcome great trials in their lives. They endured starvation and betrayal, torture and loneliness – all for the sake of the truth. They did not fear the universal evil and put their trust in Christ Who said to us, ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world’ (Jn.16:33)”, His Beatitude stated in particular.

Asserting that St. Catherine the Great Martyr showed an example of courage and found a great power in the Saviour’s promise, His Beatitude called to follow her example and always trust the Lord despite all the problems and hardships in today’s world.

On behalf of the clergy and parishioners of the St. Catherine Church, Archpriest Daniel presented Metropolitan Hilarion with an icon of Christ the Saviour. “May this image serve you as a reminder of our feast and give you strength”, he said to His Eminence.

In his archpastoral homily, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk said:

“Your Eminence, dear Bishop Anthony, representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the Moscow Patriarchal see,

Very Reverend Father Daniel, representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Patriarchate of Moscow and All Russia,

Dear fathers, brothers and sisters!

I cordially congratulate all of you on the feast of St. Catherine the Great Martyr and convey to you a blessing and greeting from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

Indeed, as His Beatitude Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, has reminded us, the year 2020 has be hard for all of us. For it has been marked with a world pandemic, which is not weakening to this day. Each day we see how the number of the infected and dying is growing. Throughout this time, we have been ardently praying to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Mother of God and all the saints we venerate, so that this misfortune may pass quicker, that the lives of our loved ones may be preserved and we could return to the way of life we are accustomed to, acting without regard for numerous restrictions existing today; above all, that we could freely pray in our churches, partake of the holy communion and become united with the Lord in spirit and body.

Unfortunately, not all have this possibility at present. Some people, especially elderly, and those who suffer from various illnesses, are recommended to stay at home, within the confines of their flats. Of course, this difficult situation compels us to pray fervently for a quicker end of all this.

In the life of the Orthodox Church in America, this year has been marked with an importance commemorative date – the 50th anniversary of the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in America, which we all could have solemnly celebrated together if it were not for the existing restrictions.

Today a peculiar mythology is spreading throughout the world, which has been created by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, alleging that the Patriarch of Constantinople alone has the right to grant autocephaly to various Churches. Moreover, according to this mythology, the Patriarch of Constantinople can take away a part of any Church and give it autocephaly. This is what he tried to do in Ukraine. But the attempt has suffered a defeat because the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church has not followed the Patriarch of Constantinople, not accepted the paper he signed but remained faithful to the Russian Orthodox Church of which it is an integral part.

It is sufficient to look at the history of the emergence of Local Orthodox Churches to see that this ridiculous theory propagated to and imposed on Local Orthodox Churches today has nothing to do with reality. Neither the Church of Alexandria, nor that of Antioch, not that of Jerusalem, nor that of Georgia received their autocephaly from the Patriarchate of Constantinople – they had become autocephalous prior to the Church of Constantinople.

I do remember how, being a 16 year-old boy, I was present at the festivities in Tbilisi on the 1500th anniversary of the autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Therefore, when we are told now that the Patriarch of Constantinople alone has certain special rights and privileges allegedly granted him by Ecumenical Councils, we do not believe in these fairy tales and fables.

We know from history that the statutes of autocephaly emerged in various ways. For instance, the Russian Orthodox Church became autocephalous not owing to a tomos from Constantinople, as nobody gave it to us. It happened so that the Patriarch of Constantinople signed off unia with Rome in the mid-15th century and the see of Constantinople found on itself a Uniate patriarch instead of an Orthodox Patriarch. So, the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church had to elect a new metropolitan. And the procedure was to travel of Constantinople to affirm the election and only after that the elected metropolitan could come into his own. But since there was no Orthodox Patriarch in Constantinople at that moment, there was nothing left for the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church to do but to elect their own metropolitan and install him without the participation of the Patriarch of Constantinople. And many centuries later, recognition was given not only to the autocephaly of the Russian Church but also to the Patriarchal Office, and not only by the Patriarch of Constantinople, but also three other Eastern Churches – those of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem. This is how our autocephaly emerged.

The autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America emerged at the request of the faithful, episcopate and clergy. They asked for it the Russian Orthodox Church, which was the mother for the autocephalous Church in America, for it was from Rus’ that Orthodoxy came to the American continent through the feats of Russian monks and missionaries. By the will of the Holy Spirit and through the decision of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, autocephaly was granted to the Orthodox Church in America. And nobody has a right to challenge it or to encroach on it. May this date remind us of the glorious page in the history of the Orthodox Church in America and of those who stood at the origins of this important and remarkable event.

A half century has elapsed since that time. The Orthodox Church in America has been developing dynamically: her churches exist in all the American states; her faithful are Orthodox but they are also citizens and patriots of their Motherland. And I would like to wish the whole Orthodox Church in America that she, conscious of this gift received from the Russian Orthodox Church by the will of the Holy Spirit, may grow from strength to strength in her pastoral and missionary ministry in the American continent.

The representation of the Orthodox Church in America, which has existed in Moscow for long years, is a liaison between our two sister Churches. I hold this church especially dear because, as you know, I used to serve in it as a priest for several years under one of your predecessor, dear Father Rector, whose name is also Daniel, and he, as I know, is still in good health despite his very old age. We always remember Father Daniel and his wife in our prayers.

I would like to wish God’s help to you, Reverend Father Daniel, the clergy and parishioners of this church. May the intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God defend us; may Her honourable veil protect us from every evil. May the Lord, through the intercession of Great Martyr Catherine, whose memory we brightly celebrate today, help us in our life journey.

During this Nativity Fast, let us prepare ourselves by prayer and participation in the Divine Liturgy for the meeting with the Divine Enfant Christ Who was born in Bethlehem. May the Lord preserve us for many good years.

Happy holiday! May the Lord preserve all of you!”




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5731975.html






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Patriarchal Service on the Feast of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (December 4, 2020)























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Memorial service on the twelfth anniversary of the death of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II (December 5, 2020)



















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Patriarchal service on the eve of the Memorial Day of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (December 5, 2020)


































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Patriarchal Service on the Memorial Day of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (December 6, 2020)















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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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Patriarchal service on Friday of the first week of Great Lent. Matins at the Novospassky Monastery (March 6, 2020)















































































































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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
 
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Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church holds on-line session



8 December 2020 - 13:27






On 8th December 2020, an on-line session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church took place under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church participated in the meeting remotely, from the Patriarchal residence in Peredelkino.





His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed the Holy Synod members with an opening speech.





As was proposed by His Holiness, the participants in the meeting sang ‘Memory Eternal’ to all those hierarchs, monastics and clergy who had died from the coronavirus infection.





The list of permanent members of the Holy Synod includes: 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 Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavsk, Patriarchal Exarch for 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 participate in the winter sessions (September – February) were Archbishop Aksy of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Kurily; Bishop Yefrem of Borovichi and Pestovo; Bishop Alexy of Buzuluk and Sorochinsk; Bishop Simon of Shakhty and Millerovo; and Bishop Milety of Roslavl and Desnogorsk.





***


On 8th December 2020, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill participated in the Holy Synod’s session remotely, from the Patriarchal residence in Peredelkino. His Holiness was in the hall, where the Holy Synod historically held its sessions. Hanging on the walls there are portraits of all Patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, starting from Patriarch Job of Moscow and ending with the current Primate. In this hall, on 6th December 2008, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad was elected Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne by secret ballot of the Holy Synod members.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5735313.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s address at the session of the Holy Synod held on 8th December 2020



8 December 2020 - 14:11






On 8th December 2020, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church held an on-line session under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who delivered an opening address. The text of the speech is given below.



Your Eminences and Your Graces, Your Beatitude,

I cordially greet you, rejoicing at the opportunity to meet with you, albeit remotely, to see you, thanks to modern communication facilities, and to hold a session of the Holy Synod of our Church, during which we will consider a whole range of issues of profound significance for the life of our Church, including some important personnel matters.





We have nine items on our agenda and I will enumerate them: a report by His Eminence Hilarion, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, on his trip to Serbia with the view of attending the funeral of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej; a report by Metropolitan Hilarion on the activities of the Commission for Old-Rite Parishes and Cooperation with the Old-Rite Community; a report by His Eminence Metropolitan Dionisy concerning the Regulations of the Commission for Bringing Shrines for Veneration (we need to approve the text of the Regulations); a report by Vladyka Dionisy on the Commission for Promoting Orthodox Pilgrimage (we are to approve the Commission membership); a report by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion on the Commission for Theology and Theological Education of the Inter-Council Presence; a report by His Eminence Metropolitan Dionisy on the approval of liturgical texts of akathists, troparions and kontakions; my reports on institutions abroad and on the 24th Christmas Readings; finally, there is a very important matter pertaining to appointment of hierarchs and to the changes that we will have to make given the current circumstances, including the demise of our eminent Vladykas.





Before we begin the session, I would like to draw your attention to the recent sad events in the life of the Church and to say that among those who died over this period were His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, as well as His Eminence Iov (Tyvonyuk), former Metropolitan of Chelyabinsk and Zlatoust; His Eminence Ioanniky (Kobzev), former Metropolitan of Lugansk and Alchevsk, and His Eminence Feofan, Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan. I suggest that in the beginning of the session we prayerfully commemorate our deceased brothers and sing ‘Memory Eternal’ to them.





This past period in the life of our Church and our people was marked by sorrowful developments caused by the spreading coronavirus infection. These circumstances affected the life of the Church, the life of our laity, monastics, and clergy. In some regions restrictions on church attendance were introduced. First of all, it concerned the capital city of Moscow, where the situation with the spreading coronavirus infection differed considerably and still differs from the situation in other cities and towns and in the rest of our country. In Moscow, the percentage of the diseased is really high, so at some point a decision was taken to impose restrictions on church attendance. It was a very painful and hard measure, but it had to be taken, because the disease was spreading too dynamically. Unfortunately, this dreadful infection affected many of the clergymen: a large number of our brothers, dozens of people – I will not say the exact number, for some clarifications are still needed – but some 100 people died from this disease. And some are saying, even people vested in ecclesiastical robes, that there is no epidemic, that it is a fabrication, that all this has been brought into our life in order to restrict people from attending churches and travelling freely. The response to this lie is the hardest truth about our demised fathers and brothers. Now there is no possibility to enumerate all the deceased, among whom there are bishops of God, and I would ask all to commemorate our fathers, brothers, and monastic sisters who died from this terrible pestilence and sing ‘Memory Eternal’ to them.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5731267.html






Holy Synod takes a number of decisions pertaining to Moscow Patriarchate’s dioceses and parishes abroad, and external relations of the Russian Orthodox Church



8 December 2020 - 14:12







During the session held on 8th December 2020 under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church took a number of decisions pertaining to the external activities of the Russian Orthodox Church. Opening the meeting, His Holiness delivered an address.

The Synod members heard a report by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on dioceses and parishes abroad (Minutes No. 101) and resolved to incorporate the Parish of the Holy Royal Passion-bearers located in the Principality of Monaco into the diocese of Chersonesos.

The participants in the meeting also heard a report by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, on the participation of the Russian Orthodox Church’s delegation in the funeral of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia (Minutes No. 94).

Historical background:

His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia passed away unto the Lord on 20th November 2020, as the result of the complications caused by the coronavirus disease.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, went to Serbia to attend the funeral of the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

On 21st November, Metropolitan Hilarion met with the Locum Tenens of the Serbian Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia, and members of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and celebrated a litiya at the coffin of the late Serbian Patriarch.

On 22nd November, the Divine Liturgy and the funeral of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej took place at the Church of St. Sava in Belgrade. Among the concelebrants were hierarchs of the Serbian Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Metropolitan Antony of Borispol and Brovary, as well as clergy of the Antiochian, Russian, and Serbian Orthodox Churches. After the funeral the DECR chairman read out a message of condolences from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

During his visit to Belgrade, the DECR chairman had conversations with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić; Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia Ivica Dačić; Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selaković; Montenegro’s Prime Minister-designate Zdravko Krivokapić; Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik; and Russia’s Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko.

The Holy Synod took the report under advisement and resolved to offer prayers unto the Lord for the repose of the soul of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej in the mansions of the righteous.

The Synod members also heard and approved a report by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk on the activities of the Commission for Old-Rite Parishes and Cooperation with the Old-Rite Community in 2020 (Minutes No. 95).




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5735320.html






Synod of Patriarchal Exarchate in Western Europe holds online session



10 December 2020 - 19:46







On 10th December 2020, the Synod of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Western Europe held online session, website of the Korsun diocese reports.

Attending the session that took place under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Anthony of Korsun and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, were the ruling bishops serving in Western Europe: Archbishop Simon of Brussels and Belgium, Archbishop Yelisey of the Hague and the Netherlands, Archbishop Nestor of Madrid and Lisbon, and Bishop Matthew of Sourozh.

Metropolitan Anthony presented reports on church life in the context of the spread of coronavirus infection, on the Exarchate’s cooperation with the dioceses of the Local Orthodox Churches in Europe, the Western European Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Archdiocese of the Western European Parishes of Russian Tradition.

The members of the Synod reported on the state of affairs in the dioceses entrusted to their archpastoral administration and discussed a number of personnel issues.

In accordance with the Internal Regulations on the Patriarchal Exarchate of Western Europe, the minutes of the session will be submitted for approval to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5735326.html






‘OCU’ representatives make an assault on a church of the canonical Church in Chernovtsy region in Ukraine



13 December 2020 - 15:36







On Saturday morning, activists of the ‘OCU’ together with ‘priests’ of this structure got into the yard of the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, reported the Information-Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to the Union of Orthodox Journalists, the attackers tried to penetrate into the Church of the Dormition through the narthex. As Rev. Vitaly Goncharyuk, head of the information department of the diocese of Chernovtsy related, the raiders failed to get inside the church, ‘There was a narthex and the entrance to it was locked up. They managed to break it and wanted to move on but there was another braced door and they failed to open it before the arrival of police who responded to the call in time.

Before the arrival of police, the supporters of the schismatic structure broke the video cameras installed in the church territory and attacked the rector striking him at his chest with a shovel handle and spraying teargas into his face.

Father Vitaly reported that with the arrival of law-enforcement, the situation was stabilized. To prevent further clashes the police became a living corridor between the parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the OCU representatives.

Most of the attackers, the priest emphasized, were not locals since they were brought to the Mikhalcha village in an organized manner to participate in a preplanned assault. According to eyewitnesses, there were from 50 to 100 of them, some armed with brass knuckles.

It was not the first assault on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s church of the Dormition at the Mikhalcha village. The previous attempts to capture the church were made by the OCU supporters in August and November 2019.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5738476.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates Joseph Biden on his election as President of the United States of America



15 December 2020 - 17:30







His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent greetings to Joseph Biden on the occasion of his victory in the presidential election in the United States of America.



Mr. Joseph Biden, President-elect United States of America

Dear Mr. Biden,

Please accept my congratulations on your election as President of the United States of America.

The world today is in greater need of stability and security, as well as the constructive interstate cooperation aimed at tackling various problems of extremism and terrorism, regional armed conflicts, economic justice, and environmental protection. I believe that the interaction between our countries and peoples, based on historical experience, can make a significant contribution to seeking effective responses to the present-day global challenges.

The Russian Orthodox Church considers interfaith and intercultural dialogue to be an important instrument for promoting mutual respect, neighbourliness, and accord in society. We express our willingness to work together with the authorities of the United States of America in this sphere.

For a long time now, emigrants from the countries of the Moscow Patriarchate’s canonical responsibility have been living and working in the United States. Many of them are Orthodox Christians who receive pastoral care from our Church’s Patriarchal parishes in your country, as well as the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. I hope that the American authorities will be attentive to the religious needs of the Russian-speaking flock.

I wish you good health and wisdom in decision-making, and I wish peace and welfare to the citizens of the United States of America.

Yours respectfully,

+KIRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5735783.html






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Patriarchal service on the eve of the memory of the Apostle Andrew in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (December 12, 2020)










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Patriarchal service on the day of commemoration of the Apostle Andrew in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (December 13, 2020)

























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Patriarchal service on the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (December 19, 2020)




























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Patriarchal service on 28th Sunday after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (December 20, 2020)















__________________
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 21st, 2020 #119
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Patriarchal service on Friday of the first week of Great Lent. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra (March 6, 2020) - PART I


























































































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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 December 21st, 2020 #120
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Patriarchal service on Friday of the first week of Great Lent. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra (March 6, 2020) - PART II


























































































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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
 
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