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Old September 27th, 2020 #81
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On the anniversary of the terrorist attack in New York a service for the repose of the souls was held at the Moscow Church of St. Catherine in-the-Fields



11 September 2020 - 13:22







On September 11, 2020, the Day of the Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John and the 19th anniversary of the terrorist attack in the USA with the death toll of about three thousand, the Divine Liturgy and the Office for the Dead for innocent people killed by terrorists were held at the Church of the Great Martyr Catherine in-the-Fields – the representation of the Orthodox Church in America to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

The Office for the Dead was said in English by Archpriest Daniel Andreyuk, rector of the Church of St. Catherine, representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Present at the service were former Canadian charge d’affaires Mr. Stephane Jobin and secretary of inter-Orthodox relations of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk.

After the service, Father Daniel greeted the congregation on behalf of His Beatitude Tikhon, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, and the clergy of the St. Catherine Church. ‘It has become a tradition to assemble on this day in our church to honour the memory of those who were killed in the USA by terrorists on the 11th of September 2001, as well as the memory of all the victims of international terrorism’, he said, ‘But we not only pray for the repose of their souls but also bear witness to the unity of all people of good will regardless of their nationality and confession’.

Archpriest Daniel also thanked the Canadian diplomat, who had completed his mission in Moscow, for many years of cooperation with the Church of St. Catherine.

Mr. Jobin, in his turn, shared his remembrances of the tragic days in 2001 and thanked the representation of the Orthodox Church in America for its work to strengthen relations between the peoples of North America and Russia.

In conclusion, the worshippers proceeded to the churchyard where the bell rang 11 times in memory of the victims.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5691043.html






Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church meets with Russian ambassador of Cambodia



11 September 2020 - 14:53







On September 11, 2020, with the blessing of the Patriarchal Exarch for South-East Asia, Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia, the acting dean of the District of Cambodia of the Diocese of Thailand and rector of the St. George Church in Phnom Penh Hieromonk Paisiy (Opate) met with the Russian Federation ambassador in Cambodia, A.B. Borovik.

Hieromonk Paisiy conveyed congratulations and good wishes to the newly appointed Russian ambassador in Cambodia from the temporary administrator of the Diocese of Thailand Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia and the secretary of the Diocese of Thailand Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), who could not greet the new head of the Russian diplomatic mission personally because of the pandemic.

In their talk they discussed a wide range of issues concerning the Russian-Cambodian cooperation in the humanitarian sphere and the Russian Orthodox Church’s pastoral care for the compatriots and Orthodox Cambodians. They dwelt on the work of the Orthodox communities in Cambodia in the situation of the coronavirus pandemic and educational and charitable projects of the Cambodian deanery. They expressed the wish to develop constructive cooperation between the Russian embassy in Cambodia and the Patriarchal Exarchate of South-East Asia.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5691047.html






Patriarch Kirill visits Department for External Church Relations



12 September 2020 - 17:17







On September 12, 2020, after the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Trinity in St. Daniel Stauropegial Monastery, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

At the entrance, His Holiness was met by DECR chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and DECR vice-chairmen Archbishop Leonid of Vladikavkaz and Alania, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov and Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov).

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church saw the memorial corner devoted to the late Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad and Novgorod, the second chairman of the department.

Then His Holiness proceeded to the DECR chairman’s office for a meeting with Metropolitan Hilarion. The Primate congratulated His Eminence on the 25th anniversary of his work at this synodal department responsible for the external relations of the Russian Orthodox Church and wished him God’s help in his further work.

After that, His Holiness had a meeting at the department’s lesser hall with the senior personnel. The meeting was attended by DECR chairman Metropolitan Hilarion, DECR vice-chairmen Archbishop Leonid, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov and Archimandrite Philaret, as well as DECR secretaries Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, inter-Orthodox relations; Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, diaspora affairs; Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov), inter-Christian relations; and Rev. Dimitry Safonov, interreligious relations.

Opening the meeting, the DECR chairman noted that as the present pandemic situation made it impossible to assemble all the members of the department, it was decided to limit the assembly to its senior members.

Greeting those present, His Holiness said, ‘Brothers, I am very glad to meet with you especially in these walls which I hold so dear’.





His Holiness noted that he crossed the threshold of the department with a very special feeling because he had worked in it as its chairman for almost twenty years.

Patriarch Kirill also shared his remembrances of the time when he had worked at the department to which he related since 1968. He recalled that he had been the youngest participant in the major international inter-Christian congress – the 4th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, which took place in 1968 in Uppsala, Sweden.

His Holiness shared his reminiscences saying, ‘Just imagine, a Russian Orthodox young man finds himself in this excited atmosphere of a major international organization. Of course, it was a great, as it would be put nowadays, psychological challenge. But beside me were people who could help me to grasp the situation – these were the late Metropolitan Nikodim, Metropolitan Juvenaly and our other outstanding hierarchs who took part at that time in the international work. As a matter of fact, this was the beginning of my cooperation with the Department for External Church Relations, which was located at that time in a mansion in Ryleyev Street’.

‘I am glad to visit this department to which I had given twenty years of my life as chairman and much longer as a co-worker and to see how well everything is developing, how well the work is organized and how highly qualified are those who are working here’, he noted.

Patriarch Kirill wished God’s help to all the staff members of the department and said that ‘each epoch bears an emotional and intellectual charge; each epoch demands a special efficiency. And may God give that the present generation of the staff members cope with today’s challenges with an even greater success than the previous ones achieved’.

Metropolitan Hilarion, in his turn, thanked His Holiness on behalf of those present. ‘I would like to assure Your Holiness that the Department for External Church Relations are people faithful to you and faithful to the church cause’, he said.

In conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness presented each participant with commemorative gifts.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5691051.html






Anniversaries of Orthodoxy in Japan marked in Tokyo



16 September 2020 - 11:02







In 2020 the Japanese Orthodox Church celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Mission in Japan, 50th anniversary of the autonomous life of the Japanese Orthodox Church as part of the Moscow Patriarchate and 50th anniversary of the canonization of Nicholas of Japan Equal-to-the-Apostles.

On September 12-13, 2020, solemn divine services took place to mark these anniversaries.

On September 12, the All-Night Vigil was celebrated at the Cathedral of Resurrection in Tokyo (known as Nikorai-do – the church of Nicholas dedicated to Nicholas of Japan Equal-to-the-Apostles, who brought Orthodoxy to Japan). It was led by Archbishop Seraphim of Sendai. He was assisted by Archpriest Nikolay Katsiuban, rector of the Russian Orthodox Church representation in Japan, as well as Rev. Michael Tainaka and Rev. Paul Nikanisi, clergy of the cathedral. Worshipping in the sanctuary was Metropolitan Daniel of Tokyo and All Japan.

On September 13, Metropolitan Daniel of Tokyo and All Japan, assisted by Archbishop Seraphim of Sendai celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the St. Nicholas Cathedral. They were assisted by Archpriest Nikolay Katsiuban, Archpriest Mark Koike, secretary of the Diocese of Sendai; Archpriest Paul Oikawa, rector of the Cathedral of the Annunciation; Archpriest Constantine Masuda, rector of the church of the Resurrection at Suginami City in Tokyo, and Rev. Michael Tainaka and Rev. Paul Nakanisi, priests of the cathedral. Due to the coronavirus epidemic restriction, there were about 70 worshippers in the church.

After the Divine Liturgy, a thanksgiving was celebrated and ‘Many Years’ was sung.

Metropolitan Daniel addressed himself to the congregation with anniversary greetings.

Archpriest Nikolay Kotsiuban read out a message sent by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on the occasion of the festive divine services in Tokyo. Hieromonk Nicholas (Ono) of the ROC Tokyo representation read out the Japanese version of the Patriarchal message.

Mr. A. Bondarenko, a counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Tokyo, read out a massage of greetings from Russian Federation Ambassador to Japan M. Galuzin.

The Japanese Orthodox Church conveyed to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia a vestment fabric made according to the old Japanese weaving tradition in Kyoto.

In the afternoon, Archbishop Seraphim of Sendai said a prayer at the tomb of St. Nicholas of Japan and the Office for the Dead was said at the graves of the late hierarchs of the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church. Archbishop Seraphim was assisted by Archpriest Nikolay Katsiuban, Rev. Michael Tainaka and Rev. Paul Nakanisi.

Praying at the thanksgiving and Office for the Dead were clergy of the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church and the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Tokyo.

The festivities will be crowned by a visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to Japan to take place when the epidemiological restrictions are lifted.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5691816.html






DECR chairman meets with newly appointed Ambassador of Russia to Slovakia



16 September 2020 - 14:57







On 16th September 2020, at the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, DECR chairman, met with H.E. Mr. Igor Bratchikov, newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Slovak Republic.

They were joined in the meeting by Archpriest Sergy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for far abroad countries, and Archpriest Nikolai Lischenyuk, representative of the Russian Orthodox Church to the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

Metropolitan Hilarion warmly greeted the high guest and congratulated him on his appointment as the head of the Russian diplomatic mission in Bratislava. The hierarch told Mr. Bratchikov about the close historical relations between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

The participants in the meeting discussed various issues of mutual interest.

At the conclusion of the meeting Metropolitan Hilarion wished Mr. Bratchikov success at his new post and presented him with a memorable gift.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5692231.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Latvia’s Ambassador to Russia



16 September 2020 - 17:48







On 16th September 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, met with H.E. Mr. Māris Riekstiņš, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Russian Federation.

They were joined in the meeting by Archpriest Sergy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for far abroad countries, and Mr. Edmunds Vizla, Third Secretary of the Embassy of Latvia in Russia.
Metropolitan Hilarion warmly welcomed the guest to the oldest synodal department. Mr. Riekstiņš thanked the hierarch for the meeting.

The participants in the meeting discussed various issues pertaining to the cooperation between the Department for External Church Relations and the Latvian diplomatic mission.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5692353.html






Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Paris will take part in European Heritage Days



17 September 2020 - 13:43







On September 19 and 20, 2020, the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and the Russian Spiritual-Cultural Orthodox Center in Paris will take part for the fourth time in the European Heritage Days (Journées européennes du Patrimoine). During these days, along with a great number of museums, cultural conserves and governmental institutions in France, the cathedral and the center will open their doors for numerous visitors.

The cathedral will be open for free entry from 10:00 to 19:00 on Saturday and Sunday. The website of the Diocese of Chersonesus reports that the cathedral clergy and personnel will be pleased to receive visitors and answer their questions.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5692442.html
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Old September 27th, 2020 #82
Alex Him
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Russian Orthodox Church in UAE resumes divine services after six-month quarantine



17 September 2020 - 14:39






On September 13, 2020, the 14th Sunday after Pentecost and the commemoration day of the Saints Peter and Fevronia, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the church of St. Philip in Ash Shāriqah (United Arab Emirates).

As far back as in March, it was decided to suspend divine services in the church as was instructed by the authorities due to the treat of the spreading coronavirus infection. The first liturgy after the six-month quarantine was celebrated with the participation of parishioners by the rector of the church, Archimandrite Alexander (Zerkeshev).

Hymns were sung by the parish choir conducted by precentor Marina Nagornaya. During the Prayer of Fervent Supplication, petitions were voiced for the cessation of the harmful infection and the heeling of the ill. Then the rector lifted up a prayer for peace in Ukraine. During the Prayer for the Dead, a special commemoration was devoted to Metropolitan Isidor (Kirichenko) who died of complications caused by the coronavirus infection.

The prayer after the communion was followed by the singing of the troparion, kondak and praise to Saints Peter and Fevronia.

Before the communion, Archimandrite Alexander took parishioners’ confessions.
In the end of the liturgy, he delivered a sermon on the Sunday Gospel reading and congratulated the congregation on the first divine service after a half-year quarantine.
Among the official conditions for church celebrations is the installment of a disinfection gate in front of the church, obligatory temperature measurement at the entrance, observation of social distance and face mask regime. In addition, as there are still restrictions, children and the elderly cannot be present at the liturgy; individual confessions are replaced by a common confession; the priest himself comes up with the Cup to people standing in the church; and parishioners are not to hold meetings before and after the service.

At present, the church is open from 09:30 to 14:00 on Saturdays and from 09:30 to 13:00 on Sundays. The liturgy is celebrated only on Sundays.

By the time of the first services after the long interruption, the church of St. Philip has been transformed: a set of works has been carried out to reinforce and to damp-proof the roof, to paint it and the cupolas of the church and the cultural center. At present, it is planned to waterproof the main cupola, to plaster and paint the interiors, etc., the parish website reports.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5693250.html






Moscow Patriarchate’s representative attends opening ceremony of the Association of Russian-Speaking Compatriots in northern Turkey



18 September 2020 - 20:33







On 18th September 2020, Rev. Georgy Sergeyev, who is responsible for taking pastoral care of the Russian Orthodox Church’s flock in the territory of the Republic of Turkey, took part in the opening ceremony of the Russian-Speaking Association for Education, Culture and Friendship of the Black Sea Region. The ceremony was held in the city of Samsun in the north of Turkey.

Among those in attendance were representatives of the governor and administration of the city of Samsun, as well as Mr. Alexander Sotnichenko, counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation, and Mr. Roman Penkin, deputy head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Representation in Turkey.

In his greeting speech Fr. Georgy noted that the Association of the Russian-Speaking Compatriots is the first such organization opened in the region and emphasized the necessity of joint efforts of the local Orthodox Christians in establishing the new community of the Russian Orthodox Church on the country’s Black Sea coast.

The representative of the Moscow Patriarchate wished blessed success to the Association in its work aimed at promoting the Russian culture, language and art and maintaining friendly relations between the two countries.

Within the framework of the opening ceremony, a meeting with compatriots took place with the view of discussing the organization of divine services in the region.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5695050.html






Representative of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarchal Throne of Antioch celebrated memorial litya for the late director of the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development of the Church of Antioch



21 September 2020 - 16:32







On 20th September 2020, on the eve of the 40th day after the demise of Archimandrite Alexi (Chehadeh), director of the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development of the Orthodox Church of Antioch, a memorial litya was celebrated at his burial place in the Christian Bab Sharqi cemetery in Damascus, Syria, by Hegumen Arseniy (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarchal Throne of Antioch.

Praying with Fr. Arseniy were parishioners of the Russian church in Damascus.

Archimandrite Alexi (Chehadeh) did much work to support the needy and the people affected by the war, and was a great friend of Russia. He had expressed his appreciation to Russia in general and to the Russian Orthodox Church for their assistance in restoring the destroyed religious and cultural centres in Syria, as well as for supporting the Syrian Christians and rendering humanitarian aid to all the Syrian people.

Archimandrite Alexi, who died from after-effects of the coronavirus infection, had made a great contribution to the development of relationships between the Russian Church and the Church of Antioch, which are based on brotherly love, mutual support and deep trust.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5695054.html






Mr. Miklós Soltész, Hungary’s Secretary of State for Churches, Minorities and Civil Affairs, visits construction site of Orthodox church in Hévíz



21 September 2020 - 17:13







On 18th September 2020, Mr. Miklós Soltész, Hungary’s Secretary of State for Churches, Minorities and Civil Affairs, visited the town of Hévíz, in particular, a building site of the Russian Orthodox church of the “Life-Giving Spring” Icon of the Mother of God.

At the construction site Mr. Soltész and those accompanying him were met by the mayor of the town, Mr. Gábor Papp.

The Secretary of State talked with the rector of the Orthodox parish, Archpriest Nikolai Kim, who expressed his gratitude to the Government of Hungary for its considerable financial support for the Russian Church’s diocese of Hungary in restoring a number of Orthodox churches in the country and for its assistance in constructing the church in Hévíz. The priest told the high guest about the life of the town’s Orthodox community which consists not only of the Russian-speaking dwellers, but also of the Orthodox Hungarians. The parish in Hévíz sees its mission in, among other tasks, commemorating the saints associated with the Balaton region, such as the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles, and Emperor Theodosius the Great.

At the conclusion of the conversation, the Hungarian television crew did an interview with Mr. Soltész and Mr. Papp, who expressed their satisfaction with the process and quality of the construction works, website of the diocese reports.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5695058.html






DECR chairman meets with newly appointed Russia’s Ambassador to Lebanon



23 September 2020 - 14:59







On 23rd September 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, met with H.E. Mr. Alexander Rudakov, newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Lebanese Republic. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Rudakov had held the post of Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and before that had headed the Mission of the Russian Federation to the Palestinian National Authority.

Taking part in the meeting was also Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations.

Metropolitan Hilarion told the guest about the cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Antioch.

The participants in the meeting discussed various issues of mutual interest.

To conclude the meeting, the DECR chairman presented Mr. Rudakov with a memorable gift and wished him God’s help in his new diplomatic work.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5695062.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk: actions of the Patriarch of Constantinople in Ukraine have become a kind of natural disaster for the entire world Orthodoxy



23 September 2020 - 15:33







On 19th September 2020, in the Church and the World TV programme broadcast by Russia-24 channel on Saturdays and Sundays, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, answered questions of the programme’s host, Yekaterina Gracheva.



Ye. Gracheva:

Hello, this is the Church and the World programme, in which we ask questions to the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk. How do you do, Vladyka!



Metropolitan Hilarion:

How do you do, Yekaterina! How do you do, dear brothers and sisters!



Ye. Gracheva:

In our previous programme we raised the topic of vaccination against COVID-19. You advised all the parishioners to have vaccination, if they can. It caused a lot of comments, and in addition to that, the mass media reported that you yourself had had coronavirus. When was it and why have you not made it known before?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

I came down with coronavirus straight after Easter. At the time, one priest from my church got infected and either I caught it from him, or he from me. Anyway, we fell sick at the same time. He was severely ill, while I had a relatively mild COVID-19 case. I had single pneumonia. Fifteen percent of my right lung were infected. I received home treatment, taking antibiotics under medical supervision, and, of course, observing lockdown restrictions. As you remember, we recorded all our programmes just as we are doing now: I stayed at home all the time. Having recovered, I continued to observe lockdown rules, as it was prescribed.

Why did I not make this public? For several reasons. Firstly, there is such notion as doctor-patient confidentiality. Every person has the right to go public with the information about his/her diseases or not to talk about them. Had I told someone about my illness at the time, at the height of the pandemic, then the information would have appeared in the press and they would not have left me alone, bothering me with phone calls, asking how I feel. I would have made many people worry, and it was far from what I wanted. Since I had a relatively mild case of the disease, I did not deem it necessary to inform anyone except His Holiness the Patriarch, who knew about it.



Ye. Gracheva:

Vladyka, what are doctors saying: why did you need to be vaccinated against coronavirus if you developed immunity? Am I right that the risk of reinfection is high?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

This is what the doctors are saying: even if there is immunity, it will most likely not last very long. Therefore, it is recommended to those who had coronavirus to be vaccinated once. In two or three weeks they undergo a test to find out how many antibodies they have. If a person has not had the disease, usually he/she is vaccinated in two steps: first one shot, then one more.

Why do I advise my parishioners to have vaccination, if they can? Because, although the vaccine testing has not been completed yet, the risk to get infected is great and increasing now. I know several people who had severe cases of coronavirus. Before my very eyes several of my acquaintances died from COVID-19. So I know well what this is, what risks the disease entails. And it seems to me that a risk of vaccination is much lower than a risk of getting infected with unpredictable after-effects. As for the risk of reinfection, yes, it exists, as far as I know. I am aware of several such cases: people who had coronavirus, say, in May, then got infected again in August or early September.



Ye. Gracheva:

Several days ago Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the Department for External Church Relations which you head. This department is also called “Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church.” You have been working there for a quarter of a century now. And the Patriarch came to the Department to congratulate you and note the high quality of its work. Yet, your critics note that it is at the time of your chairmanship that the severance of relations with Constantinople occurred, putting the blame on you. How would you respond to this criticism?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

Of course, someone might blame the Minister of Foreign Affairs, because the severance of diplomatic relations between Russia and Ukraine occurred while he was in office. Someone might blame the Minister of Health, because the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic occurred while he was in office. And someone might blame the head of the Hydrometeorological Centre, because there were too many rains, thunderstorms and, perhaps, even tempests in some regions while he was in office. Yet, there are things that are in our power and there are things that are not in our power at all. What I could do in my capacity as the DECR chairman I did, and I continue to exert every effort in order to protect the interests of our Church.

Indeed, our Synodal department is sometimes called “Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Church.” However, over the recent years it has been more often functioning as a kind of church “ministry of defence,” because our task has been to defend our Church’s external frontiers from enemies. Of course, we can predict our ill-wishers’ actions, just like the head of the Hydrometeorological Centre predicts and warns people about natural disasters, but we cannot do anything about such calamities.

The actions of the Patriarch of Constantinople in Ukraine are a kind of natural disaster for the entire world Orthodoxy. In no way we are responsible for that. All these years we have done nothing to the prejudice of the Patriarch of Constantinople. On the contrary, we regularly informed him of our position and warned him about the consequences of the actions that he had intended to take, that is to say, we did all that could be done to prevent those actions. Our warnings were ignored and those actions took place, so our task now is to deal with their consequences and minimise the harm inflicted on the world Orthodoxy by the actions of the Patriarch of Constantinople.

I think that, in the first place, he did a great harm to himself, his reputation, his ministry, for now it is impossible to take him seriously as the head of the Orthodox Church, as the first among equals. He himself voluntarily gave up this function. In the second place, there has been no healing of the schism in Ukraine. On the contrary, the schism has deepened and now it affects not only Ukraine, but many other countries, other Local Churches as well. Our task is to minimise the aftermaths of this schism.

And the main result of the past years is that we have preserved our Church in her unity: all those who were members of our Church have remained united with her. I think this is the main result of all the external activities of our Church over the recent years.



Ye. Gracheva:

Vladyka, actor Mikhail Yefremov has been found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison. But I would like to ask you about the following: in August Mikhail Yefremov came to one of the hearings in a T-shirt with a slogan which is considered extremist in our country – “Orthodoxy or Death.” This slogan came from Greece. Could you tell more about its origins? And what is your attitude in general to the people who print such slogans on their clothes?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

This slogan is chiefly used by schismatics who use it to justify their actions as though in defence of Orthodoxy, but in reality against the canonical Church. That is why the canonical Church does not approve of the use of such formidable formulas.



Ye. Gracheva:

Vladyka, as a priest, what words of guidance could you say to Mikhail Yefremov now?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

Firstly, I would like to say to him that it is not the end of the world and not the end of his life. He will have to learn to live in new circumstances and wait until release. Secondly and most importantly, I would like to say to him – take the Gospel with you and read it every day. Remember the example of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky. He was convicted of a crime against the government, sentenced to death by shooting, and then at the last minute the shooting was commuted to eight years: four years of hard labour and four years of soldiering.

The only book allowed in prison was the Gospel. Dostoyevsky had with him the New Testament published in 1823, which had been given to him by the wife of one of the Decembrists upon his arrival in the Tobolsk prison. Dostoyevsky never parted with the book. He read it from cover to cover and made great many notes in it. In fact, this book changed his life. He returned from prison a changed man. I would like to wish to Mikhail Olegovich Yefremov to read the Gospel. May it change your life.



Ye. Gracheva:

Vladyka, there is one more news that I would ask you to comment: Gérard Depardieu has recently converted to Orthodoxy, but we should note that earlier he converted to Islam and Buddhism and said that to complete the picture, he only had to convert to Judaism. What do you think of the fact that the man changes his religion so often? Isn’t such approach to the sacrament superficial, to say the least?



Metropolitan Hilarion:

I would like to wish to Gérard Depardieu that Orthodoxy may become his final choice. The Orthodox Christian tradition is the religious tradition that enables every person to realize his/her spiritual and moral potential. Orthodoxy is the treasury and one can spend the whole life discovering its riches. If what preceded this choice was a long journey of religious searches, then I am very glad that this journey ends in the Orthodox Church.

I would like to remind everyone that Gérard Depardieu is a great actor, one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, in my opinion. He played in great many films. Be it dramatic, tragic or comical movies, he performed all his parts brilliantly. I am recalling one of his roles, Colonel Chabert, in a movie based on the novel of the same title by Balzac. If you have not watched this film, please do, because the depth with which Gérard Depardieu performed this role is amazing. I hope that with the same depth, with the same thoughtfulness he will approach the Orthodox faith and it will open up to him with all the facets which it reveals to a sincere believer.



Ye. Gracheva:

Thank you very much, Vladyka, for answering our questions.



In the second part of the programme Metropolitan Hilarion answered questions from TV viewers, sent to the Church and the World website.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5694967.html






DECR secretary for interreligious relations takes part in online interfaith conference



25 September 2020 - 15:42







On 24th September 2020, an international online conference on “Religion in Changing World. Role of Education in Upbringing of Youth” took place on the platform of the TASS press centre in Moscow, bringing together eighty participants from twenty countries. Among those who took part in the forum were religious leaders, statesmen, journalists and experts.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, Rev. Dimitry Safonov, DECR secretary for interreligious relations, participated in the forum. As the DECR representative noted in his address, within the framework of the Interreligious Council of Russia the Russian religious communities took an active part in the implementation of the programme of teaching the fundamentals of religious cultures and secular ethics in schools.

Rev. Dimitry Safonov emphasized the importance of teaching the basics of religious and moral culture of the peoples of Russia in preventing radicalism and extremism, since it is religious ignorance that becomes breeding ground for radical preachers. To conclude his address, the DECR representative pointed out that today religion plays a significant role in maintaining peace, stability and prosperity of peoples and countries.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5696164.html
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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old September 28th, 2020 #83
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Patriarchal service at the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery. Consecration of Archimandrite Ambrose (Fedukovich) as Bishop of Trakai (23 August 2020) - PART I









































































































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old September 28th, 2020 #84
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Patriarchal service at the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery. Consecration of Archimandrite Ambrose (Fedukovich) as Bishop of Trakai (23 August 2020) - PART II






































































































__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old September 29th, 2020 #85
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Patriarchal service on the eve of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (August 27, 2020)





























































































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old October 3rd, 2020 #86
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Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church greets Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East on his name day



26 September 2020 - 10:10







His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, has greeted the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch on the day of St. John the Theologian.



Your Beatitude, Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant at the Altar of God!

I cordially greet you on your name day.

Wishing to become like your heavenly patron, St. John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist, you have zealously preached to those who are near and who are far the boundless riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8). At this time so full of sorrows for our flock, you like a good shepherd (Jn. 10:11), live together with the suffering people of God, showing your paternal concern for them.

May the All-Generous Lord, through the intercession of His beloved disciple, renew your spiritual and physical resources that you may continue your fruitful work for the good of the Holy Church, giving you abundant help in the task of the Gospel’s witness.

Many good years be to you.

With brotherly love in Christ,

+KIRILL

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5696457.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends greetings to Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Gewargis III Sliwa, on 5th anniversary of the beginning of his Primatial ministry



27 September 2020 - 12:00







His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent a message of greetings to His Holiness Mar Gewargis III Sliwa on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of his accession to the Throne of Primates of the Assyrian Church of the East.



His Holiness Mar Gewargis III Sliwa, Catholicos-Patriarch Assyrian Church of the East

Your Holiness:

Please accept my cordial greetings with the 5th anniversary of your accession to the See of Primates of the Assyrian Church of the East.

The lofty ministry that you strive to carry out, “bearing fruit in every good work” (Col 1:10), has fallen on the years of various afflictions and ordeals in the life of the Assyrian people and Christian communities of the Middle East. Recently, additional difficulties have been caused by the coronavirus infection which has spread across the globe.

It is gratifying that despite these doleful circumstances the friendly relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Assyrian Church of the East continue to develop, thanks, to a large extent, to the activities of the Commission for Bilateral Dialogue. I hope for further successful and fruitful cooperation. I would also like to assure you of the Moscow Patriarchate’s unwavering support for the Assyrian Christians who to this day have been suffering privations and oppression in their historical homeland.

May the Merciful Saviour grant unto Your Holiness spiritual and bodily strength for many years, and send down peace and welfare upon the people of Iraq.

With love in the Lord,

+KIRILL

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5692574.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill is praying for the soonest peaceful resolution of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh



27 September 2020 - 18:47







His Holiness Patriarch Kirill is praying for the soonest peaceful resolution of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, Mr. Vladimir Legoyda, acting head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and chairman of the Synodal Department for Church’s Relations with Society and Mass Media, told journalists on Sunday, September 27, 2020.

“The Primate believes that the role of the spiritual leaders of the two countries is of great importance, and they must make every effort to establish peace,” His Holiness’ Press Secretary said.

“The Russian Orthodox Church has always rendered assistance in maintaining dialogue between the religious communities of Armenia and Azerbaijan and is ready to continue carrying out this mission,” Mr. Legoyda added.

On September 27, 2020, the situation escalated dramatically and large-scale armed clashes broke out again in Nagorno-Karabakh.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5698478.html






Sixth International Conference on Orthodoxy in the Far East takes place in St. Petersburg



29 September 2020 - 17:45







On 28th – 29th September 2020, the 6th International Research to Practice Conference on Orthodoxy in the Far East was held in St. Petersburg. It was organized by the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, the Faculty of Asian and African Studies of the St. Petersburg State University, and the National Library of Russia, with the support of the Pallady Charitable Foundation.

The conference began its work on 28th September at the National Library of Russia. Its director, Mr. Alexander Vershinin, addressed the participants in the forum with the words of greeting, noting that collections of the National Library of Russia, which is celebrating the 225th anniversary of its foundation this year, grew, to a large extent, thanks to the works of staff members of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in China.

Prof. Mikhail Piotrovsky, dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies of the St. Petersburg State University and director of the State Hermitage Museum, emphasized the importance of the Russian missionaries’ efforts in building cultural bridges between Russia and Asian countries. “Thanks to the work of the Russian missionaries, Russia learned about China, and through Orthodoxy China learns about Russia,” he said.

Mr. Dmitry Petrovsky of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations conveyed to the participants in the conference greetings from the DECR chairman, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, and pointed out the important role of the forum which since 1991 has been reviving the memory of the Russian missionaries and their work in Asian countries.

Mr. Oleg Markin, executive director of the Pallady Charitable Foundation, noted in his speech that the conference had begun its work on the birthday of one of the founders of Sinology in Russia, Archimandrite Pallady (Kafarov), head of the 13th and 15th Russian Ecclesiastical Missions in China.

On 29th September the conference continued its work at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. The rector of the Academy, Bishop Siluan of Petergof, greeted all those present.

The conference was followed by a round table meeting. Its participants discussed various issues pertaining to the compilation of a biographical dictionary of staff members of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in China and a monograph about Orthodox churches in China. Among the topics raised during the meeting was also the history of interaction between the Russian Mission and non-Orthodox missions in China.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5698484.html






Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta meets with the head of Indonesian diplomatic mission in Moscow



29 September 2020 - 18:42







On 29th September 2020, Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta, vicar of the Singapore diocese, met with Mr. Azis Nurwahyudi, Charge d’affaires of the Republic of Indonesia to the Russian Federation.

Vladyka Pitirim told the Indonesian diplomat about the history of the Russian ecclesiastical presence in Indonesia, noting that the first parishes on the island of Java were opened in the 1930s under the jurisdiction of the Harbin diocese. The archpastor also drew Mr. Nurwahyudi’s attention to the present-day life of the Indonesian Orthodox community which consists, to a large extent, of this country’s citizens.

The participants in the meeting discussed a wide range of topics pertaining to the development of the Russian-Indonesian relations in the humanitarian sphere. Mr. Nurwahyudi shared his hope for the promotion of the interfaith dialogue between Russia and Indonesia, expressing joy over the election by the Holy Synod of the auxiliary Bishop of Jakarta who is entrusted to take archpastoral care of the Orthodox Indonesian communities of the Russian tradition.

Taking part in the meeting were also Mr. Adiguna Wijaya, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in the Russian Federation; Mr. Dmitry Petrovsky, staff member of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; and diplomats of the Indonesian Embassy.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5699285.html






His Holiness Patriarch Kirill greets His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania with anniversary of enthronement



30 September 2020 - 12:30







His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent a message of greetings to the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church on the anniversary of his enthronement.



His Beatitude Daniel, Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Muntenia and Dobrogea, Patriarch of Romania

Your Beatitude,

Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant:

Please accept my cordial greetings with the anniversary of your accession to the Patriarchal Throne.

Performing your lofty Primatial service, you call upon the Romanian people to uphold with zeal their paternal faith and to build up their life on the unshakeable foundation of the Gospel moral values.

Prayerfully wishing to Your Beatitude good health, peace and abundant help from the All-Wise Creator in your further Patriarchal labours, I remain

With brotherly love in Christ,

+KIRILL

PTRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5688510.html






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Patriarchal service on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Consecration of Archimandrite Artemy (Kuzmin) as Bishop of Taganrog (28 August 2020) - PART I











































































__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old October 3rd, 2020 #87
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Patriarchal service on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Consecration of Archimandrite Artemy (Kuzmin) as Bishop of Taganrog (28 August 2020) - PART II












































































































__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old October 10th, 2020 #88
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Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia holds a regular session



1 October 2020 - 20:27







On September 29, 2020, the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Outside of Russia held an online session chaired by Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York.

The session was attended by archpastors elected by the Synod of Bishops held in 2017 during the Bishops’ Council, namely, Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America, Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe and Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan.

Opening the session, His Eminence Hilarion proposed to commemorate in prayer several hierarchs of the Russian Church Outside of Russia who died in September and October in various years. Then Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated Metropolitan Mark on the forthcoming 40th anniversary of his episcopal consecration and wished His Eminence God’s help in his further archpastoral world in Germany.

Archbishop Kirill of San Francisco and Western America made a report on the state of affairs in California still suffering from wildfires and asked the hierarchs to pray for his flock.

The agenda had been sent out to the members of the Synod of Bishops and had been approved by them.

Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky*), in his report about the life of the holy monasteries, churches and Bethany School – parts of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem ROCOR, said that the Israeli government had toughened the quarantine measures again. The holy convents on the Mount of Olives, in Russian Gethsemane and on Fara lived their monastic life continuing to celebrate divine services without the participation of pilgrims. Bethany is closed but Archimandrite Roman has had time to send to the community of the Resurrection of Christ one of the mission clerics who celebrates there taking pastoral care of the nuns and schoolgirls of the boarding school. At present, the mission is preparing an online conference devoted to the centenary of its spiritual nourishment by a part of the Russian Church and to Metropolitan Anastasius (Gribanovsky) who worked much to preserve the church property in the Holy Land. Next year, the mission is going to mark the centenary of bringing the relics of the protomartyrs of Alapayevsk – Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fyodorovna and Sister Barbara. The final decision on the date of the celebration is to be made by one of the oncoming session of the Synod of Bishops.

The next speaker was N. A. Okhotin who dealt with legal and property matters. Then the Synod considered various administrative and economic issues and several petitions from archpastors who proposed to grant church awards to several clergy and laity of their dioceses.

Having considered matters concerning the monastic life, inter-Orthodox relations, additional clergy and bishops, the archpastors dealt with various problems and difficulties caused by the coronavirus infection including the encroachment on religious rights of the faithful in some countries in the pastoral care of the Russian Church Outside of Russia.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America addressing the clergy and flock of the Russian Church Outside of Russia at the Synod of Bishops’ request, admonished: ‘The present global outbreak of the coronavirus has dominated all the news reporting new cases each day. Nevertheless, divine services in our churches will continue while the communion of the clergy and laity will be made in normal order. In everything else I ask you to take precautionary measures keeping good sense and observing the recommendations of local authorities so that people’s health may be preserved and the virus stopped from spreading. If you feel you have symptoms resembling a cold, or have met with ill people, please, think about your relatives, keep back from coming to church and pray at home. The most important thing these days is to keep quiet, hold your inner peace putting trust in God. May the Lord help us not only to believe in Him but also to trust in Him, His guidance, so that we may not lose the presence of mind and act discreetly’.

In an open letter sent to the governor of the State of California in the beginning of July, Archbishop Kirill of San Francisco expressed protest against the ban imposed on choral singing in churches in California, describing this measure as discriminatory. At parishes and in monasteries of the Diocese of Western America, the clergy and parishioners strictly observed all the sanitary measures introduced by local authorities. ‘In spite of the fact that they were deprived of the Lenten touching divine services and the joyful celebration of holy Pascha, our parishioners showed understanding about our instructions by being present in churches ‘virtually’. However, now we can see a contradiction in that at every step we see mass protest actions with their violation of absolutely every precautionary measure while the liturgical choral singing is banned though all the rules are observed’, His Eminence noted in this letter. According to the secretary of the Synod of Bishops, the situation ‘with an apparent discrimination and hypocrisy’ in the State of California carries us back to ‘the times of godless persecution in the USSR’.

Last summer, the chairman of the Synod of Bishops sent an archpastoral message to the clergy and flock of the Dioceses of Eastern America and Australia-New Zealand. In his message propagated in other dioceses of the Russian Church Outside of Russia as well, His Eminence Hilarion called upon ‘the rectors of parishes and abbots of monasteries opening churches for public divine services to observe the sanitary norms and every rule of local authorities remembering that for all the persecutions the first Christians were always law-aboding citizens of their countries’.

During the fraternal discussions held on this issue at the Synod of Bishops’ session, archpastors shared their experience of service, pastoral care of the flock and church resolution of problems and difficulties arising in the situation of the pandemic, Patriarchia.ru reports with reference to the ROCOR official website.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5700804.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Ambassadors of Italy, France, Great Britain, Greece, Brazil, Serbia, Bulgaria and Lebanon



5 October 2020 - 17:57







On 5th October 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, visited the residence of the Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Russian Federation, where he met with the heads of diplomatic missions from eight countries.

Taking part in the meeting were H.E. Pasquale K. Terraciano, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Russia; H.E. Debora Bronnert, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Great Britain to Russia; H.E. Pierre Lévy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Russia; H.E. Ekaterini Nassika, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Russia; H.E. Atanas Krastin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Russia; H.E. Miroslav Lazansky, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Serbia to Russia; H.E. Chawki Bou Nassar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lebanon to Russia; H.E. Tovar da Silva Nunes, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brazil to Russia; and staff members of the Italian Embassy in Moscow.

Among the topics raised during the meeting were the plight of Christians in the Middle East, political crisis in Lebanon, conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, problems of the Russian-Ukrainian relationships, global warming, COVID-19 pandemic, Russian-Bulgarian and Russian-Serbian church ties, ways to overcome the church schism in Ukraine, and the situation in Turkey after Hagia Sophia had been converted into a mosque.

Answering question from those present, Metropolitan Hilarion told about the inter-Christian and interreligious contacts of the Russian Orthodox Church and about the Moscow Patriarchate’s position on a number of social issues.

The participants in the meeting agreed to continue contacts in the bilateral format.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5702292.html






DECR secretary for interreligious relations attends international conference for commemorating Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Taskhiri



6 October 2020 - 13:13







On October 1, 2020, Iran’s embassy in Moscow held an off-online conference dated to the forty days since the demise of Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Taskhiri (1944-2020), a renowned Islamic spiritual leader, former chairman of the Supreme Council of the World Assembly for the Proximity of Islamic Schools, and adviser to the Supreme Leader of Iran on Islamic peace.

The event organized by Iranian ambassador to Russia Mr. Kazem Jalali was attended by religious and public figures, diplomats and scholars from Russia, Iran and other countries, among them Mufti Ravil Gaynutdin, chairman of the Muslim Board of the Russian Federation; Mr. Ilyas Umakhanov, vice-chairman of the Council of the Federation; Mr. Abuzar Ebrakhimi, head of the Organization for Culture and Islamic Relations; Mr. Artur Suleimanov, rector of the Russian Islamic University in Ufa; Mr. Andrey Filippov, executive director of the Dialogue of Civilization Research Institute; Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Taskhiri, head of the Dialogue of Religions Center at the Iran’s Organization for Culture and Islamic Relations and a brother of the late ayatollah.

The Russian Orthodox Church was represented online by Metropolitan Feofan of Kazan and Tatarstan, who is head of the church part of the Joint Russian-Iranian Commission for Orthodoxy-Islam Dialogue. and Rev. Dimitry Safonov, secretary for interreligious relations of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, who has been secretary of the church part of the above-mentioned commission since 2010.

Father Dmitry Safonov quoted in particular the following about Ayatollah Taskhiri from a letter of DECR chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk to the head of the Iranian Embassy Cultural Representation: ‘I am sure that the legacy of this without exaggeration great Islamic leader will make a considerable influence on the religious community of the whole world’.

In his speech, the DECR representative spoke about the key participation of Ayatollah Taskhiri in the work of the Joint Russian-Iranian Commission, which had been initiated at the meeting between Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad (now His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia) and Ayatollah Taskhiri in September 1995. Relating to the assembly the participation of Ayatollah Taskhir’s work in the above-mentioned commission, Father Dimitry dwelled in particular on the history of this dialogue.

The Joint Russian-Iranian Commission for Dialogue ‘Orthodoxy-Islam’ was established in 1997. It met in Teheran (in 1997, 2001, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018) and in Moscow (in 1999, 2008, 2012 and 2016). The meetings considered in particular the place and role of religion in the modern world, the inter-civilizational, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, human rights, globalization, problems of terrorism and extremism, spiritual and moral crisis in society, as well as particular issues of Christian and Islamic theology and anthropology, the attitude of religions to the environment, and the situation of religious minorities in the Middle East.

Father Dimitry Safonov also spoke about the meetings between Ayatollah Taskhiri and Patriarch Kirill and their personal talks during Ayatollah Taskhiri’s visits to Moscow in 2012, 2016 and 2019, as well as the meeting with the ayatollah in his residence in 2017. He also made an assessment of the interreligious initiatives put forward by Ayatollah Taskhiri and the importance of his legacy for the dialogue of religions.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5703241.html






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Matins with the Rite of the Burial of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (28 August 2020)
































































































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old October 10th, 2020 #89
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Patriarchal service at the Donskoy Monastery. Consecration of Archimandrite Pitirim (Dondenko) as Bishop of Jakarta (September 1, 2020) - PART I













































































































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old October 10th, 2020 #90
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Patriarchal service at the Donskoy Monastery. Consecration of Archimandrite Pitirim (Dondenko) as Bishop of Jakarta (September 1, 2020) - PART II










































































































__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old October 10th, 2020 #91
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The Orthodox Church is in Indonesia? I didn't know that.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Allan View Post
The Orthodox Church is in Indonesia? I didn't know that.
In an interview dated June 2015, the local archimandrite claimed that they have about 30 churches and about 2 thousand believers - (R) - https://pravoslavie.ru/80151.html

I could not find more precise information.
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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old October 13th, 2020 #93
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Acting administrator of the Diocese of Vienna-Austria Bishop Alexis of Caffa meets with Austrian ambassador in Russia



9 October 2020 - 13:16







On October 7, 2020, Bishop Alexis of Caffa, vicar of the Diocese of Chersonesus, who is acting administrator of the Diocese of Vienna-Austria, met with Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Austria to Russia H. E. Johannes Eigner, at the Austrian embassy in Moscow.

Participating in the talk was Dr. Robert Gerschner, Plenipotentiary Minister at the Austrian Embassy in Moscow.

In their talk, held in a friendly atmosphere, they dealt with a wide range of issues concerning the work of the Diocese of Vienna-Austria particularly in the development of inter-confessional and inter-Orthodox cooperation, the work in the pandemic period and promotion of informational and cultural exchange between the two countries, the website of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Vienna reports.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5704348.html






On the commemoration day of St. John the Theologian, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at his burial place near Ephesus



9 October 2020 - 15:22







On October 9, 2020, the day of the passing away of St. John the Theologian, Rev. George Sergeyev, responsible for pastoral care for Russian-speaking believers in the Republic of Turkey, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church built on the burial place of the saint in the Turkish town of Selcuk near Ephesus. Participating in the service was also Archpriest Sergiy Kazarin, who is responsible for pastoral care for the Moscow Patriarchate faithful in Antalya.

The divine service was attended by numerous pilgrims who came from Istanbul, Izmir, Bodrum, Antalya and Kusadasi, as well as Orthodox people from Russia and a pilgrim goup from Ukraine. Most of them took communion in the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

During the Prayer of Fervent Supplication, petitions were lifted up for the unity of the Orthodox Church, prevention of the Church from divisions and schism and prayers were said for stopping the spread of the coronavirus infection. A prayer was also lifted up for peace in Ukraine and good-neighbourly relations between Russia and Turkey.

After the liturgy, Father George delivered a sermon. He also thanked the chairman of the Solzhenitsyn Russian Culture Society, Mr. A. Ponomarev, the Society of Orthodox Russian-speaking Faithful Society of the Antalya Province headed by Mr. K. Alykan, and the director of the A. S. Pushkin School in Istanbul, Mr. N. Karaman, for their help in having organized the pilgrimage, the Moscow Patriarchate official website reports.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5704352.html






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Patriarchal service on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (11 September 2020)



















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Patriarchal Service on the Day of Remembrance of the Blessed Princes Daniel of Moscow and Alexander Nevsky in the St. Daniel Monastery (September 12, 2020)





















































































































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
Old October 15th, 2020 #94
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His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s statement over the armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh



13 October 2020 - 10:00







His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia issued a statement concerning the armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.



I deeply sympathize with those living in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as with the peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia over a new round of the armed confrontation which has been going on for over thirty years. Once again inhabited localities are being subjected to shelling, people are dying, and holy sites, cultural heritage objects and civilians’ homes are being destroyed. I share sufferings of all the victims of this dreadful war and sincerely condole with the families of those killed.

The Russian Orthodox Church has being doing all she can since the onset of the conflict and will continue to exert every effort in order to, acting together with the religious leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, help re-establish peace in the long-suffering land of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Today I appeal to the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, and to the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshükür Pashazade. Dear brothers, together we have come a long way, exerting efforts so that this confrontation may not turn into an interfaith conflict, so that the problems may be resolved by peaceful means. Today each of us and all we together must do all we can to stop the bloodshed.

I attach great importance to the agreements reached through the mediation of Russia at the level of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Armenia. I call upon the state leadership of both countries to use the ceasefire in order to switch solution seeking to the political track. For the sake of the future of the two neighbouring peoples, I urge to extend the ceasefire and use it for peaceful negotiations.

A bad peace is better than a good quarrel: this old truth is relevant today more than ever. When there is peace, people can meet, communicate, and seek solutions to problems. But when there is a war and human blood is being shed and crimes are being committed, then it is difficult to reach joint political decisions.

I address my urgent appeal to all the conflicting parties: spare each other’s lives. May the chronometer of the bloody feud stop in the name of peaceful future. Armenia and Azerbaijan historically were and will be neighbours; in any event, the Azerbaijani and the Armenians will be living side by side.

I wish to all those involved in this conflict success in seeking peaceful resolution to the existing problems. I ask you to show all your experience and wisdom in order to achieve real results and overcome the obstacles in the path of mutual understanding. Today many people’s lives and your nations’ peaceful future depend on your decisions.

+KIRILL

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5704444.html






DECR chairman meets with British ambassador to Russia



13 October 2020 - 13:08







On October 13, 2020, a working meeting took place between Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations (DECR), and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Russian Federation Ms. Deborah Jane Bronnert, at the DECR.

They were joined in their talk by Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for the far-abroad countries, and Mr. Andrew Bell, second secretary of the British embassy.

In the course of the meeting, its participants discussed the situation concerning the spread of the coronavirus infection and the influence of this factor of the religious sphere.

Metropolitan Hilarion shared his account about the service of the Russian Orthodox Church, the church rebirth in the last decades and the historical memory of the victims of terror in the Soviet Russia. The DECR head also informed his guest about the interreligious dialogue in Russia and the situation of religious communities in Russian society.

At the ambassador’s request, the hierarch spoke about interaction between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Church of England, meetings on the level of the heads of the two Churches, and students programs.

They discussed pressing problems of the environmental protection including with the participation of religious leaders and the threat of extremism on religious grounds.

In conclusion of the meeting, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed a hope for further constructive cooperation between the Department for External Church Relations and the British embassy in Russia.

The sides exchanged tokens of the meeting.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5705695.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk holds a meeting with Serbian ambassador to Russia



13 October 2020 - 14:23







On October 13, 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations (DECR), met with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Serbia to Russia, H. E. Miroslav Lazanski.

Participating in the meeting were also Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for the far abroad, and Ms. Maria Radovic, assistant to the Serbian ambassador.

The archpastor warmly welcomed the guest to the synodal department responsible for the external contacts of the Russian Church. Mr. Lazanski, in his turn, thanked Metropolitan Hilarion for the audience.

The participants attested to the close historical ties between the Russian and the Serbian Orthodox Churches and the peoples of the two countries.

Metropolitan Hilarion and Mr. Lazanski discussed the completion of the work to adorn the Cathedral of St. Sava in Belgrade.

They also touched upon problems involved in the status of old Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries in Kosovo.

The church hierarch assured his guest of the readiness to develop constructive relations with the Serbian diplomatic mission in Moscow.

In conclusion, the sides exchanged tokens of the meeting.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5705699.html






DECR chairman meets with the head of the Greek diplomatic mission in Moscow



13 October 2020 - 16:20







On 13th October 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, met with H.E. Ms Ekaterini Nassika, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hellenic Republic to the Russian Federation. Taking part in the meeting were also Archpriest Sergy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for far abroad countries, and Mr. Dimitris Yalamas, Counselor for Cultural Affairs of the Greek Embassy in Moscow.

Metropolitan Hilarion greeted the high-ranking diplomat and expressed his joy over the opportunity to welcome her to the Department for External Church Relations.

The participants in the meeting discussed the situation caused by the spread of the COVID-19 infection and expressed their hope that its aftereffects will be overcome. Metropolitan Hilarion informed the Greek diplomat of the anti-epidemic measures taken in churches of the Russian Orthodox Church in response of this harmful pestilence.

The DECR chairman and Ms Nassika noted that the peoples of Russia and Greece have special historical ties based on common faith and spiritual culture.

Metropolitan Hilarion told his guest about the relationships between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Greece, which were overshadowed due to the recognition of the so-called “Orthodox church of Ukraine” by the Primate and some hierarchs of the Church of Greece.

The hierarch also told about the situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the ordeals that it had to face because of the interference of certain Ukrainian politicians in church affairs.

The participants in the meeting agreed to maintain working contact and exchanged memorable gifts.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5705703.html






Chairman of Department for External Church Relations meets with Lebanese ambassador



13 October 2020 - 17:24







In October 13, 2020, there was a talk between Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations (DECR) Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon to the Russian Federation Mr. Bou Nassar. Present at the meeting was Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for the affairs of far-abroad countries.

They discussed challenges and problems faced by the Middle Eastern peoples today. The ambassador shared his account of the religious situation in the Lebanese society. There was an exchange of opinions about the ways of preserving interreligious balances in Lebanon.

Metropolitan Hilarion told the guest about the Moscow Patriarchate’s contacts with Christians churches in the Middle East, noting that the principal task of these contacts is to protect the Christian heritage in the Middle East.

The DECR chairman also informed the ambassador about the humanitarian projects of the Russian Church, including those aimed at giving assistance to the Patriarchate of Antioch whose churches have been damaged by the recent explosion at the seaport in Beirut.

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




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5705707.html






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Great consecration of the Church of (The introduction to the Church of the most Holy Theotokos) in Veshnyaki, Moscow (September 13, 2020) - PART I











































































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Great consecration of the Church of (The introduction to the Church of the most Holy Theotokos) in Veshnyaki, Moscow (September 13, 2020) - PART II



08:20 - The open book says: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Gospel of Matthew 11:28














Judging by the inscription, this is one of two criminals crucified along with Jesus Christ (Gospel of Luke 23:39-43):

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”


































































































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln

Last edited by Alex Him; October 15th, 2020 at 02:01 PM.
 
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A Russian parish in Iceland unites Orthodox expatriates from Armenia and Azerbaijan in common prayer for peace in Nagorno-Karabakh



15 October 2020 - 12:29







Supplicatory prayers were sung at the venerated copy of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God for a speedy peaceful solution of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh at the chapel of the St. Nicholas stauropegial parish of the Moscow Patriarchate in Reykjavik in the evening of October 9, 2020. The prayer service was led by rector of the parish Archpriest Timofey Zolotusky.

The parishioners, among them both Armenians and Azerbaijanis, residents of Iceland, together with the rector prayed ‘so that all the feuds, discords, divisions, enmity and anger may be stopped for good in the much-suffering land of Nagorno-Karabakh and lasting peace may be granted to His people’. Special petitions were also lifted up for a speedy healing of the wounded and affected. After the prayer service, a lity was said for the repose of the souls of victims.

During the service, the congregation observed the sanitary restrictions imposed the day before in the metropolitan district, namely, the minimal distance of two meters, masks and the presence of not more than 20 people indoors. For this reason, many parishioners joined the prayer, which was broadcast live in the internet, staying at home. Similarly, the prayer was joined by representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate’s fraternal Parish of St. Nicholas at the Faroe Islands.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5706270.html






Catholic Archdiocese of Granada transfers a church in the center of this Spanish city to a Moscow Patriarchate parish for use



15 October 2020 - 15:23







On October 13, 2020, a meeting took place between Archbishop Nestor of Madrid and Lisbon and Archbishop of Granada Francisco Javier Martinez Fernandez. They were joined in their talk by Archpriest Andrey Kordochkin, secretary of the diocese.

As a result of the meeting, an agreement was reached to transfer the church of St. Bartholomew in Granada, Spain, located in the center of the city, to the Russian Orthodox parish in Granada for use. The Community of the Protecting Veil was incorporated in the diocese in 2018.

The following way, the feast of the Protecting Veil of the Most Holy Mother of God, Archbishop Nestor celebrated a solemn divine service at the parish in Granada on the occasion of the patron saint’s day. The hierarch was assisted by secretary of the diocese Archpriest Andrey Kordochkin, Archpriest Mikhail Ustimenko and Rev. Valeriy Baidak.

After the prayer behind the ambo, His Eminence Nestor addressed himself to the congregation with words of greeting.

After the Divine Liturgy, the hierarch discussed with parishioners prospects for developing the parish and moving to the new building offered to the parish by the Catholic Archdiocese of Granada, the website of the Diocese of Spain and Portugal reports.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5706278.html






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Patriarchal service on the day of remembrance of the miracle of the Archangel Michael in Khonekh [Colossae] in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (September 19, 2020)

























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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, 2020)




















































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
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Patriarchal service on the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. Great consecration of the Church of the prophet Elijah in North Butovo in Moscow (September 21, 2020)





01:32:37 - The open book says: A new command I give you: Love one another. - Gospel of John 13:34





































































































































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
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Patriarch Kirill’s condolences over the demise of Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)



20 October 2020 - 15:00







His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, in his message to His Beatitude Tikhon, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, expressed condolences over the passing away of Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor).



His Beatitude Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada

Your Beatitude, Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant:

I have been grieved to learn about the passing away of His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor), your beatific predecessor who headed the Orthodox Church in in America from 1977 to 2002. Please accept my profound and sincere condolences upon the lost that has been suffered by your flock.

The deceased visited the Russian Orthodox Church many times and made a significant contribution to the strengthening of fraternal relations between our two Churches.

May the merciful Lord give repose to the soul of His deceased servant in the mansions of the righteous and make his memory eternal.

With brotherly love in the Lord,

+KIRILL

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5707750.html






Funds raised by Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s faithful are delivered for restoring St. George church damaged by the explosion in Beirut



21 October 2020 - 15:39







On October 14, 2020, Metropolitan Elias of Beirut (Orthodox Church of Antioch) met at his residence at Achrafieh with the rector of the Beirut representation of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), and the Rev. Vitaliy Gorzov, a staff member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s department for external church relations, who was on a visit to Lebanon from October 12 to 20.

Father Vitaliy Gorzov conveyed condolences from His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kiev and All Ukraine over the tragic situation caused in the Lebanese capital city by the explosions happened on August 4 in the city’s port. Hundreds of people were killed, thousands were seriously wounded, hundreds of thousands of people in Beirut became homeless. The blast also damaged churches of the Orthodox Church of Antioch.

The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church decided on August 17 to declare a fund-raising campaign in all the dioceses for relief in Beirut. A part of the donations raised was given to Metropolitan Elias of Beirut for restoring the church of the Holy Protomartyr George at Achrafieh district in Beirut, which has been considerably damaged.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5708890.html






A Panikhida was celebrated for the former Primate of the Orthodox Church in America Metropolitan Theodosius at the Church of St. Catherine-in-the-Fields in Moscow



21 October 2020 - 16:46







On October 21, 2020, a Panikhida was celebrated for the departed Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor), former Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, at the Church of St. Catherine In-the-Fields in Moscow.

The Service for the Departed was led by Archpriest Daniel Andreyuk, representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and rector of the church. He was assisted by Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovski). Representative of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; and Archpriest Christopher Hill, a cleric of the Church of St. Catherine In-the-Fields.

Archimandrite Philaret read out messages of condolences from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations.

Archpriest Daniel Andreyuk read out a message of condolences upon the demise of Metropolitan Theodosius sent by His Beatitude Tikhon, Metropolitan of All America and Canada.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5708900.html






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Patriarchal service on the eve of the Feast of the Erection of the Holy Cross of our Lord in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow (September 26, 2020)




























































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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
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Patriarchal service on the Feast of the Erection of the Holy Cross of our Lord in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow (September 27, 2020)




































































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Patriarchal service on the day of memory of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (October 8, 2020)



















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Patriarchal service on 18th Sunday after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (October 11, 2020)















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Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
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His Beatitude Patriarch John meets with the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations



22 October 2020 - 10:22







On October 20, 2020, with a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk arrived in Damascus for a working visit.

On October 21, 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion visited the Patriarchal Residence in the Syrian capital city to meet with His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

Participating in the meeting from the Orthodox Church of Antioch were also patriarchal vicars Bishop Moses of Darayya, Bishop Luke of Saidnaya, Bishop Aphrem of Seleucia, and head of the Patriarchate of Antioch department for ecumenical relations and development Archimandrite Meletios (Shattakhi). From the Russian Orthodox Church there were Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarchal See of Antioch, and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations.

Metropolitan Hilarion conveyed to His Beatitude brotherly wishes from the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

They discussed the development of bilateral relations between the Patriarchates of Antioch and Moscow, the humanitarian projects implemented with the assistance of the Russian Orthodox Church and problems involved in the inter-Orthodox agenda. His Beatitude Patriarch John expressed special gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church for the support they give to Christians in the Middle East.

After the negotiations, the participants visited the Patriarchal Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5710759.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk visits holy places of the Orthodox Church of Antioch



22 October 2020 - 12:03







On October 21, 2020, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, during his working visit to Syria with a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, visited old Christian holy places in the country. At the town of Maaloula he visited the church of the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus to see one of the oldest Christian altars arranged from an antique pagan altar.

After that Metropolitan Hilarion visited the Orthodox Convent of the St. Thecla, an early Christian martyr, in which he venerated her relics and had a talk with the spiritual father and sisters of the convent.

In 2013 the town was captured by Islamist militants; the convent was looted and the sisters were kidnapped. After the liberation the convent was restored with the help of Russian benefactors.

In the Our Lady of Saydnayya Convent, Metropolitan Hilarion venerated the miracle-working Icon of Our Lady of Seydnayya. The mother superior of the convent, Abbess Febronia related to His Eminence the history and the present life of the convent.

On the same day, Metropolitan Hilarion visited places associated with the life of St. Paul.

During his trip, the DECR chairman was accompanied by Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the See of Antioch, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, and Sub-deacon Vyacheslav Li.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5710763.html






Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Russian military in Syria



23 October 2020 - 10:52







On October 22, 2020, during his working visit to Syria, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, visited the Damascus Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church, where he was welcomed by the rector of the representation and representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarchal See of Antioch, Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov). Metropolitan Hilarion familiarized himself with the progress made in building a Children’s Center under the aegis of the Russian Orthodox Church.

After that, His Eminence met at the representation with the Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Syrian Arab Republic A. Yefimov. They discussed matters of mutual concern. Metropolitan Hilarion thanked the ambassador for his invariable support for the work of the Damascus Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On the same day, Metropolitan Hilarion visited Russia’s Khmeimim air base where he met with its commanders and enlisted personnel. His Eminence came to the base’s chapel dedicated to the St. Prophet Elias, had a talk with the military about Christian faith and answered their questions. The commander of the Russian Federation forces in Syria, Lieutenant-General A. Chaiko presented the DECR chairman with a commemorative medal. Accompanied by the commander, the archpastor made a tour of the base’s museum in which he signed the guest book, planted a commemorative tree in the Victory Park, saw the armament and conditions of the militaries’ life.

In memory of the visit, Metropolitan Hilarion presented the base’s library with a copy of his book Jesus Christ, which has come out in the Lives of Remarkable People series. He also presented the commander with a copy of his work entitled Catechisis. A Concise Guidebook on the Orthodox Faith.

After bidding a warm farewell to the Russian military and thanking them for the hospitality, Metropolitan Hilarion left for Moscow.

The DECR chairman was accompanied in Syria by DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk and sub-deacon Vyacheslav Li.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5710772.html






Patriarchal Exarch for Western Europe meets with head of Archdiocese of Western European Parishes of Russian Tradition



23 October 2020 - 14:12







On October 22, 2020, a meeting took place between Metropolitan Anthony of Chersonesus and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch for Western Europe, and Metropolitan Ioann of Dubna, head of the Archdiocese of Western European Parishes of Russian Tradition.

In the course of a long fraternal talk, the archpastors dealt with numerous issues concerning cooperation between the two canonical structures of the Moscow Patriarchate in France and other countries in Western Europe.

The hierarchs also discussed preparations for the celebrations of the first anniversary of the unification of the Archdiocese with the Russian Orthodox Church.

It is supposed that if the actual epidemiological situation in Paris allows, on November 8 Metropolitan Ioann and Metropolitan Anthony will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and thanksgiving at the Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky on rue Daru, the website of the Diocese of Chersonesus reports.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5710782.html






Online session of annual working meeting of Churches in Europe group of Russian-German forum ‘St. Petersburg Dialogue’



23 October 2020 - 16:08







On October 22, 2020, the Churches in Europe group of the Russian-German forum of civic societies ‘St. Petersburg Dialogue’ held an annual working meeting in online format.

Participating in the meeting from the Russian Orthodox Church were Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR); Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for the affairs of the far-abroad diaspora; and Hierodeacon Yaroslav (Ochkanov), DECR secretariat for the affairs of the far-abroad diaspora.

From the German side, there were Dr Johannes Eldemann, director of the Institute of Ecumenical Theology, leader of the German part of the group; Joachim Liebig, president of the Evangelical Church of Anhalt; and Prof Dr Martin Illert, Department for Orthodoxy, Ecumenism and Scholarship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany.

They discussed 2021 plans of the working group. A number of events of dialogue nature is to be held in 2021, with some of them to be conducted online. The meeting also discussed a project ‘Youth theological meetings’ planned to be held next autumn. Students of several higher education theological schools in Germany will be able to visit theological schools and educational centers in Russia and to be introduced to the experience of training teachers for religious disciplines in schools and to establish academic contacts.

Among particular topics was the influence made by the COVID-10 pandemic on the functioning of the Petersburg Dialogue forum and the work of the Churches in Europe group. The participants agreed on the need to use the instrument of online conferences, which will become in the nearest future an effective means of holding international meetings.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5710778.html






The first divine service is held in Turkish Samsun for Russian-speaking faithful of the Moscow Patriarchate



23 October 2020 - 19:08







On October 23, 2020, the first ever divine service was celebrated in Turkish Samsun for the Russian-speaking faithful of the Moscow Patriarchate living on the Black Sea cost in Turkey. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. George Sergeyev, who is in charge of pastoral care for the Russian-speaking faithful in the Republic of Turkey.

After the service, Father George held a meeting with the parishioners. He told them about the life of the Moscow Patriarchate communities in Turkey and the present relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarchate of Constantinople. The meeting defined further plans for organizing regular divine services in the region, the Moscow Patriarchate official portal reports.


The city of Samsun, known since the 7th century B.C. under the name of Amisous, was founded by the ancient Greeks as one of the Pontus colonies of on the Black Sea costs. During the prosecutions under Emperor Diocletian (284-305), St. Charitina of Amisus suffered martyrdom there. In the medieval times, the city was part of the Byzantine Empire, and after it was captured by crusaders in 1204 it became the second important city of the Trapezuntine Empire. In the 15th century, it finally moved to the Ottoman Empire. At present, there are some 2000 Russian-speaking residents living in this million strong city.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5710786.html






Metropolitan Hilarion: Archbishop of Cyprus can be no longer liturgically mentioned in the Russian Orthodox Church



24 October 2020 - 18:27







As the mass media have reported, Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus has mentioned Epifaniy Dumenko for the first time as ‘primate’ of the Ukrainian church, thus de facto recognising the schismatic structure ‘Orthodox Church of Ukriane’ that he heads. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, speaks about a possible reaction of the Russian Orthodox Church to the recognition of the ‘OCU’ by the Church of Cyprus in his talk to RIA Novosti news agency.



– Your Eminence, how will the Russian Church react to the recognition of the Ukrainian schismatics by the Archbishop of Cyprus?

– We deeply regret to hear about this deplorable event. The decision will be made by the Holy Synod. However, I believe the Archbishop of Cyprus will be crossed out from the diptychs of the Russian Orthodox Church, that is to say. the liturgical mention of his name will be suspended until all the circumstances of this development are clear. It means the discontinuance of the Eucharistic communion with a particular person, not the Church of Cyprus as such. It will be important to understand whether he did it on his own or with the consent of the Synod. The Greek mass media write that he did it without the consent of the Synod.

– Under what circumstances was this liturgical mention made?

– They write that the Archbishop, together with the Metropolitan of Pathos, were consecrating Bishop Pancratios of Arcinoe, who was elected by the Synod as Vicar Bishop of the Metropolis of Pathos. In attendance (but not serving) were some other hierarchs of the Church of Cyprus. Some of them left the church when they heard the name of the leader of the Ukrainian schismatics coming from the lips of the Archbishop.

– How do you explain this decision made by the Archbishop?

– It is no secret for anybody that pressure was exerted on him by the Patriarch of Constantinople who is very interested in seeing at least one more Church recognizing his lawless action. There was also pressure from the USA where there is an interest in weakening the Russian Church and setting off the Greek world against the Slavic world.

– Could the recent visit of the Patriarch of Alexandria to Cyprus make an influence on the Archbishop of Cyprus? Indeed, he, too, has decided to make the liturgical mention of Epifaniy on his own, without any authorization by his Synod.

– It cannot be excluded.

– The Archbishop of Cyprus made unfriendly statements about the Russian Church and the Patriarch of Moscow earlier as well. For instance, in one of the interviews he related this about his talk with Patriarch Kirill: ‘He wants to be the first. I said to him that he would never become the first. For the last seventeen centuries the Patriarch of Constantinople has been recognized as the first among all the Orthodox Primates. You should understand this’. How can you comment this?

– Can you imagine that such a talk did really take place? I was present at all the meetings of Patriarch Kirill and Archbishop Chrisostomos and he never said anything like this. Such a talk could take place only in the Archbishop’s imagination because, first, he would never say anything like this in the Patriarch of Moscow’s face, even if he thought so to himself; secondly, the Russian Church has never claimed primacy in the Orthodox world. We have an official document ‘Position of the Moscow Patriarchate on Primacy in the Universal Church’ adopted by the Holy Synod in 2013. It is written in it in black and white: that from the 11th century ‘up to the present time, the primacy of honour in the Orthodox Church on the universal level belongs to the Patriarch of Constantinople as the first among equal Primates of Local Orthodox Churches’.

– What will be the consequences of this decision for the relationships between the Orthodox Churches of Russia and Cyprus?

– We will continue communion with all the hierarchs who do not recognize the personal decision of the Archbishop. The Russian people have always been close to the people of Cyprus; our pilgrims will continue coming to the holy places of those metropolises of the Church of Cyprus whose heads will remain in communion with the Russian Church.

But standing above all for us is the unity of our Church and the resolute preservation of the dogmatic teaching and canonical tradition of Holy Orthodoxy. The fact that particular hierarchs and even Primates of Churches violate canons is regrettable. However, we cannot and will not waive Orthodoxy and the canons. And we will steadfastly safeguard the unity of our Church.




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5710407.html






Statement of hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus on the Archbishop Chrysostomos’ liturgical mention of head of the so-called Orthodox Church of Ukraine Epifaniy Dumenko



26 October 2020 - 12:29







On October 24, 2020, Metropolitan Athanasius of Limassol, Metropolitan Nikephoros of Kykkos and Bishop Nicholas of Amathounta made a joint statement on the recognition of the so-called Orthodox Church of Ukraine by Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus, calling him as Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus to cancel immediately the anti-canonical decision to include the name of the ‘PCU’ head Epifaniy Dumenko in the diptych of the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches. Below is the full text of the statement.



With great concern and profound sorrow we have learnt that today, Sunday, October 24, during the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of Our Lady of Golden Pomegranate at which the episcopal consecration of the Very Rev. Bishop Pankratios of Arsinoe was celebrated, His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus mentioned Epifaniy as ‘Primate of the Ukrainian Church’.

1. This action of the Archbishop is a gross violation of the conciliar, collegial and democratic order of our Orthodox Church and of the way in which the Orthodox Church functions on the basis of this system.

2. His Beatitude had posed this issue at the recent meeting of the Holy Synod (September 9, 2020) and it was agreed then to consider it at another meeting in order to listen to the opinions and stands of all the members of the Holy Synod and to adopt a conciliar decision on this matter.

3. The recent promotion of Epifaniy by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople as ‘Primate of the Ukrainian Church’ has shaken the unity of the Orthodox Church and to this day, for reasons outside the scope of this document, he is recognized only by the Church of Greece and the Patriarchate of Alexandria. The rest of the Local Orthodox Churches have taken a negative position on this issue. (It is noteworthy that during the ‘consecration’ [apparently, this purports to be ‘enthronement’] of the above-mentioned Epifaniy, none of the representatives of Local Orthodox Church were present, however it may be understood).

4. He who was proclaimed as ‘Primate’ of the Church of Ukraine by Patriarch Bartholomew has no canonical ordination whatsoever because he comes from schismatic groups of the Ukrainian Church. If His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch had really wished to observe the canonical order in granting autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine, he should have turned to canonical Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and, in addition, should have had the consent of the Moscow Patriarchate on this matter which concerns it, just as the consent of the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches.

5. The action of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to grant ‘autocephaly’ to the schismatic structures of the Ukrainian Church is an arbitrary, uncanonical and anti-church action since the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. As we have already stated above, it is an intervention in the jurisdiction of this Patriarchate. Because of this fact, the Russian Church in a counter action has justifiably suspended church communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate as well as with the Churches of Greece and Alexandria.

6. According to the holy canons and practice of our Church, the granting of autocephaly is thinkable and possible only subject to a preliminary approval by the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches. However, in this case, the Ecumenical Patriarch acted in this matter unilaterally and arbitrarily, contrary to what the holy canons and church Tradition say and in conflict with his own previous statements. Regrettably, this example has also been followed by the Primate of the Church of Cyprus ignoring his Holy Synod and disregarding it.

7. The decision of the Archbishop of Cyprus to mention Epifaniy as ‘Primate of the Ukrainian Church’ has made more complicated the already tense situation among Orthodox Church, augmenting the threat of schism facing the Universal Orthodoxy and recklessly bringing this atmosphere into the Church of Cyprus too.

8. We call upon His Beatitude to cancel immediately his anti-canonical and invalid action and at the same time we ask all the fellow-bishops of the Church of Cyprus to demand together the convocation of an extraordinary session of our Holy Synod in order to consider this matter and to make an appropriate decision.

9. Finally, we should underscore the ill-time nature of this decision of our Primate considering the crucial time in which we live with regard to our national problem as well as the threatening action undertaken by Turkey in her insatiable expansion threatening to diminish our people.

We state all the above confident in our rightfulness, aware of our hierarchal responsibility and the sacred duty to safeguard the canonical order of the Church in order to avoid the cardinal sin of schism since, according to St. John Chrysostom, ‘the sin of schism cannot be washed away even by the blood of a martyr’.

Nicosia, 24 October 2020

+ Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol
+ Metropolitan Nikephoros of Kukkos
+ Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos
+ Bishop Nicholas of Amathountha




The source of information - http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5710673.html






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Patriarchal service on the feast of the Our Lady’s Veil in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (October 14, 2020)






















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Patriarchal service on 19th Sunday after Pentecost in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (October 18, 2020)












__________________
Where should they dig the Very Deep Pit?
Piglet said that the best place would be somewhere where a Heffalump was, just before he fell into it, only about a foot farther on.
(c) Alan Alexander Miln
 
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