Russian Orthodox Church - Page 9

Alex Him · November 24th, 2021

Foundation named after His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia is instituted at St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary of the Orthodox Church in America

12 November 2021 - 17:00

On the occasion of the upcoming celebration of the 75th birthday of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary has instituted a Foundation named after His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia with a purpose of encouraging Biblical Studies. The announcement of this news came from the president of the seminary Very Rev. Chad Hatfield on November 11, 2021, before an academic theological conference on “Search for Scriptures” began its work at the seminary.
Archpriest Chad Hatfield pointed out that it had been a unanimous decision of the seminary’s Board of Trustees to name the Foundation after the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church in recognition of His Holiness as a principled and consistent advocate of the canonicity of the church order at the time of crisis in world Orthodoxy.

The president of St. Vladimir’s Seminary said that the appearance of the Foundation had become possible thanks to the involvement of the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, an honorary Doctor of Divinity of the Seminary and a member of its Board of Trustees for many years. The raised funds will significantly expand the possibilities of St. Vladimir’s Seminary in the area of studying the Bible: part of the funds will go to the scholarships for the students working in this area. There are also plans for opening the position of Professor of Biblical Studies at the seminary.

The conference at St. Vladimir’s Seminary brought together leading biblical scholars from the universities of the United States. Many guests attended the opening session of the conference, including His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; hierarchs of Local Orthodox Churches; and representatives of other Christian confessions.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88406/

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk sums up the Search for Scriptures theological conference

13 November 2021 - 16:14

On November 12, 2021, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, who is in the USA with a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and at the invitation of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada, attended the plenary sessions of the academic-theological conference on “Search for Scriptures”, which took place at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in New York.

The conference gathered leading American specialists in the New Testament studies, including Professor Emeritus Carl Holladay, Kendler School of Theology, the Emory University; Professor of Biblical Studies Craig Keenner, Asbury Theological Seminary; Professor of New Testament Studies Gregory Sterling, Yale School of Divinity; Professor Emeritus Edit Humphrey, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; Prof Garwood Anderson, dean of the Nashotah-House Theological Seminary; Mr John Barnet, Associate Professor at the Chair of the New Testament, St. Vladimir’s Seminary; Associate Professor Bruce Beck, the Holy Cross Seminary in Brooklyn, MA; Prof of Religion and Philosophy James Walles, dean of the Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Ten.

Each of the scholars who came to St. Vladimir’s Seminary presented a paper. Many speakers pointed to the importance of dialogue between the Orthodox Church and representatives of the contemporary biblical scholarship, which for the most part ignores the patristic tradition of interpreting Holy Scriptures while in Orthodoxy precisely this tradition is considered normative.

Summing up the conference, Metropolitan Hilarion noted that the four canonical Gospels are the main and only sources from which information about the life and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ should be drawn. Neither the apocryphal Gospels, nor any other “alternative sources” can be perceived as containing reliable information about Him. And the most authoritative interpretations of the Gospels is that which has formed within the Church and has been approved by it. At the same time, Orthodox theologians should not ignore the achievements of contemporary Bible studies in those aspects that do not contradict the Orthodox doctrine. Dialogue between representatives of the Orthodox Church and contemporary biblical scholarship is important for the both sides, Metropolitan Hilarion emphasized.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88410/

A clergyman of the Patriarchate of Antioch meets with students of Volyn Theological Seminary

13 November 2021 - 21:30

On November 12, 2021, Archimandrite Romanos Al Hannat, the abbot of Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, met with students of the Volyn Theological Seminary, the Union of Orthodox Journalists reports with reference to the seminary website.
Archimandrite Romanos has come in Ukraine to take part in the International Conference on “The Conciliarity of the Church: Theological, Canonical and Historical Dimensions” that was held at the Kiev Laura of the Caves on November 11, 2021.

The meeting with the students was devoted to the relations of the Volyn Theological Seminary with the University of Balamand in Lebanon. Archimandrite Romanos is an associate professor of Byzantine music and hymnology at the University’s Institute of Theology. The guest was accompanied by Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, deputy head of Department for external church relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Archimandrite Romanos reminded the students that the life of the Fathers of the Church and zealots of piety St. John Chrysostom and St. John of Damascus had been closely linked with Antioch.

He also said that he was happy to visit Ukraine and added: “I dearly love the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and you also should love your Church and take care of it with humility.”

The students took an active interest in various aspects of religious life, youth ministry and the situation of Christianity in general and Orthodoxy in particular in the Middle East.

At the end, Archimandrite Romanos chanted the troparion to the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in the Arabic language.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88409/

DECR Chairman celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the church in honor of the Three Hierarchs at St. Vladimir's Seminary in New York

14 November 2021 - 15:00

On November 13, 2021, on the feast day of St. John Chrysostom (according to the New Julian calendar), with the blessing of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, the Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church in honor of the Three Hierarchs at St. Vladimir Seminary in New York.

Concelebrating with the Archpastor were the President of the seminary, Archpriest Chad Hatfield, clergymen from among the teachers and students, as well as clerics of the St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York.

Praying at the divine service were the teachers, staff and students of the seminary, as well as the participants of the “Searching the Scriptures” academic theological conference, which had ended the day before and was dedicated to the publication of four of the six volumes of Metropolitan Hilarion’s book “Jesus Christ: His Life and Teaching" in English.

After reading the Gospel, Metropolitan Hilarion addressed the congregation with the following sermon:

"Yesterday we attended the conference 'Searching the Scriptures', and today we are celebrating the memory of one of the greatest interpreters of Scripture of all times, Saint John Chrysostom. We commemorate him in a chapel which is dedicated to his memory, alongside with two other great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers, Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian.

In today’s Gospel we heard the words of Jesus Christ from the Gospel of John: “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.” These words are very appropriately chosen by the Church to illustrate the life and work of one its greatest teachers, who in his homilies and writings directed attention of his contemporaries to Jesus Christ. He wanted them to become a Jesus Generation.

Now, this phrase “Jesus Generation” doesn’t belong to John Chrysostom. It was first coined fifty years ago, when Billy Graham preached before an audience of several thousands in Chicago. The musical Godspell, based on the parables of Jesus, had only just been composed: it played in theaters all across America. A year earlier, the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar was performed for the first time, which quickly gained popularity.

With characteristic passion, Billy Graham exclaimed: “It’s interesting to me that, in 1971, the plays, the books, the operas, the movies about Jesus—our generation cannot escape Jesus. And when Good News for Modern Man came out, a new translation of the New Testament by the American Bible Society, they sold twenty-five million copies. We cannot escape Jesus! I’ve never heard of an opera or a play being about Buddha, or Mohammed, or Gandhi. But our generation has become hung up on Jesus. Young people are talking about Jesus. He’s the subject of conversation today on the campus, in the high schools, everywhere. Young people are discussing Jesus Christ, and they’re asking the question, “Who is he?”

Jesus himself answered this question very clearly. “I am the door”, he said, “If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved”. Interestingly enough, he doesn’t point to any teaching or commandment as a way to salvation. He points to himself, to his own person. He says: “I am the way, and the life and the truth”. Not my teaching, but I.

It is not by mere chance that the followers of Jesus at a very early stage of the Church’s development called themselves Christians, not after any particular teaching but after the person of Jesus Church. And it is not by chance that the preachers of our times want us to be Jesus Generation rather than just simply followers of a particular teaching. We are called to live with Jesus, to put him in the very heart of our spiritual life, to learn who he was by “searching the Scriptures”, but participating in the Divine Liturgy, by receiving his body and blood, by practicing Jesus prayer. And indeed, by following his commandments.

Fifty years have passed since Billy Graham delivered his famous speech in Chicago. Since then, two new generations have grown up. But can one possibly say that they are not Jesus generations? Can one possibly say that interest in the person and teaching of Jesus has flagged or decreased since then?

I belong to a generation that was not the Jesus generation. In the 1960s and 1970s, few in the Soviet Union knew or spoke of Jesus Christ: his name was mentioned only in specialized literature on “scientific atheism.” Believers of various church communities lived isolated lives; the theme of religion practically did not exist in the public sphere; the name of Jesus was not mentioned in magazines or on television or in history textbooks. People knew about the Bible and the Gospels mainly from atheist literature.

But the times changed, and at the end of the 1980s to the beginning of the 1990s the generation that was not the Jesus generation became the Jesus generation. Millions of people read through the Gospels, discovered Jesus as God and Savior for themselves, came to Church, and received baptism.

For nearly two thousand years already now the call has resounded on earth: “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.” Millions of people entered and continue to enter through this door. Currently more that two billion inhabitants of our planet consider themselves followers of Jesus, belonging to various Christian confessions, and each day the global community of Jesus’ disciples increases by tens of thousands of new members.

Christianity began from something that by human standards can be called a complete failure. The tragic death of Jesus, as it appeared then to many, erased all hope for the success of the movement that he started. And nevertheless, it was this movement that became the most successful missionary project in the entire history of humankind. Over the course of two thousand years, the persistent growth in the number of Christians continues, even if today Christianity is facing the competition of other large-scale missionary projects.

In the West, many call our age “post-Christian.” People speak of the decay of Christian civilization, of the decrease in the number of the faithful, of the fall in the number of priestly and monastic vocations, and of the closing of churches and monasteries.

In order to be convinced that we in no way live in a post-Christian age, it is sufficient to visit one of the Orthodox countries, in which a large-scale revival of religious life continues that began more than a quarter of a century ago. In the Russian Orthodox Church alone, within thirty years, there have been more than thirty thousand churches either built or reconstructed from ruins: this means that a thousand churches were opened each year, or three churches a day. More than eight hundred monasteries were opened, which have been filled with monks and nuns, mostly young ones. More than fifty seminaries and religious schools have been established or resumed activity; theological institutes and universities have appeared; in secular universities, schools and departments of theology have been opened.

This upsurge in religious life in the territory of a former atheist empire, unexpected by many and unprecedented in scale, cannot be explained by natural or sociopolitical factors alone. It has uncovered a powerful source of spiritual energy, which bears Christianity in itself and which is of a supernatural nature. This source stems not from Christian moral or social teaching, and not from divine services or theological studies. It has a single origin—the person of the God-Man Jesus Christ, who continues to act in historical space and time, which he unexpectedly invaded two thousand years ago.

Like a spring, which can be compressed and decompressed, historical Christianity in different ages and in different places has experienced periods of persecution and periods of external prosperity; it has become, correspondingly, a “little flock” (Lk 12.32) at times—a small community of those persecuted and rejected—and, at other times, has become an army of many millions of good soldiers for Christ (2 Tim 2.3). But external success must never lead to triumphalism, just as an apparent lack of success must not become a cause for discouragement or despair.

Beginning from complete failure, Christianity, in the person of its divine founder, has in the final reckoning prevailed in such a victory over the evil and falsehood of this world that there is no other analogue to it in history. It has compelled millions of people to reexamine their ideas about God, the world, and themselves. By his intrusion into history, the incarnate God has changed its trajectory once and for all. Even if the victory that he has achieved is recognized and acknowledged not by all and not in all places, even if many do not notice it—just as two thousand years ago many did not notice that God had come into the world—this victory has absolute and lasting value. The unflagging interest in Christianity and in the person of its founder testifies to this.

The strength of Christianity stems from the fact that, having once come to earth, Christ has not left it to go anywhere: in the body he ascended to heaven, to the Father, but in spirit he remained with his followers on earth (Mt 28.20). The Church that he founded continues to be the place of his living presence, and millions of people are convinced of this in their personal experience.

The post-Christian age will come only after the second coming of Jesus Christ. As long as the history of humankind continues on earth, Christ will continue to act in this history. His divine countenance will always attract people, and generation after generation will enter through this door, becoming nothing else than Jesus generations."

At the end of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion was cordially greeted by the President of St. Vladimir's Seminary, Archpriest Chad Hatfield. On behalf of the teachers and students of the seminary, he expressed sincere gratitude to the DECR Chairman for the interesting and fruitful communication within the framework of the "Searching the Scriptures" conference, which ended with a common prayer on the feast day of St. John Chrysostom.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88412/

Honorary mother-superior of Gorny Convent honored with Patriarchal award on her 90th birthday

15 November 2021 - 10:00

On Sunday November 14, 2021, marking the 90th birthday of honorary mother-superior Georgia (Schukina) of the Gorny Convent, Archimandrite Alexander (Yelisov), head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem presided at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the convent.

Concelebrating were Archpriest Nikolai Zhdanov and Hieromonk Innokenty (Bespalov), the ordained staff members of the Mission Hegumen Nikon (Golovko) and Deacon Iliya Drachuk.

Mother-superior of the Gorny Convent Hegumeness Yekaterina (Chernysheva) with the sisters and parishioners of the convent were praying at the service. By the time of the Epistle and Gospel readings Hegumeness Georgia had stepped up to the mother-superior’s place.

After the Dismissal, a thanksgiving moleben for the health and well-being of the honorary mother-superior of the convent was conducted and “Many years” sung in her honor.

Following the moleben, Archimandrite Alexander addressed Hegumeness Georgia with hearty greetings on behalf of the Mission’s staff members and Gorny Convent’s sisters and read out a congratulatory message fr om His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia that said:

“Much esteemed Mother Hegumeness! Your life is full of burdensome trials and creative works for the benefit of the Church. Having survived the seizure of Leningrad and loss of parents, you found belief in God and chose the way of service to Him as a nun. With a blessing of the holy starets Seraphim of Vyritsa, you entered the Pühtitsa convent, wh ere you were carrying out all kinds of responsible obediences. After that you were fated to take part in the reconstruction works in the Convent of St. John on the embankment of the river Karpovka [in St. Petersburg] founded by St. John of Kronstadt. It is gratifying to witness that in all circumstances, difficult as they may be, you would always put your trust in God, and in response to your sincere prayers, He would grand you His mercies and benefits. I would like to express a special gratitude to you for many years of the assiduous service at the head of the Gorny Convent in Jerusalem, of which up to the present time you its honorary the mother-superior. In recognition of your merits and in connection with your 90th birthday I find it only just to honour you with a “Patriarchal Gratitude” medal. On this remarkable day I prayerfully wish you inexhaustible strength, peace and joy in the Lord.”

Archimandrite Alexander handed over the Patriarchal award to Hegumeness Georgia and after that the clergymen of the Mission, sisters and parishioners of the convent got together for a memorial photo to be taken.

The celebration in honour of Hegumeness Georgia continued at a repast in the refectory of the convent: the sisters of the Gorny Convent sang a spiritual ode composed in honor of the mother-superior; as edifying reading during the meal, and passages from Hegumeness Georgia’s book of memories “Way as Long as Life” were read out.

In the Hegumeness’ chamber, following the repast, the honorary mother-superior received congratulations from Hegumeness Yekaterina (Chernysheva) with the sisters and from the clergymen who earlier that day had celebrated the Sunday divine service in the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88415/

Geographical Dictation Takes Place in Parish Centre of St. Sergius Church in South Africa

15 November 2021 - 11:30

A geographical dictation took place in the suburb of Johannesburg where the St. Sergius Church in located on Sunday 14th November 2021 after the service.

Geographical dictations have been held by the Russian Geographic Society since 2015. Their basic aim is the popularization of geographical knowledge and to increase interest in Russian geography. Since 2017 the dictation has taken on an international flavour. This year it was done in 107 countries around the world.

The geographical dictation was held in the parish centre of the St. Sergius Church in Johannesburg in South Africa. Among the twenty-three people gathered on this day at the parish centre were Russian compatriots who lived in South Africa as well as local South Africans. Forty-five minutes were allocated to fulfill the tasks. Most of the questions were devised as a result of the ‘Write a Question for Geographical Dictation’ competition.

The geographical dictation at the parish centre was possible thanks to the initiative of St. Sergius Church parishioner Irina Lynova and with the support of representative of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) Yuri Gerasimov.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88418/

Moscow Hosts Exhibition on the Russian House of Oldenburg

15 November 2021 - 13:30

The opening ceremony of an exhibition entitled the ‘Russian House of Oldenburg, Enlightened Benefactors’ took place on 15th November 2021 in the Marble Hall of the Library of Foreign Literature. The exhibition marks the 140th anniversary of the death of prince Peter Georgievich Oldenburg (1812 – 1881), grandson of emperor Paul I and the founder of the Russian branch of the Oldenburgs. He made his name as a renowned benefactor in the area of charity and education. The organizers and partners of the exhibition were the Library of Foreign Literature, the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society, the Oldenburg Russian Society and the Strana Voskreseniya non-commercial organization.

Among the guests at the ceremony were the deputy chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federal Assembly Alexei Gordeyev, the director of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society Sergei Stepashin, the director of the German-Russian Society of Leipzig Konstantin of Oldenburg, the head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia Dietrich Brauer and other public figures. With the blessing of the chairman of the Department of External Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion, archpriest Sergy Zvonarev, secretary of the DECR MP for affairs of the distant abroad, took part in the event.

Those gathered were greeted by the director general of the Library of Foreign Literature Pavel Kuzmin, who read out a welcoming speech by the director of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) Yevgeny Primakova and the deputy minister for culture of Russia Olga Yarilova. Also greeting the participants were Duke Constantine of Oldenburg, Sergei Stepashin, Alexei Gordeyev and archbishop Dietrich Brauer. After the official opening was concluded, the guests were able to acquaint themselves with the exhibition which contained materials from the Russian State Archive, the St. Petersburg Friends of the House of Oldenburg Society, the Moscow Central State Archive, the Palace Ensembles of the House of Oldenburg Historical and Cultural Centre and the Library of Foreign Literature.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88416/

The 200th anniversary of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s birthday marked by the Parish of All Saints in Strasbourg

15 November 2021 - 14:00

On November 11, 2021, the anniversary of the birth of great Russian writer Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, commemorative events devoted to this significant date took place at the staurogopegial Parish of All Saints in Strasbourg, France.

In the center of the events was the service for the repose of the soul of God’s servant Fyodor Dostoevsky. The memorial service was led by the rector of the Parish of All Saint Archimandrite Philipp (Riabykh). Praying in the church were Rev. Yevgeny Makushkin, a cleric of the parish, and numerous parishioners.

After the office of the dead, a literary soiree took place in the parish library of Orthodox literature. Among the speakers was rector of the parish Archimandrite Philipp, who spoke about the Christian aspects of Dostoyevsky’s work. Using various works of the writer as an example, he pointed to the influence made by texts of the Holy Gospel on the characters of Dostoevsky’s novels and to the principal idea of his works and, most importantly, to the life of the genius of Russian literature himself.

An important place at the soiree was given to the presentation of the book “The Gospel of Dostoyevsky” written by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk. The publication of this book is timed to the 200th anniversary of Dostoevsky’s birth.

After Father Philipp’s speech, a lively discussion took place about Dostoevsky’s work and the influence made by his works on the contemporary world culture.

As the Parish of All Saints’ website reports, it is planned to hold a literary soiree devoted to Fyodor Dostoevsky in French for the French-speaking parishioners and other people in Strasbourg.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88417/

Alex Him · November 24th, 2021

Metropolitan Hilarion visits St. Tikhon’s Monastery in Pennsylvania

15 November 2021 - 14:40

On November 14, 2021, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), continued his working visit to the USA and arrived in St. Tikhon’s Monastery in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the invitation of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.

Metropolitan Hilarion concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada. Also concelebrating were Archimandrite Sergius (Bowyer), the abbot of the monastery with the ordained brethren; Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA); Priest Alessandro Margheritino, secretary of the OCA; Archpriest John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary; and clerics of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City.

After the Divine Liturgy, the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America greeted Metropolitan Hilarion most cordially and thanked him for the joy of common prayer in the oldest Orthodox Christian Monastery in America founded in 1905 by St. Tikhon, the future Patriarch of Moscow.

His Beatitude asked the high guest to convey his fraternal greetings to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and congratulations on his forthcoming remarkable jubilee.

In memory of Metropolitan Hilarion’s visit and common prayers His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon presented him with an icon with a particle of the holy relics of St. Nikolaj (Velemirović) of Žiča who fell asleep in the Lord at the monastery in 1956, and a shrine with the holy relics of Ss Tikhon of Zadonsk, Isaac of Syria and Hilarion the Great.

The DECR chairman greeted His Beatitude on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and expressed his gratitude to the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America for the opportunity to visit the USA and take part in the academic theological conference held at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and for the invitation to visit St. Tikhon’s Monastery and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. Metropolitan Hilarion presented His Beatitude with a panagia and wished him the strengthening God’s aid and the intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God in the responsible and demanding ministry of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.

Archimandrite Sergius (Bowyer) told Metropolitan Hilarion about the history and present life of the monastery, its holy sites, museum’s collection, and its publishing house’s work.

After fraternal talk during repast, Metropolitan Hilarion visited St.Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary where Archpriest John Parker acquainted him with the history of the educational institution and its activities at present. Metropolitan Hilarion presented the seminary with his books on theology translated into English.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88419/

A Russian Church cleric concelebrates at the cathedral in the capital of Bulgaria

15 November 2021 - 14:50

On November 12, 2021, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Nedelya (Kiriakia).

On this day, the Serbian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy King Stefan Milutin who has been especially venerated in Bulgaria and Serbia. Earlier, festivities marking the 700th anniversary of the demise of the saint were held in Bulgaria on October 28-30, 2021, according to the Revised Julian calendar. St. Stefan Uroš II Milutin ruled Serbia from 1275 to 1320. Nowadays, his holy relics lie in the Sofia cathedral church of St. Nedelya (Kiriakia), also called the Church of the Holy King.

With the blessing of His Holiness Neophyte, Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia, officiating at the divine service was Bishop Polikarp of Belogradchik in concelebration with iconom-stavrofor Neluţ Oprea, representative of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Bulgaria; hieromonk Mardarije, the abbot of the Poganovo Monastery of St. John the Theologian; Archimandrite Nicanoros, the abbot of the Ss Cosmas and Damian Monastery; Archimandrite Euthymios; Hieromonk Stephanos of the Troyan Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos; Archpriest Yevgeny Pavelchuk, secretary of the Representation of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in Sofia; iconom-stavrofor Nikolaj Georgiev, rector of St. Nedelya cathedral church; clerics of the cathedral and of the Sofia bishopric.

Church hymns were chanted by the singers from churches in Sofia directed by Andrei Kasabov.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88421/

Participants in the joint OSCE-UN conference are informed about discrimination of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s faithful

15 November 2021 - 15:12

On November 12, 2021, Bishop Victor of Baryshevka, head of the Representation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the European International Organizations, took part in the joint OSCE-UN on-line conference on the “Effective Participation of National Minorities in Economic Life as a Strategy for Conflict Prevention.”

Participating in this event held at the United Nations Office in Geneva were Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva Tatiana Valovaya, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov, and UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Dr. Fernand de Varennes.
Present-day international law classifies as minorities not only ethnic or national groups, living in a certain territory, but also any other community of people, united by certain categories, by religious beliefs including.

Although the topic of the conference was not focused on the observance of religious rights, it also concerned their possible realization in the economic sphere, which currently is very important for the religious organizations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, since the so-called “renaming law” and in some cases the actual discriminating policy of state and local authorities often deprive them of the realization of their economic rights. Frequently encountering refusals on different levels, the members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are unable to exercise their lawful rights – from receiving a plot of land for constructing a church to the access for UOC clergymen to the system of military chaplaincy.

The participants in the conference exchanged opinions on how to improve the functioning of the international mechanism for the protection of minorities’ rights and offered recommendations to the international human rights organizations and structures, reports the Synodal Department of Information and Education of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88420/

Rector and parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church Beirut Representation take part in the festive Liturgy in Zahle

15 November 2021 - 18:00

On November 14, 2021, the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, the community of the Russian Orthodox Church Beirut Representation led by rector Archimandrite Philipp (Vasiltsev), at the invitation of Metropolitan Anthony of Zahle and Baalbek and Metropolitan Niphon of Philippople, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, made a pilgrimage to the city of Zahle, Lebanon.

During the Sunday Liturgy at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Zahle, His Eminence Anthony and His Eminence Niphon were assisted by Archimandrite Philipp (Vasiltsev) and the diocesan clergy.

The liturgy was celebrated in Arabic and Church Slavonic.

The sermon on the Sunday Gospel Reading was delivered by Metropolitan Anthony of Zahle and Baalbek.

After the dismissal, the rector of the representation warmly greeted Metropolitans Anthony and Philipp and thanked them for their assistance and participation in the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the representation of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Archimandrite Philipp also congratulated the hierarchs on another anniversary of their episcopal consecrations and presented them with commemorative gifts.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88423/

Metropolitan Hilarion welcomes the decision of the UN Human Rights Committee on the persecutions against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

16 November 2021 - 00:00

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, commented on the decision adopted by the UN Human Rights Committee concerning the observance of the human rights of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The observance of international obligations by Ukraine was a subject considered by the 132nd session of the Committee. In its final document “Concluding observations on the eighth periodic report of Ukraine”, concern is expressed “at reports of violence, intimidation and acts of vandalism of places of worship in connection with the process of transitioning churches and religious communities from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the newly established Orthodox Church of Ukraine” and at “the reported inaction of the police in such incidents and the lack of information on investigations conducted by the State party”. The UN Human Rights Committee stated that Ukraine as the State party should “guarantee the effective exercise of freedom of religion and belief, including by ensuring protection of places of worship against violence, intimidation and acts of vandalism; and ensure that all cases of violence are thoroughly and promptly investigated and sanctions”.

“The Russian Church welcomes the fact that the UN Human Rights Committee adopted such an objective decision on the situation of persecutions against the faithful of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church”. Metropolitan Hilarion stressed in his comments for the RIA news agency.

The archpastor expressed a hope that this verdict would attract the attention of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, as “indeed, an assurance still comes from there that churches voluntarily move over to schismatics from the ‘OCU’ while the faithful of the canonical Church invent stories about beatings and attacks”.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88424/

DECR chairman visits Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA

16 November 2021 - 15:55

On November 15, 2021, during his working trip to the United States, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, visited the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA - St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York.

After a prayer and veneration of the cathedral’s shrines, the hierarch conveyed a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the clergy and staff of the Representation.

His Eminence noted that the clergy of the Patriarchal cathedral are entrusted with the important task to represent the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA with dignity and to take pastoral care of the numerous compatriots who live in that country, so that, living among non-Orthodox people, they could not forget about their belonging to sacred Orthodox faith.

The archpastor said that as the coronavirus infection pandemic has caused the most of deaths in the United States of America, it is important that during divine services and in the parish life all the anti-epidemic measures prescribed by the Supreme Church Authority should be continued.

In the course of Metropolitan Hilarion’s meeting with the clergy and staff, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) informed him about the current work of the Moscow Patriarchate Representation in the USA and the work of the Representation of the Russian People’s Council in the UNO, which has been located in the St. Nicholas Cathedral since 2005.

His Eminence Hilarion gifted copies of his theological works in English version to the representation and the parish library.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88425/

DECR Chairman visits the Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN in New York

17 November 2021 - 12:20

On November 16, 2021, at the end of his working trip to the United States of America, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk visited the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations in New York, where he met with the Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Mr. V. Nebenzya.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Permanent Representatives D.A. Polyansky and D.S. Chumakov, and by the representative of the International Russian People's Council to the United Nations Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov)

During the conversation, Metropolitan Hilarion and V.A. Nebenzya discussed topics of mutual interest in the field of interaction between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN.

DECR Chairman then met with diplomats and representatives of the Mission. Vladyka Hilarion briefly spoke about the main directions of the external activities of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as about the current situation in world Orthodoxy, destabilized by the anti-canonical actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine. The Archpastor expressed his satisfaction with the high level of cooperation between the Church and the diplomats representing Russia in the United Nations.

Metropolitan Hilarion answered numerous questions from those present at the meeting. At the end of the encounter, V.A. Nebenzya cordially thanked the DECR Chairman for the opportunity to meet and expressed his wish to continue communication in such format during the Archpastor's working visits to the United States. Vladyka Hilarion wished the Permanent Representative and the entire diplomatic corps of the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN physical and spiritual strength and God's help in their high service to the Fatherland.

In the evening of the same day, Metropolitan Hilarion departed for Moscow. At the international airport of New York, the hierarch was accompanied by clerics of the St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York, the representative of the Consul General of Russia in New York I. Popov and the Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, Archpriest Alexander Rentel, who thanked Vladyka Hilarion on behalf of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon for the fraternal and constructive communication within the framework of the visit.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88427/

Conference on “Russia. Georgia. Christian East. Religious and Cultural Ties” is held in Moscow

17 November 2021 - 19:10

On November 17, 2021, the 9th annual academic readings on “Russia. Georgia. Christian East. Religious and Cultural Ties” opened at the Central Andrei Rublev Museum of Old Russian Culture and Art dedicated to the memory of David I. Arsenishvili, the organizer and first director of the Museum.

The participants and guests of the conference included Metropolitan Nicholas of Akhalkalaki, Kumurdo and Kars (Georgian Orthodox Church); Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR); Gennady V. Popov, research deputy director of the Museum; Archimandrite Kirakos (Davtyan), head of the diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia; Archpriest Kakhaber Gogotishvili, a cleric of the Georgian Orthodox Church; Archimandrite Dionisy (Kolesnik), rector of the Patriarchal Representation at the Andronikov Monastery; Archpriest Alexander Saltykov, dean of the Department of Church Art at Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox University for the Humanities; Archpriest Fedor Krechetov, rector of the church of St. George the Victorious in Gruziny, Moscow; sister Iuliania (Zakharova) of the Ss. Boris and Gleb convent in Anosino, head of the DECR chancery; staff workers of the Museum and representatives of the academic community.

The choir of the church of St. George the Victorious offered their performance to the participants in the readings.

The performance was followed by greetings of Gennady V. Popov to the participants.

The first to address the conference with a report was Metropolitan Nicholas of Akhalkalaki, Kumurdo and Kars. He spoke “On some implications underlying Shota Rustaveli’s poem ‘The Knight in the Panther’s Skin.’”

The subjects of the conference reports include church art and architecture of Georgia; history of the Georgian Orthodox Church; veneration of Georgian saints in Russia; works by David I. Arsenishvili and other topics. Some reports were presented via videoconference.

The conference concludes its work on November 18.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88431/

Alex Him · November 24th, 2021

Patriarchal service on the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (September 21, 2021) - PART I

Alex Him · November 24th, 2021

Patriarchal service on the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (September 21, 2021) - PART II

Alex Him · November 24th, 2021

Siberian Male Choir visits Representation of Russian Church in Damascus

17 November 2021 - 23:05

On November 17, 2021, the Siberian Male Choir from Krasnoyarsk visited the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus.

The choir, which takes its origin from the choir of the Dormition monastery in Krasnoyarsk, was founded in 2018 on the initiative of the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk region Alexander V. Uss. The Siberian Male Choir is the laureate of nationwide and international contests and festivals.

The guests sang church hymns at the Representation’s Church of St. Ignatius the God-Bearer.

Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Antioch, told the guests about the history of the Representation.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88438/

The community at Myzovo village in Volyn, an ‘OCU’ raid-victim, acquires a new church

18 November 2021 - 07:00

On November 13, 2021, Metropolitan Vladimir of Vladimir-Volynskiy and Kovel consecrated the church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Myzovo village, Starovyzhskiy district, Volyn region. It took nine months to build the new church instead of the captured one.

In the newly consecrated church, Metropolitan Vladimir assisted by the diocesan clergy celebrated the Divine Liturgy, reports the Vladimir-Volynskiy diocesan press service.

In his homily after the liturgy, His Eminence congratulated the parishioners and the rector of the church, Archpriest Anatoly Matselik, on the important event in the life of the village - the consecration of a new church. The benefactors and parishioners, who took an active part in the construction, were presented with church awards.

The attacks of raiders began in this village in January 2019 when, at a meeting of locals with the participation of the head of a united territorial community, V. I. Semenyuk, a voting was initiated on the move of the local religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the ‘OCU’. The permanent parishioners and the rector of the church refused to vote, since it contradicted the Ukrainian law and the wish of the faithful. After the meeting, local ‘activists’, using threats, seized from the rector the keys of the church which is the property of the religious community. Though in March 2019 the court remedied the grievance of Archpriest Anatoly Matselik and the keys were given back to the rector of the church belonging to the canonical Church, ‘OCU’ activists still managed later to take the church away from the religious community. The community members decided to build a new church, and on January 5, 2020, Metropolitan Vladimir of Vladimir-Volynskiy and Kovel blessed the foundation of the church dedicated to the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88439/

Representative of the Russian Church takes part in meeting on repatriation of refugees to Syria

18 November 2021 - 10:30

On November 16, 2021, a joint meeting of Russian and Syrian inter-agency coordination committees on the repatriation of refugees took part in Ebla Hotels in a Damascus suburb.

With a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church was represented at the meeting by Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Antioch and All East.

On November 17, a round-table conference on “Syria in the world blockade. How to win a war and not to lose peace” was held at the same place under the chairmanship of Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Feisal Mekdad, in which Hegumen Arseny took part. In his remarks, he spoke about the efforts made by the Russian Orthodox Church to help Orthodox Christians in Syria to restore war-damaged churches and to carry our various humanitarian actions in Syria with the participation of the Damascus Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate.

After the round-table conference, Father Arseny presented Mr F. Mekdad with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia’s book “Freedom and Responsibility” in the Arabic version.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88440/

An exhibition is to take place in Rio de Janeiro on the 5th anniversary of Patriarch Kirill’s visit to Brazil

19 November 2021 - 16:00

From November 20 to December 4, 2021, a photo exhibition will take place in Rio de Janeiro as part of the Christmas Readings. It will be devoted to the 5th anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia’s visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil.

The exposition has been prepared by the Parish of the Holy Martyr Zinaida with a blessing of Bishop Leonid of Argentina and South America.

Support in organizing the exhibition was given by the Russian Federation Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro and the Federal Agency for the Affairs of the Commonwealth of the Independent States, compatriots living abroad and Rossotrudnichestvo, an agency for international humanitarian cooperation, as well the Catholic Metropolis of San Sebastian with the personal participation of Archbishop Joao Orani of Rio de Janeiro Cardinal Tempesta.

The photo exhibition will be located at the exposition center of the Catholic St. Sebastian Cathedral. It will present photographs from the archives of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, recording the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church’s visit to Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

The solemn opening of the exposition will take place on November 20.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88450/

Representation of the Russian Church takes part in a humanitarian action in Syrian Bosra

19 November 2021 - 17:30

On November 18, 2021, a humanitarian action took place in Bosra in southern Syrian Daraa District. It was organized by the Russian national veteran organization “Boevoe Bratstvo” (Combat Brotherhood) together with the Center for the Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides and the Russian Orthodox Church Representation to the Patriarchate of Antioch. One of the general education schools received warm winter jackets, school backpacks, office equipment and sweets.

Participating in the action were also members of the inter-agency delegation who came to Syria from Russia to attend a conference on the repatriation of refugees.

After the humanitarian action, its participants visited the ruins of ancient Bosra (“Vosor” in the Russian Synodal translation of the Bible).

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88452/

A monument to St. Alexander Nevsky unveiled in Belgrade

19 November 2021 - 18:50

On November 18, 2021, a monument to Holy Orthodox Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky was unveiled in the capital city of Serbia.

On that day, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Belgrade by His Holiness Porfitije, Patriarch of Serbia. He was assisted by Bishop Nazariy of Kronstadt, abbot of the St. Alexander Nevsky Lavra, and Serbian and Russian clergy.

After the Liturgy, a procession with the cross took walked to the site of the monument where the memorial was blessed.

The ceremony was attended by Governor of St. Petersburg A. Beglov, Mayor of Belgrade Zoran Radojicic, Russian Federation State Duma vice-speaker A. Babakov, Russia’ ambassador to Serbia A. Botsan-Kharchenko, chairman of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly A. Belsky, representatives of the Belgrade authorities and the public. Many residents and guests of Belgrade came to pay homage to the hero of Russian history and especially venerated saint in both Russia and Serbia. Among the guests was the father of the President of the Republic Andjelko Vucic.

“Thanks to our common Orthodox faith, today we have the honour to be present at the opening of a monument of St. Alexander Nevsky, who was born in Russia but is loved in Serbia as well. Our people saw in the Grand Prince their St. Sava, a warrior and a monk. Alexander Nevsky told us that the truth is not in power but in God. May the unity of all the Orthodox nations be blessed through his intercession”, the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church said.

“Let us seek to follow the example of the saint at the moments when clouds begin to gather over our two nations", Bishop Nazary of Kronstadt said noting that the intercession of the Orthodox Grand Prince and all the saints is needed at this difficult time as never before.

St. Petersburg Governor A. Beglov thanked Serbia for fraternal love and support for Russia. “A hard time fell to the lot of Ss Alexander Nevsky and Sava of Serbia but they won and preserved the Orthodox faith. We are together, and if we are together, we will win”, he said.

Mayor of Belgrade Zoran Radojicic described the unveiling of the bust as another testimony to the goodwill and friendship of the two countries.

St. Alexander Nevsky’s bust is a gift from St. Petersburg to Belgrade in the year of the 800th anniversary of the birth of the Grand Prince. He was sent to Serbia on September 22. The same two monuments, which had been produced by the Russian Glory Alley Foundation, are placed at the vestibule of the church of St. Alexander Nevsky of the lavra in St. Petersburg and at the lavra’s St. Nicholas Skete in the Leningrad Region. Their author is Anatoly Dementyev, a member of the Artists Union of Russia.

The Belgrade monument is the most solid one of the three. It is over 3 meters tall and its weight is 4,5 tons. The inscription on the pedestal is made of gold leaf in Serbian Cyrillic. The installation of the monument was initiated by the Orly (Eagles) Russian-Serbian Cultural Information Center. It was supervised by the Committee for External Relations of the St. Petersburg Government. Assistance was given by businessman M. Serdyukov, State Duma deputy S. Mironov, representatives of public organizations in the two countries, and the St. Seraphim of Vyritsa Religious Education Center.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88459/

Congratulation sent by Primate of the Polish Orthodox Church to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on his 75th birthday

20 November 2021 - 12:00

His Beatitude Sava, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland, congratulated His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on his 75th birthday.

Your Holiness,

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain… I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far (Phil. 1:21, 23).

With these words St. Paul calls all, especially the archpastors of the Church, to focus their life around Christ. For in Him we live and move and have our being… (Acts 17:28). Each day of our life belongs to Him. Our life and our death are in His hands (cf. Phil. 1:20). Christ leads us through earthly life to today’s Golgotha and puts us, just as He did St. John, at the foot of the cross and asks us what else we can do for the Church.

He has made everything, and we should preserve these inexhaustible reaches received on Golgotha, i.e., the faithful standing with Him in the evening of our life and in the morning of our resurrection.

With the Easter’s “Christ is Risen”, we raise the depressed world and it becomes new. Never before has our service of Christ been so important as it is today. Concern for the healthy Orthodox ecclesiastical family has become for us the primary task of our archpastoral ministry. Faith, hope, love and wisdom are our success. Humbleness and unity are our fortress. The Word of God is our sword.

The destiny of our Church is victory and resurrection. Everything passes while Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8). He is the corner stone. We and our Church are the foundation built on it.

Your Holiness, today marks the 75 years of your life on earth and this year marks the 45 years of your episcopal ministry and 12 years of your Patriarchal service.

Your Holiness, you, like a solid foundation, hold the walls of the Russia Orthodox Church. You take upon yourself all the blows of the wave of the modern world. Under your wise archpastoral omophorion the Russian Church is developing, and attention is given in much of this to the whole Orthodoxy, which is in crisis today.

I congratulate Your Holiness on your 75th birthday and wish you much spiritual joy, good health and successful fight for the salvation of many.

I remember with gratitude the visit of Your Holiness to the Polish land. Your Patriarchal blessing and witness to the Lord’s truth before our society stands to this day. May the Lord save you for this!

Once again, I greet you on your 75th birthday, brotherly embrace Your Holiness and exclaim, Many Years of life to Your Holiness!

With love in Christ,

+ Sava
Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88464/

Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia congratulates His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on his 75th birthday

20 November 2021 - 12:36

The congratulation sent by His Beatitude Rostislav, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on his 75th birthday.

His Holiness Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

Your Holiness, Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant,
All these years you have served God and people with good conscience and by your noble life brought to the truth those who wallow in delusion (St John Chrysostom 47. 58), giving a dignified example to all of us.
With invariable warmth do I remember our meetings and joint celebrations in the course of our visits to the fold of the Russian Orthodox Church. Your interest in the life of our Local Church and continued concern for the needs of our Representation in Moscow - all this echoes with gratitude in my heart.

On this joyful day, I prayerfully wish Your Holiness physical strength, many years of life and God’s inexhaustible help in your Primatial work.

With brotherly love in the Lord,

+ Rostislav
Archbishop of Presov
Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88465/

Congratulations to Patriarch Kirill on his 75th birthday sent by heads and representatives of foreign Protestant churches and organizations

20 November 2021 - 15:00

On the occasion of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia’s 75th birthday, congratulatory messages came to the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate from Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan: Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, President of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany; Archbishop Tapio Luoma of Turku and Finland, Primate of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland; Mr. Franklin Graham, President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Metropolitan Archbishop Rufus Okikiola Ositelu of the Archdiocese of Nigeria, Primate of the Worldwide Church of the Lord (Aladura);Honorary Archbishop Ukka Paarma of Turku and Finland, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland.

In his message, Archbishop Justin Welby writes in particular, “It is with great pleasure that I send you my greetings and congratulations on your birthday on 20 November. I wish you every blessing for the years to come”.

“On this festive day, I would like to congratulate you on your 75th birthday on behalf of the Evangelical Church in Germany. May the Most High bless you with abundant gifts that He promised to send to the faithful: ‘The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise’ (Parables 11:30)”, writes in his letter Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm. “Certainly, the tree of life of the Church, which you have served almost for all your life, has experienced many storms but in all the times of upheavals the Church has born witness to the mercy of our Lord, who has given us deep roots and a solid foundation <…> I sincerely wish you a blessed and memorable celebration and pray that the mercy of Triune God may be with you and all the faithful of your Church”.

Archbishop Tapio Luoma, in congratulating His Holiness, stressed in particular, “Merciful God has blessed your Church with various gifts. He has given a firm faith to its members and wisdom to its leaders so that your Church may endure hard periods and prosper in good times. So, we have many reasons for thanking God for His gifts and blessings sent to you and through you to your whole Church”.

“I am deeply grateful for how you continuously encourage churches across Russia to support each other and work together”, Franklin Graham notes in his message, “Your support for persecuted Christians around the world, as well as your desire to seek peace and protect the sanctity of life is admirable. I commend you for these God-honoring efforts.”

“May the Grace, Peace and Mercy of God, Father Almighty continue to be with Your Holiness, and the entire Household of God in the Most Precious Name of our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ”, says in his congratulatory letter the head of the Aladura Church Rufus Okikiola Ositel, “Wishing your Holiness more years in the service of God and Mankind, and that you will continue to wax stronger in good health. Through the years and unto this day, you have laboured. You are a true Man of God, Spiritual Leader, and Preacher of the word and exceptional ecumenical figure”.

In his congratulatory message, Honorary Archbishop Ukka Paarma of Turku and Finland says in particular, “I pray that the following years of your life may be filled with peace, prosperity, good health and, above all, happiness in its true sense”.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88466/

Alex Him · November 24th, 2021

Patriarch Kirill: Patriarch Bartholomew considers himself to be not first among equals but first above all the rest

20 November 2021 - 22:25

In his interview to general director of the Spas TV channel B. V. Korchevnikov, aired on Rossia 1 channel on November 20, 2021, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia answered in particular a question on possible causes of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople’s actions provoking a schism in the world Orthodoxy.

- A difference of opinions sometimes may be enormous, just as it is in the case of Bartholomew. Recently you have stated in all sincerity that he has fallen into a schism. You have known this man for many years; you flew to him in Istanbul to keep him from singing the tomos. How such a thing could happen to a man vested with the Patriarchal cross, with Patriarchal responsibility? Indeed, he can now see how Orthodox people are thrown out of churches, spat on, beaten up and burnt - and it is a consequence of his signature! But he is a Patriarch; he has to give an account to God! I humanly just cannot understand what should have happened to him to dare do such a thing. What is it?

- I think there are two reasons. The first one is Patriarch Bartholomew’s totally false self-understanding as he considers himself to be the leader of the Orthodox world. From the point of view of Orthodox ecclesiology, he is first among equals, but he considers himself not to be first among equals but first above all the rest. That is to say, he is tempted by the same idea the realization of which led to the division of Christianity into Eastern and Western ones. Now, I will not be afraid of saying it, it is at Patriarch Bartholomew’s personal initiative that the same topic of power has now divided the Orthodox Church.

It is a tragic page in the history of the Orthodox Church, and we all, especially Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches, should do everything possible to be able again to celebrate the Divine Liturgy together around the one altar, thus strengthening the Orthodox faith among our contemporaries, so that the Church could become a spiritual force capable of helping people to find ways in this very complicated modern life.

- Is it possible for one to become as blind because of a falsely understood theological conception as to muffle one’s own conscience?

- I do not like to think so. I have not yet mentioned another factor, which could make a strong influence on Patriarch Bartholomew - the political factor. The situation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople has always been very unstable. When I say “always”, I mean, of course, the time after the fall of the Byzantine Empire. The Patriarchate was and still is under the control of non-Orthodox political forces, and generally Patriarch Bartholomew, as it seems to me, has not exactly to submit to but to correlate his position with the liberal context existing in Western European countries and the United States. In some sense, the Church in the West is vulnerable enough. Here is a simple thing: the Orthodox Church does not agree and will never agree with the new-fashioned idea concerning matrimonial relations - we call domestic partnership practised now by same-sex people a special sin.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88472/

Metropolitan Hilarion describes as groundless the USA statements about “the violation of religious freedoms” in Russia

21 November 2021 - 15:00

US Secretary of State Entony Blinken has designated Russia among the countries engaged “in systematic, egregious violations of religious freedoms" along with Myanmar, China, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saud Arabia. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, was asked by the hostess of the TV program “The Church and the World”, Ekaterina Gracheva, to comment on this statement by the USA official.

As His Eminence Hilarion believes, representatives of foreign states, before making conclusions on such a topic, should have asked the religious confessions how do they feel in the Russian Federation.

“I am a member of the Interreligious Council in Russia represented in which are the Orthodox Church and Muslim communities, Jews and Buddhists. Ask any representative of this council: Are they persecuted, oppressed, or they are satisfied? I believe any of them will give a perfectly unequivocal answer: in Russia, none of the religious freedoms is infringed upon; the traditional religions are equal before law; each traditional confession has an opportunity to develop freely”, Metropolitan Hilarion said.

At the same time, he noted that some organizations of sectarian persuasion, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, are prohibited in Russia. But, firstly, Russia is not the only country to prohibit this sect, he reminded the audience. Secondly, it is not prohibited for its religious activity but for its extremism, which has been revealed in its work. Such measures cannot be considered a violation of religious freedom, since they are undertaken to protect our people from extremist manifestations”.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88475/

Metropolitan Hilarion: For the first time the violation of rights of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is recognized on an international platform

21 November 2021 - 17:00

On November 11, the UN Human Rights Committee published a decision clearly formulating concern for the violations of human rights of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This document prescribes the Ukrainian authorities to guarantee the exercise of religious freedom in the country and to ensure the investigation of all the cases of violence committed against the faithful in it.

Commenting on this decision on the air of the Church and the World TV program, Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, made a positive assessment of it stressing that for the first time it was clearly stated on an international platform that the rights of the faithful are violated in Ukraine.

“We are aware of how the so-called transfer of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s communities to the schismatic structure really took place: in most cases, there was no voluntary transfer whatsoever. What did take place was the capture of churches”, the DECR chairman reminded the audience. “Moreover, the captures were accompanied with violence, beatings. The faithful were driven away from churches; priests were pushed out into the street”.

He also drew the viewers’ attention to the fact that many churches taken away from the canonical Ukrainian Church are now locked while the driven out communities are worshipping in the open or have to take shelter in rented facilities. In some places, new churches have already been built instead of captured ones.

“This lawlessness, which went on under President Poroshenko and is continued to this day, was not given a due assessment by the international community. Now this assessment has been made, and it is important in itself”, Metropolitan Hilarion stated.

Answering a question of the host about how this decision can influence the situation concerning the rights of the faithful in Ukraine, His Eminence answered, “I think it depends in the first place on the Ukrainian authorities. If they listen to what was said on the UN platform, if they wish to stop the wave of persecutions against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, then they have all the resources for it”.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88476/

Newly formed community of the Moscow Patriarchate in Mexico prayerfully celebrates the 75th birthday of its Primate

22 November 2021 - 13:45

On November 19-22, 2021, with a blessing of the acting administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, the clerics of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) and Rev. Mark Rashkov, made a pastoral visit to the newly formed community in the Mexican city of Cancun.

On Saturday, November 20, the 75th birthday of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Orthodox Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the local church of the Resurrection of Christ with a permission of the head of the Catholic diocese, Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cardenas. During the Divine Liturgy, Orthodox people in Cancun had an opportunity to worship and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

During the liturgy, ardent prayers were lifted up for the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. During the prayer for the repose of the dead, His Holiness Patriarch’s parents, Archpriest Mikhail and Matushka Raisa, as well as the Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of eternal memory, the spiritual father of His Holiness, were commemorated.

After the Liturgy, “Many Years of Life” to His Holiness Kirill was sung.

After the Blessing of Water, the clergy had a talk with the faithful. They discussed various matters concerning the ordering of the community life.

***

Two years ago, the Orthodox people in Cancun, Mexico, appealed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to bless their intention to organize a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Moscow Patriarchate office for institutions abroad instructed the administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, to help organize regular divine services for the members of the community and to explore a possibility for opening a parish.

In 2012, with a blessing of Bishop Matthew, the rector of the church of the Intercession in Mexico, Father Kirill Chakon, made several visits to the community of the faithful in Cancun, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy, administered sacraments and requested services at the local Catholic church kindly offered by Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cardenas of Chetumal and Cancun.

On January 19, 2020, the Feast of the Theophany, with a blessing of Bishop Matthew, Rev. Mark Rashkov, head of the office of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, visited Cancun and, assisted by Rev. Kirill Chakon, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the Order of the Great Sanctification of Water.

On May 8, 2021, the Bright Saturday, Rev. Mark Rashkov celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church of the Resurrection of Christ in Cancun, after which he blessed Easter cakes and distributed to the faithful the Artos he brought from New York.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88483/

The International Cooperation Commission of the Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations meets for a regular session

23 November 2021 - 17:00

On November 23, 2021, the International Cooperation Commission of the Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations held its 8th session at the Grand Hall of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The session, chaired by DECR chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Commission, was attended by A. V. Tretyakov, executive secretary of the Council and adviser of the Presidential Domestic Policy Directorate; Archbishop Ezras, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese of Novo-Nakhichevan and Russia; Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; Archbishop Dietrich Brauer, Evangelical Lutheran Church; Albir Krganov, mufti of the Muslim Assembly of Russia; S. V. Ryakhovsky, Presiding Bishop of the Russian United Fellowship of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals); K. P. Kozhanov, deputy director of the Russian MFA Department for Relations with the Constituents of the Federation, the Parliament and Public Organizations; Archpriest Segriy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for the affairs of the diaspora; A. I. Kudryavtsev, chairman of the Council of the National Public Organization ‘Russian Association for the Defence of Religious Freedom’; M. M. Melekh, head of the MFA Department for Relations with the Constituents of the Federation, the Parliament and Public Organizations; A. A. Cherkezov, president of the Union for Promoting Traditional Religious Values “Christian World”; A. A. Terentyev, chief adviser of the Presidential Domestic Policy Directorate; A. Sultygov, adviser of the Presidential Domestic Policy Directorate, as well other invited officials.

Metropolitan Hilarion made introductory remarks on the agenda. He spoke in particular about cooperation with religious communities in the USA, stating that despite the complexity of Russia-USA relations, the Russian Orthodox Church has preserved good contacts with American religious leaders.

“The Orthodox Church in America has the greatest number of communities among the Orthodox jurisdictions in the USA”, he said, “The Russian Mother Church keeps warm relations with the Orthodox Church in America, developing cooperation with her in many areas, in particular, in cooperation with theological schools. I have just returned fr om my trip to the USA, where I took part in a theological conference in St. Vladimir’s Seminary, concelebrated with the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Tikhon, Metropolitan of America and Canada, and visited parishes and monasteries. I can note with satisfaction that on the occasion of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church’s 75th birthday, a foundation after the name of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has been established in St. Vladimir’s Seminary in America to promote biblical studies.

His Eminence also said that in the USA there is also the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, which had emerged as a consequence of the civil war in Russia. In 2007, the canonical communion of the two parts of the one Russian Church was restored and today the Russian Church Outside Russia has a self-governing status being a part of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The hierarch also noted that at present the Russian Orthodox Church is actively developing cooperation with a number of religious and charitable organizations, in particular, with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

In 2019, a meeting took place in Moscow between the incumbent president of the Billy Graham Association and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. The sides stressed the importance of co-work in the field of aid to persecuted Christians and defence of traditional Christian values. They discussed in particular the World Summit for Defence of Persecuted Christians held from May 10 to 13, 2017, in Washington at the joint initiative of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Billy Graham Association. The aim of the Summit was to draw the attention of the world community to the tragedy of persecuted Christians in the Middle East, North Africa and other regions of the world.

The Russian Orthodox Church has acquired a new promising partner - the Open Doors charitable Christian organization that seeks to help the faithful in the countries wh ere the Christian faith is oppressed and persecuted.

Metropolitan Hilarion also told the meeting about the dialogue held by the Russian Orthodox Church with Jewish organizations and communities in the USA, in particular with the Appeal of Conscience foundation headed by Rabbi Arthur Schneier. Their agenda is focused on the need for joint efforts in advocating traditional family values, which are subjected to erosion in the modern world while the religious outlook that asserts such values is marginalised.

Metropolitan Hilarion confirmed that contacts with American religious organizations known for their positive attitude not only to the Russian Church but also to Russia as a whole can become a support in strengthening relations between the two nations, especially today, when the Russia-USA relations are going through a crisis of confidence.

The DECR chairman’s remarks were followed by participants’ stories about their experience of cooperation with religious communities in the USA.

The meeting also had a discussion on its current agenda items.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88491/

Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary: Orthodoxy is on the brink of a grave schism owing to the situation in Ukraine

23 November 2021 - 18:40

The Orthodox Church is standing on the brink of a grave schism owing to the situation in Ukraine, as Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary, chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, believes. The hierarch’s commentary has been published by ‘Pershiy Koztskiy’ channel, reports the Union of Orthodox Journalists.

‘The Universal Orthodox Church is facing a grave crisis’, Metropolitan Anthon said explaining the tasks of the international conference on ‘The Conciliarity of the Church: Theological, Canonical and Historical Dimensions’, which took place in the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary, ‘And today we can openly say that we are standing on the brink of a grave schism owing to the situation in Ukraine - the illegal anti-canonical actions made by Patriarch Bartholomew with regard to the Ukrainian schismatics. And so, the Orthodox Church is finding a way to prevent crossing over the brink so that the grave schism may not happen’.

The Church is searching for answers in her history, the hierarch elucidated.

He said that the reflection-action conference in Kiev was attended by representatives of eleven Local Churches. In their historical analyses, they identified precedents of schisms, indicated the procedures used by the Orthodox Church to admit schismatics to the Eucharistic communion. Special attention was given to the canonical fundamentals, the foundation of the Church, violated by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople by granting the so-called ‘tomos’ to the Ukrainian schismatics.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88493/

Numbers of hate crimes against Europe's Christians skyrocket in 2020

23 November 2021 - 20:25

According to newly published data from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the number of hate crimes against Christians in Europe rose sharply in 2020.

The OSCE data, published Nov. 16, documented 980 incidents against Christians, including arson attacks on Catholic churches, desecration and robbery of Eucharistic hosts, assaults on priests, and anti-Catholic graffiti on Church property by abortion activists.

The OSCE previously reported 595 incidents against Christians in 2019.

There was a significant increase in the number of attacks against property last year, from 459 in 2019 to 871 in 2020, while the number of violent attacks against people decreased from 80 to 56 in 2020.

Poland had the most hate crimes reported against Christians with 241 incidents in 2020, the majority of which were acts of vandalism against Catholic property connected with the Church’s stance on abortion.

The OSCE also reported 172 incidents in Germany, 159 in France, and 113 in Italy. The Holy See submitted data to the OSCE on more than 150 hate crimes against Christians in Europe.

The organization also released data on hate crimes driven by anti-Semitism, racism, bias based on sexual orientation, and other categories. In total, 7,181 hate crime cases were reported. The information was published to mark the International Day for Tolerance.

The number of hate crimes against Christians is likely higher than what is reported in the data, as only 11 of the 57 OCSE states submitted data on hate crimes against Christians.

Madeleine Enzlberger, head of the Observatory of Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians (OIDACE) in Vienna, Austria, said that in media and political spheres “hatred of Christians is hardly noticed as an increasingly obvious social problem.”

“The OSCE report reflects only part of this trend, which we have been documenting for years, and yet it is a loud wake-up call against indifference and fashionable Christian-bashing,” she commented.

Here is a breakdown of some of the hate crimes committed against Christians documented by OSCE:

Rampant vandalism in Poland by abortion advocates

The uptick in hate crimes against Christians in Poland is largely due to “a series of incidents targeting the Catholic Church due to its stance on abortion,” according to the OSCE data.

These included more than 100 acts of graffiti on Catholic property in 2020, many of which included anti-Christian slogans. Other Catholic churches were vandalized with LGBTI symbols.

Women’s rights activists vandalized a monument to unborn children at night with black paint in a Polish Catholic cemetery in October 2020.

Abortion activists also vandalized a cross at a cemetery commemorating victims of Nazism in the same month, according to the report.

People praying in front of a Catholic cathedral were assaulted by women’s rights activists, who threw bottles, stones, and firecrackers, injuring several worshippers.

In Spain, a monastery and four other churches were vandalized on International Women’s Day in 2020. At the monastery, a group of women’s rights protesters also disrupted Mass with anti-Christian slogans.

Arson attacks on Catholic churches

There were a number of arson attacks on Catholic churches reported in France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.

In one instance in Germany, disinfectant was poured over pews in a Catholic church and then set on fire.

A Catholic cathedral in France was also vandalized with excrement smeared by perpetrators, who then attempted to set the church on fire in February 2020.

Ten masked individuals targeted another Catholic church in France in an arson attack in October 2020 by pushing a car up to the church and then setting it on fire causing significant damage.

In Switzerland, a Catholic church’s organ loft was set on fire in March 2020.

Hate crimes and social media

Catholic priests in Spain were sent death threats via social media in November 2020. Catholic priests in Poland felt threatened when an image depicting a shot priest was circulated on social media along with anti-Catholic insults.

A man who converted to Christianity in Italy also received death threats via social media in November 2020.

In other cases, the perpetrators shared their hate crimes on social media. Women's rights activists in Poland filmed themselves throwing eggs at a Catholic church and posted it to social media in October 2020.

Violent attacks against Christians

Despite the lockdown measures that kept many people socially isolated in 2020, there were still reported violent attacks on Christians, albeit fewer than in 2019.

Three people were killed in a knife attack at the Basilica of Notre-Dame in Nice, France in October 2020.

A priest known for his devotion to helping migrants and homeless people was stabbed to death near his parish in the city of Como, Italy by a Tunisian man in September 2020.

In the United Kingdom, a Catholic priest was assaulted by two men in a church in June 2020 and sustained a rib injury. Another Catholic priest in the U.K. was physically assaulted in a cathedral during a funeral in October 2020.

A priest in Spain was hospitalized in September 2020 after he was stabbed in the upper body while in a church, and a Catholic priest in Poland was stabbed several times in the stomach in October 2020.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88496/

Patriarch Kirill's condolences over the death of people in a car crash in western Bulgaria

23 November 2021 - 21:35

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia expressed his condolences to the President of the Republic of North Macedonia over the death of people in a bus car crash en route from Turkey to North Macedonia. According to media reports, the car accident killed 46 people, all of whom were citizens of North Macedonia.

His Excellency Mr. Stevo PENDAROVSKI President Republic of North Macedonia

Your Excellency, dear Mr. President,

It has grieved me deeply to learn of the serious bus crash that killed and injured dozens of people, including children. On behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church I extend sincere condolences to you and to all people of North Macedonia. Sharing the pain of bereavement with relatives and friends of the victims, I lift up my prayers for them.

May Christ the Conqueror of death give rest to the souls of His newly departed servants in the heavenly mansions and grant the soonest recovery to the injured and consolation to all those affected by this great affliction.

With respect,

+KIRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88498/

Alex Him · November 24th, 2021

Patriarchal service on the eve of the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (September 20, 2021)

Patriarchal Service on the Day of Remembrance of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the Alexander Nevsky Skete (October 8, 2021)

Patriarchal Service on 19th Week after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky Skete (October 31, 2021)

Patriarchal service on Dimitrievskaya parental Saturday in the Alexander Nevsky skete (November 6, 2021)

Patriarchal service on the 20th week after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky skete (November 7, 2021)

Patriarchal service on 21st Week after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky skete (November 14, 2021)

Alex Him · November 27th, 2021

DECR Chairman meets with President of Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

24 November 2021 - 13:50

On November 24, 2021, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, met with Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. The meeting took place at the premises of the Ss Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Post-Graduate Studies.

In attendance on the part of the Roman Catholic Church were Mons. Peter Tarnavsky, Apostolic Nunciature adviser, and Mons. Lucio Sembrano of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Also present on the part of the DECR were hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), secretary for inter-Christian relations; Rev. Dimitry Safonov, secretary for inter-religious relations, and Mr. Ivan A. Nikolayev of the same secretariat.

Metropolitan Hilarion cordially welcomed the high guest and presented to him the main lines of the Russian Orthodox Church’s work in the sphere of inter-religious dialogue. The DECR chairman made a pointed reference to the high level of cooperation between the Russian state and traditional religious confessions and told in detail about the activities of the Interreligious Council of Russia and of the Presidential Council for cooperation with religious association.

In his turn, Cardinal Guizot expressed gratitude for the arrangement of the meeting and the opportunity to learn about a wide range of the Moscow Patriarchate’s interreligious contacts.

During a lengthy talk, the sides discussed a number of issues pertaining to the defense of persecuted Christians, dialogue among the Abrahamic religions, and problems on the international agenda.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88500/

DECR representatives take part in”Protecting the Future” International Conference

24 November 2021 - 16:20

The 3rd “Protecting the Future” International Conference on Combating Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Racism was held in Moscow on November 22-23, 2021.

Attending the opening session with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), was Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), DECR deputy chairman. Yuri Kanner, President of the Russian Jewish Congress; Sergey Vershinin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation; Kairat Abdrakhmanov, OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities; and Vitaly Suchkov, head of the National Policy and Interregional Relations Department of Moscow City Government, were among the speakers. The first plenary session was followed by panels and youth sessions on preventing xenophobia, antisemitism, islamophobia, racism, their media coverage and influence on culture as well as the role of religious leaders in countering these kinds of intolerance.

The second plenary session on “Religious leadership and its influence on interethnic and interfaith tensions” was held in the evening of November 22 with Borukh Gorin, head of external relations department of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, as moderator. Rev. Dimitry Safonov, DECR secretary for interreligious relations and executive secretary of the Interreligious Council of Russia, presented a report on interreligious and peacemaking ministry of religious leaders.

On November 23, Archimandrite Philaret and Rev. Dimitry Safonov attended the round table of patrons and philanthropists on financing projects against xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and racism. The moderator was Viktor Vekselberg, consul of the Russian Jewish Congress for Combating Antisemitism and a member of the Bureau of the Presidium of the Congress.

***

The Conference was organized by the Russian Jewish Congress with the support of the Moscow Government, the Federal Agency for Nationality Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and the World Jewish Congress. Attending the conference were religious leaders, experts, and state and public figures from forty countries of the world.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88503/

Meeting of the Board of the Christian Inter-confessional Consultative Committee

24 November 2021 - 19:00

On November 24, 2021, the Board of the Christian Inter-confessional Consultative Committee (CICC) met at the assembly hall of the Ss Cyril and Methodius Institute for Post-Graduate and Doctoral Studies. The Board is the governing body of the CICC functioning in periods between the CCIC plenary sessions.

The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate and co-chairman of the CICC; Archbishop Paul Pezzi, ordinary of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow; Archbishop Dietrich Brauer, Archbishop of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Russia, co-chairman of the CCIC; Archpriest Gevorg Vardanian, a cleric of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s diocese of Russia and Novo-Nakhichevan; Presiding Bishop S. V. Ryakhovsky, Russian United Fellowship of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals); P. V. Mitskevich, chairman of the Russian Union of the Evangelical Christians-Baptists; I. I. Borichevsky, head of the Administration of the Presiding Bishop of the Russian Church of the Christians of the Evangelical Faith; O. Yu. Goncharov, first vice-chairman of the Euro-Asian Division of the General Conference of the Church of the Christians-Adventists of the Seventh-Day; Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov), DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations and secretary of the CCIC; V. V. Ignatenkov, first vice-chairman of the Russian Church of the Evangelical Christians-Baptists; D. D. Shatrov, deputy presiding bishop of the Russian United Fellowship of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals); Hierodeacon Peter (Akhmatkhanov), a DECR staff member.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk made introductory remarks outlining the agenda. He was followed by the CCIC co-chairmen Archbishop Paul Pezzi and Archbishop Dietrich Brauer, who briefly greeted the gathering.

Metropolitan Hilarion stressed the importance of the Joint Statement published earlier in support of Christians in Finland who are defending Christian family values.

The participants discussed matters concerning the work of the CCIC in the inter-plenary period and approved the nomination made by the Board members from the Protestant Churches. E. A. Grabovenko, presiding bishop of the Russian Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith, was nominated as the CCIC co-chairman for the next period. The meeting expressed common gratitude to Archbishop Dietrich Brauer for the work he carried out as the CCIC co-chairman.

After the meeting, the members of the Board took part in the presentation of the audio-Bible project, which was implemented by the Book Chamber in the Chernigov Brothers Metochion under the guidance of Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88502/

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulated on his 75th birthday by inter-Christian organizations and international charities

24 November 2021 - 19:10

Congratulatory messages on His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s 75th continue coming to the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. Among those who sent best wishes to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church are Archpriest John Sauka, acting Secretary General of the World Council of Churches; Rev. Dr Casely Essamuh, Secretary of the Global Christian Forum; Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, President of the Aid to Churches in Need foundation (Kirche in Not), Prof Andrea Riccardi, the founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio; and Prof Adriano Roccucci, Vice-President of the Community of Sant'Egidio.

The letter to Patriarch Kirill from the World Council of Churches refers to the longstanding cooperation of His Holiness with this organization. Archpriest John Sauka thanked His Holiness for his commitment to the inter-Orthodox, inter-church and interreligious relations and dialogue.

“We remember with appreciation your leadership to the Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, coinciding with particularly difficult and challenging years in the history of the Russian people and the world at large. Finally, we express our deep gratitude to Your Holiness for, as head of the Russian Orthodox Church, you continued to support the World Council of Churches, taking several initiatives promoting dialogue, defending justice, and strongly affirming peace”, the acting Secretary General of the WCC states in his letter.

In his congratulatory message, Secretary of the Global Christian Forum Rev. Dr Casely Essamuh notes in particular, “Indeed, you have carved a niche in the history books of the Great Church of Russia, and of the worldwide fellowship of churches as well. Your contribution in leading the Church during such a significant time of change has been spectacularly celebrated, and deservingly so. Your open hands engagement with other churches – in ecumenical fraternity and friendship also deserves equal commendation. On the occasion of your birthday, we declare that we are grateful to God that you were born and have lived to make such an impact. We declare that the rest of your life will be best ever”.

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza in his letter puts a special stress on the fruitfulness of relations developed in the last thirty years between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Aid to Churches in Need foundation. He also notes that in the follow-up of the agreements concluded by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and Pope Francis in 2016 in Havana, a series of joint projects were implemented for support of Christians in the Middle East and in defence of the family and values.

“The totality of the gifts of God received by Your Holiness during the 75 years of life is only a preparation for those of them which await you in the future. The most significant gift that we would like to wish you is Christ Himself who is given to us as light, power, love through His special presence in the Sacrament of the Eucharist”, the President of the Aid to Churches in Need stressed.

Prof Andrea Riccardi in his congratulatory message testified that the longstanding cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Community of Sant’Egidio brought good fruits in the service of charity, in the joint defence of peace and traditional Christian values, in the development of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue.

“In face of the challenges of our time, I often muse on the future of Christianity. There are many disturbing things. We spoke much about it in the interesting and inspiring talks I had the pleasure to have with Your Holiness. Our conversations always offered an opportunity for a profound exchange of opinions and mutual enrichment, for sharing our opinions of the developments in the world and in the life of Churches”, the founder of the Community of St’Egidio noted.

“I would like to assure Your Holiness of my profound respect for you and for your service”, Prof Adriano Roccucci stated in his congratulatory message, “Congratulating you from my heart on your birthday, I wish you a great many fruits of the Lord’s mercy in your service for the Church”.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88507/

Pope Francis of Rome and hierarchs of the Roman Catholic Church congratulate His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on his 75th birthday

25 November 2021 - 14:00

On the occasion of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia’s 75th birthday, congratulatory message was sent him by Pope Francis of Rome. Congratulations also came from Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Archbishop Giovanni d’Anniello, Apostolic Nuncio in the Russian Federation, and Archbishop Paul Pezzi, ordinary of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow.

«With the greatest joy I write to you on the occasion of your 75th birthday assuring you and all the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church of spiritual closeness and prayers. May the Lord bless you with good health and well-being in your lofty service of the Church.

Giving thanks to the Lord Pantocrator for our fraternal relations, I pray that the Holy Spirit may strengthen the fruitful cooperation of our Churches.

May the Russian Orthodox Church under your pastoral omophorion continue growing in faith, love and truth so that the true face of God may be revealed to the world. In our contemporary society with its divisions, antagonisms and consequences of the pandemic, may the mercy of God help us to bear common witness to the friendship and mutual respect and the fellowship of our two Churches, which have reach traditions.

Dear Brother in Christ, once again expressing my cordial prayerful wishes, I share with you a fraternal embrace of peace and ask you to remember me in your prayers.

Many years!”

In his congratulatory message to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Cristian Unity, expressing “cordial gratitude and deep respect”, noted, “I ask the Lord to send you His abundant mercies and bless your lofty service, especially in the present time marked with divisions and conflicts, as well as a fear caused by the pandemic and future socio-economic problems”.

“We are well-aware that we are unable to find the resources necessary to overcome obstacles on our own. It is possible only through the Holy Spirit Who poured out love into our hearts and we were strengthened in our hope (cf. Rom. 5:5) so that we may grow in fellowship. May the Lord send you His abundant gifts of wisdom, inspiration and humbleness for you to continue your zealous pastoral work and service to the cause of Christian unity, so that the fellowship among Christians, first of all between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, may be ever more strong and deep thus visibly revealing the life of Triune God to the world. Your Holiness, may the Lord grant you good health and wellbeing for many years of the Patriarchal ministry”, Cardinal Kurt Koch wrote.

In his letter. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia writes, “In the spirit of friendship uniting us for many years now, I would like to send you my sincerest congratulations on your 75th birthday. Our friendship in the last decades has gone through various periods of the history of the world, of our Churches and of inter-Christian relations. It is with joy that I remember our numerous meetings when we, in the open spirt of search, reflected together in face of the challenges of history. I am confident that our fellowship was an important source of power and remains such in our hard time marked with a pandemic, which has severely affected our nations, and with disturbing signals of division and grave painful conflicts. I consider our brotherly friendship a great treasure. It evokes my deep gratitude and the feeling of lively participation with regard to your service and the life of your Church. I will not conceal, Your Holiness, I hope to have an opportunity to strengthen it by a new meeting and continuation of our talks, so full of interest, mutual understanding and joint reflections on the challenges facing Christianity”.

Archbishop Giovanni d’Aniello, Apostolic Nuncio in the Russian Federation, conveys in his congratulatory message “words of deep respect due to your tireless primatial work aimed to inspire millions of thirsting souls with the word of Christ, to deepen and develop the remarkable traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church.

“I also would like to note that your whole church path is indissolubly linked with enlivening the inter-Christian dialogue, at the origins of which you stood by God’s Providence. And now, after the historic meeting in Havana, you continue, in the abundance of gifts endowed to you by the Lord, to carry the candle of faith on the common path of love”, the Apostolic Nuncio stressed.

In his congratulatory message, Archbishop Paul Pezzi wishes His Holiness Kirill that “Chief Pastor Christ, Who has entrusted you with care for His Church, may strengthen you in your service and award you for your work for His glory and may preserve you for many years”.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88516/

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Chair of the Senate of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev

25 November 2021 - 21:00

On November 5, 2021, a meeting took place at the Throne Hall of the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in the St. Daniel monastery in Moscow between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Chair of the Senate of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev.

Participating in the meeting from the Kazakhstan side were Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation Mr. Ye. B. Kosherbayev, Chair of the Kazakhstan Senate Committee on Finances and Budget and member of the Budgetary Control Commission of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Ms Olga Perepechina. From the Russian Orthodox Church there were Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, head of the Metropolis of Kazakhstan, and Mr. V. Legoida, chairman of the Synodal Department for the Church’s Relations with Society and the Mass Media and acting head of the Patriarchal Press Service.

Greeting the guest, Patriarch Kirill said, “I would like to thank you for this visit. I am always pleased to meet with representatives of Kazakhstan because I have a special relationship with your country, with your national leader (the first President of Kazakhstan N. A. Nazarbayev - ed.). As far back as the times of perestroika, we were always together; I felt our like-mindedness; and the complicated history in the complicated time created a good basis for further development of relationships. Therefore, I would like to ask you to convey my warmest greetings to your first President, to wish him good health and long life and to say that I am always glad to meet, to see each other, to exchange our thoughts. I value the intellectual potential of your first President, but also the enormous experience which he has and from which one can draw a great deal”.

“I would like to say once again that remarkable initiatives are associated with your first President. In general, Nursultan Nazarbayev is a very creative man, as they say today, and we certainly give a high value to his initiatives for holding congresses of leaders of the world traditional religions”, His Holiness continued.

He noted with regret that relations and meetings between religious leaders are not always easy, as sometimes they are often adversely affected by certain political influences. “But Kazakhstan represents a remarkable platform on which these meetings are held in a very benevolent tone, and every time we achieve certain results”, His Holiness added.

Kazakhstan, he said, is located on the junction of East and West, “where both the Russian and Kazakh cultures are present. At the same time, the cultures, languages, traditions do not collide but mutually support and enrich each other. It is certainly a priceless gift and a very important factor of development for the whole country”, His Holiness noted.

“I would like to stress once again that the interaction with Nursultan Nazarbayev was and is for me a very precious experience. I cannot but mention the importance of holding congresses of leaders of the world traditional religions and I would like to talk about this important event prepared in your country”, the Primate of the Russian Church said.

In his turn, Mr Ashimbayev warmly thanked His Holiness for the meeting and conveyed to His Holiness the birthday best wishes from the first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Jomart Tokayev.

“Your Holiness, by your work you have gained enormous respect both in Russia and far beyond her. In Kazakhstan, you are treated with great respect. Kazakhstanis highly appreciate your contribution to the promotion of moral and ethical values in today’s world, to the development of interreligious dialogue, to the strengthening of peace and accord among nations. Your Holiness, we are grateful to you for your effort for consolidating ages-old friendship between the Kazakh and Russian peoples and strengthening strategic relationships between our two states”, the Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan stated.

“This year marks the 30th anniversary of our independence, and all these years the fostering of our relationships with Russia remains a key-direction of our foreign policy”, Mr Ashimbayev continued, “An enormous contribution to the development of relations between our two countries has been made by the first President of Kazakhstan, Yelbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, who always with warmth speaks about Russia, about our relationships and about you, Your Holiness”.

“Last year, when Nursultan Abishevich was ill, having contracted the coronavirus, your sent him a letter with wishes of good health, saying that you were praying for him”, Mr. Ashimbayev reminded His Holiness, “Nursultan Abishevich always remembers that latter; and in one of his interviews he stressed the special bonds that linked you two. Indeed, your prayers, the prayers of the citizens of Kazakhstan brought about his rapid recovery from the disease”.

“As you are aware, today over one hundred ethnic groups and 18 confessions live peacefully in Kazakhstan, and we consider our ethnic and cultural diversity to be our strategic advantage. All the conditions are created for our citizens to realize their linguistic interests and religious needs. Any forms of discrimination on ethnic and religious grounds are prohibited in Kazakhstan. At the same time, in Kazakhstan, the two religions, Islam and Orthodoxy, are assigned a special role, and the law on religious activity in our country stipulates that Kazakhstan acknowledge the historical role played by Islam of the Hanaphite trend and Orthodox Christianity in the cultural and religious life of our people. Accordingly, we build our domestic policy in this area taking into account the above-mentioned priority”, he stressed.

“In Kazakhstan, there are over 3,5 million Orthodox citizens - almost the fifth part of the Kazakhstan population, and all the conditions are provided for the Orthodox believers to satisfy their religious and cultural needs. In the last years alone, about 30 Orthodox churches have been built, and altogether we have about 300 worship facilities, and the state bodies are doing everything needed for the work of all the dioceses, parishes and monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan”, Mr Ashimbayev added.

“As you know, on the instruction Nursultan Abishevich, a new church is being built now in Nur-Sultan. All the works are progressing in accordance with the plan, but as the Senate, we will work with the capital city authorities to speed up the supply of necessary communications and the gentrification of the surrounding territories”, Mr. Ashimbayev assured His Holiness.

“In 2003, the first President of Kazakhstan initiated the convention of a Congress of Leaders of Word and Traditional Religions. A significant contribution to the promotion of this initiative has been made by the President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, who, before his election as head of the state, headed the Senate and, accordingly, the secretariat of the Congress. A special contribution to the promotion of the ideas of interreligious dialogue was made by Your Holiness’s personal participation in the Fourth Congress in 2012. To this day we warmly remember your speech, which became a great event not only for Kazakhstan but also for the whole Central Asia”, Mr. Ashimbayev stated.

The Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan conveyed to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church an official invitation from the President of Kazakhstan K.-J. Tokayev to take part in the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions planned to take place from September 14 to 15, 2022.

According to the head of the Senate of Kazakhstan, the forum will be devoted to the topic “The Role of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in the Spiritual and Social Development of Humankind in the Post-Pandemic Period”.

“Your participation in the forthcoming congress would be very important for the development of global inter-confessional cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Russian Orthodox Church”, Mr. Ashimbayev stressed.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill accepted this invitation with gratitude.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88517/

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill receives congratulatory messages on his 75th birthday from heads and representatives of Christian confessions in Russia

26 November 2021 - 18:01

His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, was congratulated on this 75th birthday by Archbishop Dietrich Brauer of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Russia, President of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists Peter Mickiewicz, Presiding Bishop of the Russian United Fellowship of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (RUFCEF) Sergey Rachofsky, Head Bishop of the Russian Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith Eduard Grabovenko, First Vice-chairman of the Euro-Asian General Conference of the Church of Christians-Adventists of the Seventh Day Oleg Goncharov.

Archbishop Dietrich Brauer, in his message, notes that His Holiness’s lofty service “is an example of faithfulness to the timeless evangelical commandments, of selfless work in the field of ecclesial building and an assertion of the value fundamentals in our society”.

“After the godless period of social stagnation, spiritual orphanhood and the trials of transition, Orthodox believers have found in your person a vigorous and wise Primate. Under your tactful guidance, the fullness of manifold church life including both the liturgical ministry and social and educational work is reviving. The authority of the Church in society and trust in her shown by a great number of people are inseparably linked with your name”, Archbishop Dietrich Brauer testifies expressing gratitude to His Holiness for his prayers and participation in the life of Lutherans in Russia.

“We highly appreciate the good fraternal relations between our Churches. In face of no simple challenges of our time, the unity of Christians of traditional confessions has a priceless importance”, the head of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Russia stressed.

The president of the Russian Union of the Evangelical Christians-Baptists Peter Mickiewicz writes, “Your pastoral work is very much needed by citizens of Russia and compatriots. The Lord has endowed you with an ability to be a religious leader and a brilliant preacher. Your words draw great attention throughout the multi-confessional world. We believe that you will continue to be up to the task of carrying the load of responsibility placed on you”.

“We pray that God may give you good health for many more years and give you strength to carry out the Patriarchal service successfully, to develop inter-church dialogue, to author unifying initiatives in the milieu of Russian and international Christian community” , concludes his message the president of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists.

Sending best wishes to Patriarch Kirill, the Presiding Bishop of the Russian United Fellowship of Christians of the Evangelical Faith Sergey Ryakhovsky notes that in this difficult time when the world is overwhelmed by another wave of the coronavirus infections, thanks to the care of His Holiness the Russian Orthodox Church is going through this complicated period in fitting manner and continues her service for the Lord throughout Russia.

“With satisfaction and gratitude to the Lord I note that the good cooperation of Russian religious organizations in charity projects is developing. An evidence to it is the continued aid to the population of Syria from religious communities in Russia, in which our Union takes all possible part along with the Russian Orthodox Church and representative of other religions”, Sergey Ryakhovsky writes.

Head Bishop of the Russian Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith Eduard Grabovenko sincerely wished His Holiness good health, long life and every wellbeing. “May God bless you in your service of Christ and Russia! May spiritual prosperity, peace and wisdom of God accompany you each day of your life”.

In his congratulatory message, the President of the Euro-Asian Division of the General Conference of the Church of Christians-Adventists of the Seventh Day Oleg Goncharov thanks His Holiness for the longstanding inter-confessional dialogue that His Holiness holds between the Russian Orthodox Church and representatives of other confessions.

“We believe that the way of dialogue with representatives of various confessions will help assert peace and accord in our society. Christians-the Seventh Day Adventists fully support your efforts aimed to preserve traditional Christian values and defend religious freedom. We live in a world in which it is important for us all to preserve our values based on Holy Scriptures, Christ’s words recorded in the Gospel and to protect our believers, who live in accordance with the Word of God, against the influence and pressure coming from various sinful communities”, Oleg Goncharov writes.

The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88522/

November 24th, 2021	#161
Alex Him Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 6,834 Blog Entries: 219	Foundation named after His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia is instituted at St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary of the Orthodox Church in America 12 November 2021 - 17:00 On the occasion of the upcoming celebration of the 75th birthday of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary has instituted a Foundation named after His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia with a purpose of encouraging Biblical Studies. The announcement of this news came from the president of the seminary Very Rev. Chad Hatfield on November 11, 2021, before an academic theological conference on “Search for Scriptures” began its work at the seminary. Archpriest Chad Hatfield pointed out that it had been a unanimous decision of the seminary’s Board of Trustees to name the Foundation after the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church in recognition of His Holiness as a principled and consistent advocate of the canonicity of the church order at the time of crisis in world Orthodoxy. The president of St. Vladimir’s Seminary said that the appearance of the Foundation had become possible thanks to the involvement of the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, an honorary Doctor of Divinity of the Seminary and a member of its Board of Trustees for many years. The raised funds will significantly expand the possibilities of St. Vladimir’s Seminary in the area of studying the Bible: part of the funds will go to the scholarships for the students working in this area. There are also plans for opening the position of Professor of Biblical Studies at the seminary. The conference at St. Vladimir’s Seminary brought together leading biblical scholars from the universities of the United States. Many guests attended the opening session of the conference, including His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; hierarchs of Local Orthodox Churches; and representatives of other Christian confessions. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88406/ Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk sums up the Search for Scriptures theological conference 13 November 2021 - 16:14 On November 12, 2021, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, who is in the USA with a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and at the invitation of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada, attended the plenary sessions of the academic-theological conference on “Search for Scriptures”, which took place at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in New York. The conference gathered leading American specialists in the New Testament studies, including Professor Emeritus Carl Holladay, Kendler School of Theology, the Emory University; Professor of Biblical Studies Craig Keenner, Asbury Theological Seminary; Professor of New Testament Studies Gregory Sterling, Yale School of Divinity; Professor Emeritus Edit Humphrey, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; Prof Garwood Anderson, dean of the Nashotah-House Theological Seminary; Mr John Barnet, Associate Professor at the Chair of the New Testament, St. Vladimir’s Seminary; Associate Professor Bruce Beck, the Holy Cross Seminary in Brooklyn, MA; Prof of Religion and Philosophy James Walles, dean of the Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Ten. Each of the scholars who came to St. Vladimir’s Seminary presented a paper. Many speakers pointed to the importance of dialogue between the Orthodox Church and representatives of the contemporary biblical scholarship, which for the most part ignores the patristic tradition of interpreting Holy Scriptures while in Orthodoxy precisely this tradition is considered normative. Summing up the conference, Metropolitan Hilarion noted that the four canonical Gospels are the main and only sources from which information about the life and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ should be drawn. Neither the apocryphal Gospels, nor any other “alternative sources” can be perceived as containing reliable information about Him. And the most authoritative interpretations of the Gospels is that which has formed within the Church and has been approved by it. At the same time, Orthodox theologians should not ignore the achievements of contemporary Bible studies in those aspects that do not contradict the Orthodox doctrine. Dialogue between representatives of the Orthodox Church and contemporary biblical scholarship is important for the both sides, Metropolitan Hilarion emphasized. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88410/ A clergyman of the Patriarchate of Antioch meets with students of Volyn Theological Seminary 13 November 2021 - 21:30 On November 12, 2021, Archimandrite Romanos Al Hannat, the abbot of Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, met with students of the Volyn Theological Seminary, the Union of Orthodox Journalists reports with reference to the seminary website. Archimandrite Romanos has come in Ukraine to take part in the International Conference on “The Conciliarity of the Church: Theological, Canonical and Historical Dimensions” that was held at the Kiev Laura of the Caves on November 11, 2021. The meeting with the students was devoted to the relations of the Volyn Theological Seminary with the University of Balamand in Lebanon. Archimandrite Romanos is an associate professor of Byzantine music and hymnology at the University’s Institute of Theology. The guest was accompanied by Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, deputy head of Department for external church relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Archimandrite Romanos reminded the students that the life of the Fathers of the Church and zealots of piety St. John Chrysostom and St. John of Damascus had been closely linked with Antioch. He also said that he was happy to visit Ukraine and added: “I dearly love the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and you also should love your Church and take care of it with humility.” The students took an active interest in various aspects of religious life, youth ministry and the situation of Christianity in general and Orthodoxy in particular in the Middle East. At the end, Archimandrite Romanos chanted the troparion to the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in the Arabic language. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88409/ DECR Chairman celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the church in honor of the Three Hierarchs at St. Vladimir's Seminary in New York 14 November 2021 - 15:00 On November 13, 2021, on the feast day of St. John Chrysostom (according to the New Julian calendar), with the blessing of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, the Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church in honor of the Three Hierarchs at St. Vladimir Seminary in New York. Concelebrating with the Archpastor were the President of the seminary, Archpriest Chad Hatfield, clergymen from among the teachers and students, as well as clerics of the St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York. Praying at the divine service were the teachers, staff and students of the seminary, as well as the participants of the “Searching the Scriptures” academic theological conference, which had ended the day before and was dedicated to the publication of four of the six volumes of Metropolitan Hilarion’s book “Jesus Christ: His Life and Teaching" in English. After reading the Gospel, Metropolitan Hilarion addressed the congregation with the following sermon: "Yesterday we attended the conference 'Searching the Scriptures', and today we are celebrating the memory of one of the greatest interpreters of Scripture of all times, Saint John Chrysostom. We commemorate him in a chapel which is dedicated to his memory, alongside with two other great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers, Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian. In today’s Gospel we heard the words of Jesus Christ from the Gospel of John: “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.” These words are very appropriately chosen by the Church to illustrate the life and work of one its greatest teachers, who in his homilies and writings directed attention of his contemporaries to Jesus Christ. He wanted them to become a Jesus Generation. Now, this phrase “Jesus Generation” doesn’t belong to John Chrysostom. It was first coined fifty years ago, when Billy Graham preached before an audience of several thousands in Chicago. The musical Godspell, based on the parables of Jesus, had only just been composed: it played in theaters all across America. A year earlier, the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar was performed for the first time, which quickly gained popularity. With characteristic passion, Billy Graham exclaimed: “It’s interesting to me that, in 1971, the plays, the books, the operas, the movies about Jesus—our generation cannot escape Jesus. And when Good News for Modern Man came out, a new translation of the New Testament by the American Bible Society, they sold twenty-five million copies. We cannot escape Jesus! I’ve never heard of an opera or a play being about Buddha, or Mohammed, or Gandhi. But our generation has become hung up on Jesus. Young people are talking about Jesus. He’s the subject of conversation today on the campus, in the high schools, everywhere. Young people are discussing Jesus Christ, and they’re asking the question, “Who is he?” Jesus himself answered this question very clearly. “I am the door”, he said, “If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved”. Interestingly enough, he doesn’t point to any teaching or commandment as a way to salvation. He points to himself, to his own person. He says: “I am the way, and the life and the truth”. Not my teaching, but I. It is not by mere chance that the followers of Jesus at a very early stage of the Church’s development called themselves Christians, not after any particular teaching but after the person of Jesus Church. And it is not by chance that the preachers of our times want us to be Jesus Generation rather than just simply followers of a particular teaching. We are called to live with Jesus, to put him in the very heart of our spiritual life, to learn who he was by “searching the Scriptures”, but participating in the Divine Liturgy, by receiving his body and blood, by practicing Jesus prayer. And indeed, by following his commandments. Fifty years have passed since Billy Graham delivered his famous speech in Chicago. Since then, two new generations have grown up. But can one possibly say that they are not Jesus generations? Can one possibly say that interest in the person and teaching of Jesus has flagged or decreased since then? I belong to a generation that was not the Jesus generation. In the 1960s and 1970s, few in the Soviet Union knew or spoke of Jesus Christ: his name was mentioned only in specialized literature on “scientific atheism.” Believers of various church communities lived isolated lives; the theme of religion practically did not exist in the public sphere; the name of Jesus was not mentioned in magazines or on television or in history textbooks. People knew about the Bible and the Gospels mainly from atheist literature. But the times changed, and at the end of the 1980s to the beginning of the 1990s the generation that was not the Jesus generation became the Jesus generation. Millions of people read through the Gospels, discovered Jesus as God and Savior for themselves, came to Church, and received baptism. For nearly two thousand years already now the call has resounded on earth: “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.” Millions of people entered and continue to enter through this door. Currently more that two billion inhabitants of our planet consider themselves followers of Jesus, belonging to various Christian confessions, and each day the global community of Jesus’ disciples increases by tens of thousands of new members. Christianity began from something that by human standards can be called a complete failure. The tragic death of Jesus, as it appeared then to many, erased all hope for the success of the movement that he started. And nevertheless, it was this movement that became the most successful missionary project in the entire history of humankind. Over the course of two thousand years, the persistent growth in the number of Christians continues, even if today Christianity is facing the competition of other large-scale missionary projects. In the West, many call our age “post-Christian.” People speak of the decay of Christian civilization, of the decrease in the number of the faithful, of the fall in the number of priestly and monastic vocations, and of the closing of churches and monasteries. In order to be convinced that we in no way live in a post-Christian age, it is sufficient to visit one of the Orthodox countries, in which a large-scale revival of religious life continues that began more than a quarter of a century ago. In the Russian Orthodox Church alone, within thirty years, there have been more than thirty thousand churches either built or reconstructed from ruins: this means that a thousand churches were opened each year, or three churches a day. More than eight hundred monasteries were opened, which have been filled with monks and nuns, mostly young ones. More than fifty seminaries and religious schools have been established or resumed activity; theological institutes and universities have appeared; in secular universities, schools and departments of theology have been opened. This upsurge in religious life in the territory of a former atheist empire, unexpected by many and unprecedented in scale, cannot be explained by natural or sociopolitical factors alone. It has uncovered a powerful source of spiritual energy, which bears Christianity in itself and which is of a supernatural nature. This source stems not from Christian moral or social teaching, and not from divine services or theological studies. It has a single origin—the person of the God-Man Jesus Christ, who continues to act in historical space and time, which he unexpectedly invaded two thousand years ago. Like a spring, which can be compressed and decompressed, historical Christianity in different ages and in different places has experienced periods of persecution and periods of external prosperity; it has become, correspondingly, a “little flock” (Lk 12.32) at times—a small community of those persecuted and rejected—and, at other times, has become an army of many millions of good soldiers for Christ (2 Tim 2.3). But external success must never lead to triumphalism, just as an apparent lack of success must not become a cause for discouragement or despair. Beginning from complete failure, Christianity, in the person of its divine founder, has in the final reckoning prevailed in such a victory over the evil and falsehood of this world that there is no other analogue to it in history. It has compelled millions of people to reexamine their ideas about God, the world, and themselves. By his intrusion into history, the incarnate God has changed its trajectory once and for all. Even if the victory that he has achieved is recognized and acknowledged not by all and not in all places, even if many do not notice it—just as two thousand years ago many did not notice that God had come into the world—this victory has absolute and lasting value. The unflagging interest in Christianity and in the person of its founder testifies to this. The strength of Christianity stems from the fact that, having once come to earth, Christ has not left it to go anywhere: in the body he ascended to heaven, to the Father, but in spirit he remained with his followers on earth (Mt 28.20). The Church that he founded continues to be the place of his living presence, and millions of people are convinced of this in their personal experience. The post-Christian age will come only after the second coming of Jesus Christ. As long as the history of humankind continues on earth, Christ will continue to act in this history. His divine countenance will always attract people, and generation after generation will enter through this door, becoming nothing else than Jesus generations." At the end of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion was cordially greeted by the President of St. Vladimir's Seminary, Archpriest Chad Hatfield. On behalf of the teachers and students of the seminary, he expressed sincere gratitude to the DECR Chairman for the interesting and fruitful communication within the framework of the "Searching the Scriptures" conference, which ended with a common prayer on the feast day of St. John Chrysostom. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88412/ Honorary mother-superior of Gorny Convent honored with Patriarchal award on her 90th birthday 15 November 2021 - 10:00 On Sunday November 14, 2021, marking the 90th birthday of honorary mother-superior Georgia (Schukina) of the Gorny Convent, Archimandrite Alexander (Yelisov), head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem presided at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the convent. Concelebrating were Archpriest Nikolai Zhdanov and Hieromonk Innokenty (Bespalov), the ordained staff members of the Mission Hegumen Nikon (Golovko) and Deacon Iliya Drachuk. Mother-superior of the Gorny Convent Hegumeness Yekaterina (Chernysheva) with the sisters and parishioners of the convent were praying at the service. By the time of the Epistle and Gospel readings Hegumeness Georgia had stepped up to the mother-superior’s place. After the Dismissal, a thanksgiving moleben for the health and well-being of the honorary mother-superior of the convent was conducted and “Many years” sung in her honor. Following the moleben, Archimandrite Alexander addressed Hegumeness Georgia with hearty greetings on behalf of the Mission’s staff members and Gorny Convent’s sisters and read out a congratulatory message fr om His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia that said: “Much esteemed Mother Hegumeness! Your life is full of burdensome trials and creative works for the benefit of the Church. Having survived the seizure of Leningrad and loss of parents, you found belief in God and chose the way of service to Him as a nun. With a blessing of the holy starets Seraphim of Vyritsa, you entered the Pühtitsa convent, wh ere you were carrying out all kinds of responsible obediences. After that you were fated to take part in the reconstruction works in the Convent of St. John on the embankment of the river Karpovka [in St. Petersburg] founded by St. John of Kronstadt. It is gratifying to witness that in all circumstances, difficult as they may be, you would always put your trust in God, and in response to your sincere prayers, He would grand you His mercies and benefits. I would like to express a special gratitude to you for many years of the assiduous service at the head of the Gorny Convent in Jerusalem, of which up to the present time you its honorary the mother-superior. In recognition of your merits and in connection with your 90th birthday I find it only just to honour you with a “Patriarchal Gratitude” medal. On this remarkable day I prayerfully wish you inexhaustible strength, peace and joy in the Lord.” Archimandrite Alexander handed over the Patriarchal award to Hegumeness Georgia and after that the clergymen of the Mission, sisters and parishioners of the convent got together for a memorial photo to be taken. The celebration in honour of Hegumeness Georgia continued at a repast in the refectory of the convent: the sisters of the Gorny Convent sang a spiritual ode composed in honor of the mother-superior; as edifying reading during the meal, and passages from Hegumeness Georgia’s book of memories “Way as Long as Life” were read out. In the Hegumeness’ chamber, following the repast, the honorary mother-superior received congratulations from Hegumeness Yekaterina (Chernysheva) with the sisters and from the clergymen who earlier that day had celebrated the Sunday divine service in the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88415/ Geographical Dictation Takes Place in Parish Centre of St. Sergius Church in South Africa 15 November 2021 - 11:30 A geographical dictation took place in the suburb of Johannesburg where the St. Sergius Church in located on Sunday 14th November 2021 after the service. Geographical dictations have been held by the Russian Geographic Society since 2015. Their basic aim is the popularization of geographical knowledge and to increase interest in Russian geography. Since 2017 the dictation has taken on an international flavour. This year it was done in 107 countries around the world. The geographical dictation was held in the parish centre of the St. Sergius Church in Johannesburg in South Africa. Among the twenty-three people gathered on this day at the parish centre were Russian compatriots who lived in South Africa as well as local South Africans. Forty-five minutes were allocated to fulfill the tasks. Most of the questions were devised as a result of the ‘Write a Question for Geographical Dictation’ competition. The geographical dictation at the parish centre was possible thanks to the initiative of St. Sergius Church parishioner Irina Lynova and with the support of representative of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) Yuri Gerasimov. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88418/ Moscow Hosts Exhibition on the Russian House of Oldenburg 15 November 2021 - 13:30 The opening ceremony of an exhibition entitled the ‘Russian House of Oldenburg, Enlightened Benefactors’ took place on 15th November 2021 in the Marble Hall of the Library of Foreign Literature. The exhibition marks the 140th anniversary of the death of prince Peter Georgievich Oldenburg (1812 – 1881), grandson of emperor Paul I and the founder of the Russian branch of the Oldenburgs. He made his name as a renowned benefactor in the area of charity and education. The organizers and partners of the exhibition were the Library of Foreign Literature, the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society, the Oldenburg Russian Society and the Strana Voskreseniya non-commercial organization. Among the guests at the ceremony were the deputy chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federal Assembly Alexei Gordeyev, the director of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society Sergei Stepashin, the director of the German-Russian Society of Leipzig Konstantin of Oldenburg, the head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia Dietrich Brauer and other public figures. With the blessing of the chairman of the Department of External Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion, archpriest Sergy Zvonarev, secretary of the DECR MP for affairs of the distant abroad, took part in the event. Those gathered were greeted by the director general of the Library of Foreign Literature Pavel Kuzmin, who read out a welcoming speech by the director of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) Yevgeny Primakova and the deputy minister for culture of Russia Olga Yarilova. Also greeting the participants were Duke Constantine of Oldenburg, Sergei Stepashin, Alexei Gordeyev and archbishop Dietrich Brauer. After the official opening was concluded, the guests were able to acquaint themselves with the exhibition which contained materials from the Russian State Archive, the St. Petersburg Friends of the House of Oldenburg Society, the Moscow Central State Archive, the Palace Ensembles of the House of Oldenburg Historical and Cultural Centre and the Library of Foreign Literature. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88416/ The 200th anniversary of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s birthday marked by the Parish of All Saints in Strasbourg 15 November 2021 - 14:00 On November 11, 2021, the anniversary of the birth of great Russian writer Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, commemorative events devoted to this significant date took place at the staurogopegial Parish of All Saints in Strasbourg, France. In the center of the events was the service for the repose of the soul of God’s servant Fyodor Dostoevsky. The memorial service was led by the rector of the Parish of All Saint Archimandrite Philipp (Riabykh). Praying in the church were Rev. Yevgeny Makushkin, a cleric of the parish, and numerous parishioners. After the office of the dead, a literary soiree took place in the parish library of Orthodox literature. Among the speakers was rector of the parish Archimandrite Philipp, who spoke about the Christian aspects of Dostoyevsky’s work. Using various works of the writer as an example, he pointed to the influence made by texts of the Holy Gospel on the characters of Dostoevsky’s novels and to the principal idea of his works and, most importantly, to the life of the genius of Russian literature himself. An important place at the soiree was given to the presentation of the book “The Gospel of Dostoyevsky” written by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk. The publication of this book is timed to the 200th anniversary of Dostoevsky’s birth. After Father Philipp’s speech, a lively discussion took place about Dostoevsky’s work and the influence made by his works on the contemporary world culture. As the Parish of All Saints’ website reports, it is planned to hold a literary soiree devoted to Fyodor Dostoevsky in French for the French-speaking parishioners and other people in Strasbourg. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88417/ __________________ 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

November 24th, 2021	#162
Alex Him Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 6,834 Blog Entries: 219	Metropolitan Hilarion visits St. Tikhon’s Monastery in Pennsylvania 15 November 2021 - 14:40 On November 14, 2021, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), continued his working visit to the USA and arrived in St. Tikhon’s Monastery in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the invitation of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. Metropolitan Hilarion concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada. Also concelebrating were Archimandrite Sergius (Bowyer), the abbot of the monastery with the ordained brethren; Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA); Priest Alessandro Margheritino, secretary of the OCA; Archpriest John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary; and clerics of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City. After the Divine Liturgy, the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America greeted Metropolitan Hilarion most cordially and thanked him for the joy of common prayer in the oldest Orthodox Christian Monastery in America founded in 1905 by St. Tikhon, the future Patriarch of Moscow. His Beatitude asked the high guest to convey his fraternal greetings to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and congratulations on his forthcoming remarkable jubilee. In memory of Metropolitan Hilarion’s visit and common prayers His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon presented him with an icon with a particle of the holy relics of St. Nikolaj (Velemirović) of Žiča who fell asleep in the Lord at the monastery in 1956, and a shrine with the holy relics of Ss Tikhon of Zadonsk, Isaac of Syria and Hilarion the Great. The DECR chairman greeted His Beatitude on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and expressed his gratitude to the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America for the opportunity to visit the USA and take part in the academic theological conference held at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and for the invitation to visit St. Tikhon’s Monastery and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. Metropolitan Hilarion presented His Beatitude with a panagia and wished him the strengthening God’s aid and the intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God in the responsible and demanding ministry of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. Archimandrite Sergius (Bowyer) told Metropolitan Hilarion about the history and present life of the monastery, its holy sites, museum’s collection, and its publishing house’s work. After fraternal talk during repast, Metropolitan Hilarion visited St.Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary where Archpriest John Parker acquainted him with the history of the educational institution and its activities at present. Metropolitan Hilarion presented the seminary with his books on theology translated into English. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88419/ A Russian Church cleric concelebrates at the cathedral in the capital of Bulgaria 15 November 2021 - 14:50 On November 12, 2021, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Nedelya (Kiriakia). On this day, the Serbian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy King Stefan Milutin who has been especially venerated in Bulgaria and Serbia. Earlier, festivities marking the 700th anniversary of the demise of the saint were held in Bulgaria on October 28-30, 2021, according to the Revised Julian calendar. St. Stefan Uroš II Milutin ruled Serbia from 1275 to 1320. Nowadays, his holy relics lie in the Sofia cathedral church of St. Nedelya (Kiriakia), also called the Church of the Holy King. With the blessing of His Holiness Neophyte, Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia, officiating at the divine service was Bishop Polikarp of Belogradchik in concelebration with iconom-stavrofor Neluţ Oprea, representative of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Bulgaria; hieromonk Mardarije, the abbot of the Poganovo Monastery of St. John the Theologian; Archimandrite Nicanoros, the abbot of the Ss Cosmas and Damian Monastery; Archimandrite Euthymios; Hieromonk Stephanos of the Troyan Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos; Archpriest Yevgeny Pavelchuk, secretary of the Representation of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in Sofia; iconom-stavrofor Nikolaj Georgiev, rector of St. Nedelya cathedral church; clerics of the cathedral and of the Sofia bishopric. Church hymns were chanted by the singers from churches in Sofia directed by Andrei Kasabov. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88421/ Participants in the joint OSCE-UN conference are informed about discrimination of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s faithful 15 November 2021 - 15:12 On November 12, 2021, Bishop Victor of Baryshevka, head of the Representation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the European International Organizations, took part in the joint OSCE-UN on-line conference on the “Effective Participation of National Minorities in Economic Life as a Strategy for Conflict Prevention.” Participating in this event held at the United Nations Office in Geneva were Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva Tatiana Valovaya, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov, and UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Dr. Fernand de Varennes. Present-day international law classifies as minorities not only ethnic or national groups, living in a certain territory, but also any other community of people, united by certain categories, by religious beliefs including. Although the topic of the conference was not focused on the observance of religious rights, it also concerned their possible realization in the economic sphere, which currently is very important for the religious organizations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, since the so-called “renaming law” and in some cases the actual discriminating policy of state and local authorities often deprive them of the realization of their economic rights. Frequently encountering refusals on different levels, the members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are unable to exercise their lawful rights – from receiving a plot of land for constructing a church to the access for UOC clergymen to the system of military chaplaincy. The participants in the conference exchanged opinions on how to improve the functioning of the international mechanism for the protection of minorities’ rights and offered recommendations to the international human rights organizations and structures, reports the Synodal Department of Information and Education of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88420/ Rector and parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church Beirut Representation take part in the festive Liturgy in Zahle 15 November 2021 - 18:00 On November 14, 2021, the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, the community of the Russian Orthodox Church Beirut Representation led by rector Archimandrite Philipp (Vasiltsev), at the invitation of Metropolitan Anthony of Zahle and Baalbek and Metropolitan Niphon of Philippople, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, made a pilgrimage to the city of Zahle, Lebanon. During the Sunday Liturgy at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Zahle, His Eminence Anthony and His Eminence Niphon were assisted by Archimandrite Philipp (Vasiltsev) and the diocesan clergy. The liturgy was celebrated in Arabic and Church Slavonic. The sermon on the Sunday Gospel Reading was delivered by Metropolitan Anthony of Zahle and Baalbek. After the dismissal, the rector of the representation warmly greeted Metropolitans Anthony and Philipp and thanked them for their assistance and participation in the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the representation of the Russian Orthodox Church. Archimandrite Philipp also congratulated the hierarchs on another anniversary of their episcopal consecrations and presented them with commemorative gifts. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88423/ Metropolitan Hilarion welcomes the decision of the UN Human Rights Committee on the persecutions against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church 16 November 2021 - 00:00 Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, commented on the decision adopted by the UN Human Rights Committee concerning the observance of the human rights of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The observance of international obligations by Ukraine was a subject considered by the 132nd session of the Committee. In its final document “Concluding observations on the eighth periodic report of Ukraine”, concern is expressed “at reports of violence, intimidation and acts of vandalism of places of worship in connection with the process of transitioning churches and religious communities from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the newly established Orthodox Church of Ukraine” and at “the reported inaction of the police in such incidents and the lack of information on investigations conducted by the State party”. The UN Human Rights Committee stated that Ukraine as the State party should “guarantee the effective exercise of freedom of religion and belief, including by ensuring protection of places of worship against violence, intimidation and acts of vandalism; and ensure that all cases of violence are thoroughly and promptly investigated and sanctions”. “The Russian Church welcomes the fact that the UN Human Rights Committee adopted such an objective decision on the situation of persecutions against the faithful of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church”. Metropolitan Hilarion stressed in his comments for the RIA news agency. The archpastor expressed a hope that this verdict would attract the attention of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, as “indeed, an assurance still comes from there that churches voluntarily move over to schismatics from the ‘OCU’ while the faithful of the canonical Church invent stories about beatings and attacks”. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88424/ DECR chairman visits Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA 16 November 2021 - 15:55 On November 15, 2021, during his working trip to the United States, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, visited the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA - St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York. After a prayer and veneration of the cathedral’s shrines, the hierarch conveyed a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the clergy and staff of the Representation. His Eminence noted that the clergy of the Patriarchal cathedral are entrusted with the important task to represent the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA with dignity and to take pastoral care of the numerous compatriots who live in that country, so that, living among non-Orthodox people, they could not forget about their belonging to sacred Orthodox faith. The archpastor said that as the coronavirus infection pandemic has caused the most of deaths in the United States of America, it is important that during divine services and in the parish life all the anti-epidemic measures prescribed by the Supreme Church Authority should be continued. In the course of Metropolitan Hilarion’s meeting with the clergy and staff, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) informed him about the current work of the Moscow Patriarchate Representation in the USA and the work of the Representation of the Russian People’s Council in the UNO, which has been located in the St. Nicholas Cathedral since 2005. His Eminence Hilarion gifted copies of his theological works in English version to the representation and the parish library. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88425/ DECR Chairman visits the Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN in New York 17 November 2021 - 12:20 On November 16, 2021, at the end of his working trip to the United States of America, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk visited the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations in New York, where he met with the Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Mr. V. Nebenzya. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Permanent Representatives D.A. Polyansky and D.S. Chumakov, and by the representative of the International Russian People's Council to the United Nations Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) During the conversation, Metropolitan Hilarion and V.A. Nebenzya discussed topics of mutual interest in the field of interaction between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN. DECR Chairman then met with diplomats and representatives of the Mission. Vladyka Hilarion briefly spoke about the main directions of the external activities of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as about the current situation in world Orthodoxy, destabilized by the anti-canonical actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine. The Archpastor expressed his satisfaction with the high level of cooperation between the Church and the diplomats representing Russia in the United Nations. Metropolitan Hilarion answered numerous questions from those present at the meeting. At the end of the encounter, V.A. Nebenzya cordially thanked the DECR Chairman for the opportunity to meet and expressed his wish to continue communication in such format during the Archpastor's working visits to the United States. Vladyka Hilarion wished the Permanent Representative and the entire diplomatic corps of the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN physical and spiritual strength and God's help in their high service to the Fatherland. In the evening of the same day, Metropolitan Hilarion departed for Moscow. At the international airport of New York, the hierarch was accompanied by clerics of the St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York, the representative of the Consul General of Russia in New York I. Popov and the Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, Archpriest Alexander Rentel, who thanked Vladyka Hilarion on behalf of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon for the fraternal and constructive communication within the framework of the visit. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88427/ Conference on “Russia. Georgia. Christian East. Religious and Cultural Ties” is held in Moscow 17 November 2021 - 19:10 On November 17, 2021, the 9th annual academic readings on “Russia. Georgia. Christian East. Religious and Cultural Ties” opened at the Central Andrei Rublev Museum of Old Russian Culture and Art dedicated to the memory of David I. Arsenishvili, the organizer and first director of the Museum. The participants and guests of the conference included Metropolitan Nicholas of Akhalkalaki, Kumurdo and Kars (Georgian Orthodox Church); Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR); Gennady V. Popov, research deputy director of the Museum; Archimandrite Kirakos (Davtyan), head of the diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia; Archpriest Kakhaber Gogotishvili, a cleric of the Georgian Orthodox Church; Archimandrite Dionisy (Kolesnik), rector of the Patriarchal Representation at the Andronikov Monastery; Archpriest Alexander Saltykov, dean of the Department of Church Art at Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox University for the Humanities; Archpriest Fedor Krechetov, rector of the church of St. George the Victorious in Gruziny, Moscow; sister Iuliania (Zakharova) of the Ss. Boris and Gleb convent in Anosino, head of the DECR chancery; staff workers of the Museum and representatives of the academic community. The choir of the church of St. George the Victorious offered their performance to the participants in the readings. The performance was followed by greetings of Gennady V. Popov to the participants. The first to address the conference with a report was Metropolitan Nicholas of Akhalkalaki, Kumurdo and Kars. He spoke “On some implications underlying Shota Rustaveli’s poem ‘The Knight in the Panther’s Skin.’” The subjects of the conference reports include church art and architecture of Georgia; history of the Georgian Orthodox Church; veneration of Georgian saints in Russia; works by David I. Arsenishvili and other topics. Some reports were presented via videoconference. The conference concludes its work on November 18. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88431/ __________________ 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

November 24th, 2021	#163
Alex Him Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 6,834 Blog Entries: 219	Patriarchal service on the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (September 21, 2021) - 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

November 24th, 2021	#164
Alex Him Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 6,834 Blog Entries: 219	Patriarchal service on the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (September 21, 2021) - 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

November 24th, 2021	#165
Alex Him Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 6,834 Blog Entries: 219	Siberian Male Choir visits Representation of Russian Church in Damascus 17 November 2021 - 23:05 On November 17, 2021, the Siberian Male Choir from Krasnoyarsk visited the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus. The choir, which takes its origin from the choir of the Dormition monastery in Krasnoyarsk, was founded in 2018 on the initiative of the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk region Alexander V. Uss. The Siberian Male Choir is the laureate of nationwide and international contests and festivals. The guests sang church hymns at the Representation’s Church of St. Ignatius the God-Bearer. Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Antioch, told the guests about the history of the Representation. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88438/ The community at Myzovo village in Volyn, an ‘OCU’ raid-victim, acquires a new church 18 November 2021 - 07:00 On November 13, 2021, Metropolitan Vladimir of Vladimir-Volynskiy and Kovel consecrated the church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Myzovo village, Starovyzhskiy district, Volyn region. It took nine months to build the new church instead of the captured one. In the newly consecrated church, Metropolitan Vladimir assisted by the diocesan clergy celebrated the Divine Liturgy, reports the Vladimir-Volynskiy diocesan press service. In his homily after the liturgy, His Eminence congratulated the parishioners and the rector of the church, Archpriest Anatoly Matselik, on the important event in the life of the village - the consecration of a new church. The benefactors and parishioners, who took an active part in the construction, were presented with church awards. The attacks of raiders began in this village in January 2019 when, at a meeting of locals with the participation of the head of a united territorial community, V. I. Semenyuk, a voting was initiated on the move of the local religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the ‘OCU’. The permanent parishioners and the rector of the church refused to vote, since it contradicted the Ukrainian law and the wish of the faithful. After the meeting, local ‘activists’, using threats, seized from the rector the keys of the church which is the property of the religious community. Though in March 2019 the court remedied the grievance of Archpriest Anatoly Matselik and the keys were given back to the rector of the church belonging to the canonical Church, ‘OCU’ activists still managed later to take the church away from the religious community. The community members decided to build a new church, and on January 5, 2020, Metropolitan Vladimir of Vladimir-Volynskiy and Kovel blessed the foundation of the church dedicated to the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88439/ Representative of the Russian Church takes part in meeting on repatriation of refugees to Syria 18 November 2021 - 10:30 On November 16, 2021, a joint meeting of Russian and Syrian inter-agency coordination committees on the repatriation of refugees took part in Ebla Hotels in a Damascus suburb. With a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church was represented at the meeting by Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Antioch and All East. On November 17, a round-table conference on “Syria in the world blockade. How to win a war and not to lose peace” was held at the same place under the chairmanship of Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Feisal Mekdad, in which Hegumen Arseny took part. In his remarks, he spoke about the efforts made by the Russian Orthodox Church to help Orthodox Christians in Syria to restore war-damaged churches and to carry our various humanitarian actions in Syria with the participation of the Damascus Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate. After the round-table conference, Father Arseny presented Mr F. Mekdad with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia’s book “Freedom and Responsibility” in the Arabic version. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88440/ An exhibition is to take place in Rio de Janeiro on the 5th anniversary of Patriarch Kirill’s visit to Brazil 19 November 2021 - 16:00 From November 20 to December 4, 2021, a photo exhibition will take place in Rio de Janeiro as part of the Christmas Readings. It will be devoted to the 5th anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia’s visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil. The exposition has been prepared by the Parish of the Holy Martyr Zinaida with a blessing of Bishop Leonid of Argentina and South America. Support in organizing the exhibition was given by the Russian Federation Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro and the Federal Agency for the Affairs of the Commonwealth of the Independent States, compatriots living abroad and Rossotrudnichestvo, an agency for international humanitarian cooperation, as well the Catholic Metropolis of San Sebastian with the personal participation of Archbishop Joao Orani of Rio de Janeiro Cardinal Tempesta. The photo exhibition will be located at the exposition center of the Catholic St. Sebastian Cathedral. It will present photographs from the archives of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, recording the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church’s visit to Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The solemn opening of the exposition will take place on November 20. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88450/ Representation of the Russian Church takes part in a humanitarian action in Syrian Bosra 19 November 2021 - 17:30 On November 18, 2021, a humanitarian action took place in Bosra in southern Syrian Daraa District. It was organized by the Russian national veteran organization “Boevoe Bratstvo” (Combat Brotherhood) together with the Center for the Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides and the Russian Orthodox Church Representation to the Patriarchate of Antioch. One of the general education schools received warm winter jackets, school backpacks, office equipment and sweets. Participating in the action were also members of the inter-agency delegation who came to Syria from Russia to attend a conference on the repatriation of refugees. After the humanitarian action, its participants visited the ruins of ancient Bosra (“Vosor” in the Russian Synodal translation of the Bible). The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88452/ A monument to St. Alexander Nevsky unveiled in Belgrade 19 November 2021 - 18:50 On November 18, 2021, a monument to Holy Orthodox Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky was unveiled in the capital city of Serbia. On that day, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Belgrade by His Holiness Porfitije, Patriarch of Serbia. He was assisted by Bishop Nazariy of Kronstadt, abbot of the St. Alexander Nevsky Lavra, and Serbian and Russian clergy. After the Liturgy, a procession with the cross took walked to the site of the monument where the memorial was blessed. The ceremony was attended by Governor of St. Petersburg A. Beglov, Mayor of Belgrade Zoran Radojicic, Russian Federation State Duma vice-speaker A. Babakov, Russia’ ambassador to Serbia A. Botsan-Kharchenko, chairman of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly A. Belsky, representatives of the Belgrade authorities and the public. Many residents and guests of Belgrade came to pay homage to the hero of Russian history and especially venerated saint in both Russia and Serbia. Among the guests was the father of the President of the Republic Andjelko Vucic. “Thanks to our common Orthodox faith, today we have the honour to be present at the opening of a monument of St. Alexander Nevsky, who was born in Russia but is loved in Serbia as well. Our people saw in the Grand Prince their St. Sava, a warrior and a monk. Alexander Nevsky told us that the truth is not in power but in God. May the unity of all the Orthodox nations be blessed through his intercession”, the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church said. “Let us seek to follow the example of the saint at the moments when clouds begin to gather over our two nations", Bishop Nazary of Kronstadt said noting that the intercession of the Orthodox Grand Prince and all the saints is needed at this difficult time as never before. St. Petersburg Governor A. Beglov thanked Serbia for fraternal love and support for Russia. “A hard time fell to the lot of Ss Alexander Nevsky and Sava of Serbia but they won and preserved the Orthodox faith. We are together, and if we are together, we will win”, he said. Mayor of Belgrade Zoran Radojicic described the unveiling of the bust as another testimony to the goodwill and friendship of the two countries. St. Alexander Nevsky’s bust is a gift from St. Petersburg to Belgrade in the year of the 800th anniversary of the birth of the Grand Prince. He was sent to Serbia on September 22. The same two monuments, which had been produced by the Russian Glory Alley Foundation, are placed at the vestibule of the church of St. Alexander Nevsky of the lavra in St. Petersburg and at the lavra’s St. Nicholas Skete in the Leningrad Region. Their author is Anatoly Dementyev, a member of the Artists Union of Russia. The Belgrade monument is the most solid one of the three. It is over 3 meters tall and its weight is 4,5 tons. The inscription on the pedestal is made of gold leaf in Serbian Cyrillic. The installation of the monument was initiated by the Orly (Eagles) Russian-Serbian Cultural Information Center. It was supervised by the Committee for External Relations of the St. Petersburg Government. Assistance was given by businessman M. Serdyukov, State Duma deputy S. Mironov, representatives of public organizations in the two countries, and the St. Seraphim of Vyritsa Religious Education Center. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88459/ Congratulation sent by Primate of the Polish Orthodox Church to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on his 75th birthday 20 November 2021 - 12:00 His Beatitude Sava, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland, congratulated His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on his 75th birthday. Your Holiness, For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain… I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far (Phil. 1:21, 23). With these words St. Paul calls all, especially the archpastors of the Church, to focus their life around Christ. For in Him we live and move and have our being… (Acts 17:28). Each day of our life belongs to Him. Our life and our death are in His hands (cf. Phil. 1:20). Christ leads us through earthly life to today’s Golgotha and puts us, just as He did St. John, at the foot of the cross and asks us what else we can do for the Church. He has made everything, and we should preserve these inexhaustible reaches received on Golgotha, i.e., the faithful standing with Him in the evening of our life and in the morning of our resurrection. With the Easter’s “Christ is Risen”, we raise the depressed world and it becomes new. Never before has our service of Christ been so important as it is today. Concern for the healthy Orthodox ecclesiastical family has become for us the primary task of our archpastoral ministry. Faith, hope, love and wisdom are our success. Humbleness and unity are our fortress. The Word of God is our sword. The destiny of our Church is victory and resurrection. Everything passes while Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8). He is the corner stone. We and our Church are the foundation built on it. Your Holiness, today marks the 75 years of your life on earth and this year marks the 45 years of your episcopal ministry and 12 years of your Patriarchal service. Your Holiness, you, like a solid foundation, hold the walls of the Russia Orthodox Church. You take upon yourself all the blows of the wave of the modern world. Under your wise archpastoral omophorion the Russian Church is developing, and attention is given in much of this to the whole Orthodoxy, which is in crisis today. I congratulate Your Holiness on your 75th birthday and wish you much spiritual joy, good health and successful fight for the salvation of many. I remember with gratitude the visit of Your Holiness to the Polish land. Your Patriarchal blessing and witness to the Lord’s truth before our society stands to this day. May the Lord save you for this! Once again, I greet you on your 75th birthday, brotherly embrace Your Holiness and exclaim, Many Years of life to Your Holiness! With love in Christ, + Sava Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88464/ Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia congratulates His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on his 75th birthday 20 November 2021 - 12:36 The congratulation sent by His Beatitude Rostislav, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on his 75th birthday. His Holiness Kirill Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Your Holiness, Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant, All these years you have served God and people with good conscience and by your noble life brought to the truth those who wallow in delusion (St John Chrysostom 47. 58), giving a dignified example to all of us. With invariable warmth do I remember our meetings and joint celebrations in the course of our visits to the fold of the Russian Orthodox Church. Your interest in the life of our Local Church and continued concern for the needs of our Representation in Moscow - all this echoes with gratitude in my heart. On this joyful day, I prayerfully wish Your Holiness physical strength, many years of life and God’s inexhaustible help in your Primatial work. With brotherly love in the Lord, + Rostislav Archbishop of Presov Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88465/ Congratulations to Patriarch Kirill on his 75th birthday sent by heads and representatives of foreign Protestant churches and organizations 20 November 2021 - 15:00 On the occasion of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia’s 75th birthday, congratulatory messages came to the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate from Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan: Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, President of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany; Archbishop Tapio Luoma of Turku and Finland, Primate of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland; Mr. Franklin Graham, President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Metropolitan Archbishop Rufus Okikiola Ositelu of the Archdiocese of Nigeria, Primate of the Worldwide Church of the Lord (Aladura);Honorary Archbishop Ukka Paarma of Turku and Finland, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland. In his message, Archbishop Justin Welby writes in particular, “It is with great pleasure that I send you my greetings and congratulations on your birthday on 20 November. I wish you every blessing for the years to come”. “On this festive day, I would like to congratulate you on your 75th birthday on behalf of the Evangelical Church in Germany. May the Most High bless you with abundant gifts that He promised to send to the faithful: ‘The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise’ (Parables 11:30)”, writes in his letter Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm. “Certainly, the tree of life of the Church, which you have served almost for all your life, has experienced many storms but in all the times of upheavals the Church has born witness to the mercy of our Lord, who has given us deep roots and a solid foundation <…> I sincerely wish you a blessed and memorable celebration and pray that the mercy of Triune God may be with you and all the faithful of your Church”. Archbishop Tapio Luoma, in congratulating His Holiness, stressed in particular, “Merciful God has blessed your Church with various gifts. He has given a firm faith to its members and wisdom to its leaders so that your Church may endure hard periods and prosper in good times. So, we have many reasons for thanking God for His gifts and blessings sent to you and through you to your whole Church”. “I am deeply grateful for how you continuously encourage churches across Russia to support each other and work together”, Franklin Graham notes in his message, “Your support for persecuted Christians around the world, as well as your desire to seek peace and protect the sanctity of life is admirable. I commend you for these God-honoring efforts.” “May the Grace, Peace and Mercy of God, Father Almighty continue to be with Your Holiness, and the entire Household of God in the Most Precious Name of our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ”, says in his congratulatory letter the head of the Aladura Church Rufus Okikiola Ositel, “Wishing your Holiness more years in the service of God and Mankind, and that you will continue to wax stronger in good health. Through the years and unto this day, you have laboured. You are a true Man of God, Spiritual Leader, and Preacher of the word and exceptional ecumenical figure”. In his congratulatory message, Honorary Archbishop Ukka Paarma of Turku and Finland says in particular, “I pray that the following years of your life may be filled with peace, prosperity, good health and, above all, happiness in its true sense”. The source of information - https://mospat.ru/en/news/88466/ __________________ 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

November 24th, 2021	#167
Alex Him Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 6,834 Blog Entries: 219	Patriarchal service on the eve of the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (September 20, 2021) Patriarchal Service on the Day of Remembrance of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the Alexander Nevsky Skete (October 8, 2021) Patriarchal Service on 19th Week after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky Skete (October 31, 2021) Patriarchal service on Dimitrievskaya parental Saturday in the Alexander Nevsky skete (November 6, 2021) Patriarchal service on the 20th week after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky skete (November 7, 2021) Patriarchal service on 21st Week after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky skete (November 14, 2021) __________________ 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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