Moscow, June 28, Interfax – The Bishops' Council considers it important to launch the work on the Russian Church modern catechesis (a book of Christian foundations outlined in brief – IF).

Besides, the decision of the Council, which is held in Moscow these days, found it necessary to hold systematic pastor seminars in the dioceses in order to improve theological knowledge and for priest to share their pastor experience.

The hierarchs also backed up the idea to set up diocesan courses to advance theological knowledge of clerics, monks and nuns and believed it necessary to lead systematic work with pilgrims who come to monasteries and churches to venerate shrines for the purpose of their theological education.

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Moscow, June 28, Interfax - The Bishops' Council proposed to change the principles of arranging inter-Orthodox meetings.

Thus, the Council believes it necessary to insist on representation of autonomous and self-governed Churches of the Moscow Patriarchate (the Ukrainian Church, the Japanese Church, the Latvian Church, the Estonian Church, the Moldavian Church, the Chinese Church, and the Russian Church Abroad) in all such meetings.

The Council, which is being held in Moscow these days, decided that the Autocephalous Orthodox Church in America should also take part in the meetings.

Such initiative was caused by the position of the Constantinople Patriarchate as it believes that inter-Orthodox events can be attended by representatives of the so-called Estonian Apostolic Church generally unrecognized as an autonomous or independent Church.

The Moscow Patriarchate delegation was forced to leave the session of the Mixed Orthodox-Catholic Theological Commission held in Ravenna in October 2007 as representatives of "Estonian Apostolic Church" were among its participants. The Constantinople Patriarchate established this structure in 1996 on the canonical territory of the Russian Church.

A new conflict has been kindled between the Moscow and the Constantinople Patriarchates this June as the latter invited representatives of this uncanonical Estonian structure to participate in work of the Inter-Orthodox commission on Rhodes. Further to this step, the Russian Church delegation had to leave the session.

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Pope Benedict XVI has renewed his call for Christian unity during a meeting at the Vatican with the leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew I.The pope says visits with Orthodox leaders provide the chance for "brotherly conversations and moments of common prayer."

The pope has also called for increased joint activities "in our path toward the communion of all Christ's disciples."The Vatican under Benedict has been reaching out to the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians to try to heal the nearly 1,000-year-old schism between the two main branches of Christianity.Bartholomew's visit also includes a ceremony later Saturday with the pope in memory of St. Paul.

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'Dear archpastors, your have celebrated remarkable jubilees recently. While congratulating you, I informed you of the awards, and now I have an opportunity to confer them on you. I thank you for your zealous ministry to the Church of God and wish you good health and God's help in your archpastoral work so that we can award you many times in future for your ministry,' His Holiness Patriarch Alexy said.

Metropolitan Vladimir of St, Petersburg and Ladoga awarded the Order of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, 2^nd degree

Metropolitan Iriney of Dnepropetrovsk and Pavlograd – the Order of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, 3^rd degree

Archbishop Alexy of Tula and Belev – the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 2^nd degree

Archbishop Anastasy of Kazan and Tatarstan – the Order of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow

Archbishop Varfolomey of Rovno and Ostrog – the Order of St. Daniel of Moscow, 2^nd degree

Archbishop Tikhon of Novosibirsk and Berdsk – the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 2^nd degree

Archbishop Vasily of Zaporozhe and Melitopol – the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 2^nd degree

Archbishop Varsonofy of Saransk and Mordovia – the Order of St. Daniel of Moscow, 2^nd degree

Archbishop Feodor of Kamenets-Podolsk and Gorodok – the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 2^nd degree

Archbishop Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol – the Order of St. Daniel of Moscow, 2^nd degree

Archbishop Panteleimon of Maikop and Adygey – the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 2^nd degree

Bishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe – the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 2^nd degree

Bishop Iov of Kashira, a vicar of the Moscow diocese – the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 2^nd degree

Bishop Amvrosy of Chernigov and Novgorod-Seversky – the Order of St. Daniel of Moscow, 2^nd degree

Bishop Sofrony of Mogilev and Mstislavl – the Order of St. Daniel of Moscow, 2^nd degree

Bishop Maxim of Barnaul and Altai – the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 2^nd degree.

Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga thanked His Holiness Patriarch Alexy on behalf of the recipients, saying, 'Your are the only Patriarch in the history of our Church sparing no efforts to accomplish so many things and celebrate so many divine service. Thank You very much!'

Source:

http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?page=41620

"For many people and especially children, this was the first time they received a wheelchair, such as one 14-year old boy who has been carried around by his grandfather his whole life," says IOCC Greece Director Despina Katsivelaki.

The equipment, worth more than $200,000, was made possible through a generous gift to IOCC by Peja Stojakovic of the NBA's New Orleans Hornets. The wheelchairs were custom-fit to suit the needs of each recipient by a team of volunteer health care professionals from Wheels for Humanity.

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In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Dear in the Lord Brother Archpastors, Reverend Fathers,
Brothers, Sisters and Children!!

In May, 2006, the IV All-Diaspora Council convened in San Francisco. The first point of order in this historic event in our Church was the matter of our relationship with the Church in Russia. The second was the future of our Church in the diaspora with special attention paid to our youth and the problems it faces in contemporary society.

By the limitless mercy of God and thanks to the spiritual guidance and righteous labors of our memorable Primate, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory, the painful division between the two parts of the Russian Orthodox Church was finally overcome with the signing in May, 2007, of the Act of Canonical Communion, and the process of healing began!

This means that the matter of work with youth today takes the forefront in the salvific labors of the Church in today’s world, and demands the most serious attention on our part. This was especially clearly stressed by His Eminence Vladyka at the opening of the XII World Russian People’s Council in Moscow: “Youth is not only our future, but also our present. Young people deserve our special attention by virtue of the fact that they are called upon to open new paths to disseminate the truths of the Gospel. Without the youth, we would not only be deprived of the ability to progress, we would stagnate.” Further, he said: “But if we attract and unite our youth, especially those young people who burn with love for God and the desire to serve the Church and Fatherland, we will be able to accomplish great feats to the benefit of the Church, Orthodoxy and our much-suffering Motherland. The Russian Church Abroad, scattered throughout the world, can especially fulfill this mission, fostering the expansion of Orthodoxy and its great legacy among the peoples, spreading the good news to those ‘which were afar off, and to them that were nigh’ (Ephesians 2:17).”

Following the call of our late First Hierarch, the Council of Bishops this past May decided that the Sunday of All Saints would from now on be designated the Day of Youth of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. This celebration will be aimed at all three basic socio-cultural groups of the youth of our Holy Church: young people born in Russia, those born abroad, and those who turned to Orthodoxy from the local populations where the Russian Church Abroad exists.

And so, dear brother archpastors, reverend fathers, brothers and sisters! I call upon you to active and salvific work with our youth! Our churches have parish schools where children are taught the Law of God, Russian language, Russian history and literature: there are youth groups led by priests and laypersons. There are summer camps and youth conferences. If we continue to follow the example of the old emigres who taught us, who burned with love for the Church, our history and culture, who founded Russia Abroad, if we share this wealth with the children and youth, and live by that which we received from our ancestors, then I am certain that the Lord will help us ignite young hearts with that same love, or at least, we can plant in them the good seed which will bear fruit. We are duty bound to walk among the people, remembering the Apostles, who were “weak, and not weak.” Let us labor to the best of our abilities!

Now a few words to our youth. The Lord said: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). The closest interpretation of this is as follows: I do not demand that you completely abandon all cares in seeking external goods and eschew daily joys. But I desire and request of you one thing: reorganize your priorities. Before you cared more for the temporal, but for the heavenly you cared little or not at all; and I say: place to the forefront all cares and desires for the heavenly, the eternal, and that which is worldly should be in second place. Christ then adds: if you seek the Kingdom of Heaven and His Truth over all things, know that the earthly needs will be granted to you—it will come as a result of a special benevolence to you from God. Our Lord Jesus Christ not only does not forbid happiness and the enjoyment of worldly success, but only under the mandatory condition that we hold these second in importance, ceding the first place to our cares in seeking eternal happiness, seeking perfect Good, Love and Beauty in God and in His Image, Which is reflected in our neighbor. One thing must be kept in mind: do what is needed for earthly life; a part of your time and efforts must be devoted to prayer and works of mercy; do not be prideful in happiness; do not despair in unhappiness; and remember that all—the good and the terrible—comes from God, Who loves us and directs us to blessedness. And God will be with you.

I conclude with the words of St Macarius of Egypt: "God sees neither virgin nor married person, neither monk nor secular; but seeks only earnest and good will. Obtain this good will and salvation is near, whosoever you are and wherever you may live.” Amen.

+Hilarion,
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

Sunday of All Saints, 2008

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In his report to the Bishops’ Council, which opened on June 24, 2008, at the Church of Christ the Saviour, Patriarch Alexy pointed out that the year 2008 was marked with a symbolical date – the 1020^th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia. It is the date, he said, which makes us look back ‘at the one Kievan baptismal font in which the peoples now nourished by the Russian Orthodox Church have received salvation and the gifts of the Holy Spirit’.

The anniversary of the foundation of the Russian Orthodox Church, he stressed, makes the faithful reflect on the ages-long path covered by her and become aware of the spiritual unity of the peoples of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. ‘Our church unity is a great treasure that our ancestors preserved despite the hardships they experienced’, the Patriarch said, adding, ‘by God’s mercy we have inherited the precious gift of unity and this places a special responsibility on us for preserving and handing it over to our descendants’.

His Holiness noted with regret that certain political forces still continued their attempts to destroy the spiritual space of Holy Russia, to bring in strife and distrust in relations between millions of Orthodox Russians, Ukrainians, Belorussians, Moldavians and people of other nations who make up the multinational flock of the Russian Orthodox Church.

He described the two decades that had passed since the 1988 Council as ‘a period of finding freedom coupled with tremendous responsibility for the enlightenment of millions’. ‘We have had to satisfy their spiritual thirst and lead those who sought the Truth to the initiation to the Church’, His Holiness stressed.

At the same time he pointed to the ambiguity of developments which occurred in the country in the period under consideration, saying, ‘Among negative developments there is a wide range of social problems including a considerable decline in the living conditions of many people, an inrush of mass pseudo-culture, a weakened public morality, growing social intolerance and tension. All this cannot but disturbs the Russian Orthodox Church, which has incessantly lifted up supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks for all people and for the authorities so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1 Tim. 2:1-3).

The four years that have passed since the previous Bishops’ Council, the Patriarch said, have shown that the problems, which were discussed at that Council, have been solved in this or that measure. At the same time, new challenges have emerged to pose new tasks for the Church.

Among the characteristic features of today, which need the Church’s special attention, the Patriarch believes, is the secularization of society. The secular way of thinking as well aggressive and intolerant atheism have not become weaker for the past years but rather stronger and more active in their attempts to prevent Orthodoxy from carrying out its salvific mission to lead people to the knowledge of the Gospel’s Truth.

His Holiness also called upon the Council members to discuss the urgent problems of church life in a spirit of openness, honesty, brotherly love and desire of unanimity. ‘Conciliarity, which is the seeking of one another’s counsel, is the best way for avoiding conflicts, divisions, bewilderment’, he said, adding, ‘Receiving the patriarchal insignia eighteen years ago, I spoke about the importance of governing church life while developing conciliarity. I would like to remind you of those words at a time when they become especially important’.

The period between the Councils, according to Patriarch Alexy, has shown that the dynamic of church grown has remained the same. ‘At the same time, it should be mentioned that the rate of quantitative changes has taken the lead over that of qualitative changes. Today our most important task is to build up church life spiritually, to build up human hearts and minds. It is in this direction that we should adjust and develop our work’, His Holiness said.

Source:

http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?page=41487

This season’s corn and soybean crops are in danger, and Iowa’s agricultural losses alone are estimated to exceed $2 billion. Other states of the upper Midwest including Illinois and Indiana have also been affected.

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is mobilizing its network of first responder Orthodox clergy to travel to Iowa to conduct a needs assessment and provide trauma counseling. Help us speed relief to the U.S.’s devastated communities by making a donation today. Call IOCC's donation hotline toll-free at 1-877-803-4622, make a gift on-line at www.iocc.org, or mail a check or money order payable to “IOCC” and write "US Emergency Response" in the memo line to: IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. 21263-0225.

IOCC, founded in 1992 as the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), has implemented over $275 million in relief and development programs in 33 countries around the world.

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The opening ceremony of the Bishops' Council was preceded by the Divine Liturgy conducted in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Three plenary sessions are planned for the first day. Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia addressed the audience with a report.

The Council is expected to focus on the issues of the Church unity. One of the major items on the Council's agenda shall be challenges of the church schism and canonical church in Ukraine. The Bishops' Council coincides with the celebration of 1020th Anniversary of the Baptism of Russia which will officially open during its work on June 28, Sunday.

The Council participants will also approve a document stipulating the position of the Russian Orthodox Church regarding human rights, the Regulation on Church Court, and address the question of church celebration of Shanghai Holy Hierarch John (Maximovich), former Supreme Pontiff of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad beatified by the Church in 1994.

The participants may also address some moral and ethical issues, in particular, will express their negative attitude to the so-called homosexual marriages. Patriarch Alexy II stated his intend to raise any issues at the Council "for the church unity benefit" and noted that the Russian Church was open to discuss any social matters. The Bishop's Council, the upper church administrative body, is called no less than once in four years. The last Bishops' Council was held in 2004.

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=dujour&div=172

Along with Father Kortmossian a group of deacons graduated from the Seminary’s preparatory program for priesthood and will, in the coming few months, be ordained as parish priests by the Primates of various Cilician Dioceses.

The Seminary’s Dean, Bishop Shahe Panossian, officiated the ordainment and delivered the sermon in the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral on June 22. The assistant priest was Father Magar Ashkarian.

The confession of faith was held in the afternoon of June 21 in the Cathedral. The candidate publicly pledged allegiance to our Church’s doctrine, rituals, traditions and the teachings of our forefathers, renouncing all old and new heresies and those who preach against the teachings of the Church. He then recited his oath of becoming a servant of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

His Holiness Aram I presided over the Holy Mass held in Antelias on Sunday, during which Father Kortmossian parted from the material world and embraced the challenging yet rewarding role entrusted to him. Bishop Panossian anointed the Father’s forehead, his right and left hands with the Holy Muron, bestowing upon him a new name as a new servant of God. Renamed as Father Varant, the newly ordained priest gave his first blessings to the faithful gathered in the Church.

In his Sermon, the Bishop underlined the notion of relying on God’s guidance and encouraged the newly ordained priest to have faith in God’s way and to be truly committed to serving the Armenian Church and nation. Bishop Shahe congratulated His Holiness Aram I and the Cilician Brotherhood and emphasized the important mission of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

Addressing the new priest Bishop Shahe said: “Through the Armenian Church and the Catholicosate of Cilicia today you embark upon a career of serving God and our nation with a high sense of responsibility and utmost dedication. Let God guide your steps so you may uphold your calling and the Cilician Brotherhood’s good standing. May you, through your life and work, put to practice your inherent capabilities and the graces that were bestowed upon you through ordination. Through your dedication the Catholicosate of Cilicia remains at the forefront of its mission to serve our nation so that the Holy Bible may further enlighten the spirit of our people.”

The Cilician Brotherhood members then congratulated Father Varant Kortmossian for his joining the Cilician Brotherhood. The newly ordained priest was then subjected to his first washing by his Godfather, Sarkis Kilaghbian. The Cowl (Veghar) was blessed before The Lord’s Prayer and placed on Father Kortmossian’s head.

The new Priest then knelt down in front of His Holiness Aram I in the Veharan and received the Pontiff’s blessings. His Holiness encouraged Father Kortmossian to value his calling as a Cilician Brotherhood member and the new life he is about to enter. Father Varant will spend the next 40 days in the Saint Asdvadzadzine Monastery in Bikfaya fasting and praying in preparation for his mission.

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"Today we can see that there is a positive dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church on a range of pressing issues, especially such issues as the protection of traditional Christian values, the role of religion in social life, the problem of morals and the attitude toward the institution of family," Alexy II told the assembly of Orthodox bishops in Moscow on Tuesday.

Relations between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Catholic Church nonetheless "retain problems requiring a real solution, including the 'issue of missionary activity on the part of Catholics on traditionally Orthodox turf in Russia and other countries,'" he said.

"We would like also to see the long-awaited progress on the issue of the attitude of Greek Catholics to Orthodox believers in the regions of Western Ukraine where the Uniat Church is predominant. Unfortunately, we have not seen positive developments on this issue, and representatives of the canonic Orthodox Church in most cases continue to suffer oppression on the part of Greek Catholics," he said.

Speaking about contacts with the Protestant churches in foreign countries, the patriarch said that the Russian Orthodox Church has retained "stable and good relations" with its "long-time partners" - the Evangelical Church of Germany and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, with which the Russian Orthodox Church had a fruitful dialogue in 2005 and 2008.

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4838

"There is a series of unresolved problems in our relations [with Vatican]. First of all, they include the unsettled conflict between Orthodox and Greek Catholics in Western Ukraine, and unjustified expansion of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church mission into traditionally Orthodox regions," Metropolitan said in his interview to the official site of the Bishops' Council.

According to Metropolitan Kirill, another "uneasy issue" of these relations is "the missionary activity of certain members of the Roman Catholic Church among Orthodox citizens of Russia

"The joint Orthodox Catholic Working Group operates in Russia to decide such matters since 2004. We hope that its work bears fruit," said Metropolitan Kirill.

He also mentioned that the dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church "has strong inherent reserves for joint defending traditional Christian moral values, correct arrangement of social and family relations and protecting human rights."

Metropolitan Kirill stressed that "our standpoints on these matters are almost identical."

As regards the relations of the Moscow Patriarchate with Protestant communities, Metropolitan Kirill said that they "are more complex due to different circumstances", as many protestants these years "tend to extremely liberalize many aspects of their lives," giving public blessings to same-sex "marriages" and laying hands on homosexuals.

"Unfortunately, such tendency continues to spread onto many new protestant communities in the West. In a bid to successfully resist this attempt at total liberalization, we need to unite efforts of Orthodox and protestants who keep faith to Evangelist traditions, both in religion and in life," said Metropolitan Kirill. and CIS countries."

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4826

Today Georgian Orthodox Church marks the day of Saint Andrew the First-Called - the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostle Andrew the First-Called was the first of the apostles of Jesus Christ and the brother of the Apostle Peter. Saint Andrew was the first to preach Christianity in Georgia. The Georgian Patriarchate elucidates that Saint Andrew is considered as ‘a messenger of Mother of God to Georgia and a founder of Georgia’s Church.’ Georgia’s Orthodox Church is mentioned in ancient historic sources with the name of St. Andrew Church.

Georgian Orthodox Church marks the day of Saint Andrew the First-Called twice a year - on 12 May and on 13 December. Georgian Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II conducted a mass in the Saint Trinity Cathedral today.

Source:

http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=10692

On the Sunday of Pentecost, His Beatitude officiated at the Divine Liturgy and preached the homily at the same church again assisted by His Grace Nikodimos.

During this Eucharistic Synaxis which was attended by representatives of the Greek Embassy in Cairo,the Consulate of Greece and the Hellenic Community of Cairo,His Beatitude awarded the rank of Great Ecclesiarch to Archimandrite Isidore Salakos,Parish Priest of the Holy Church of the Theotokos in Heliopolis, Cairo, and ordained as a reader Mr John Gianniotakis, from the Patriarchal School of Athanasios the Great n Alexandria.

On 16^th June 2008, the Feast of the Holy Spirit, His Beatitude attended the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Monastery of St George in Old Cairo, after which he departed for Alexandria .

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"One of the main threats is Constantinople's aggressive policy as it may lead to the schism of Orthodox world," Russian Orthodox Church Representative to European International Organizations Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria said in an interview published on Wednesday by the NG-Religii paper.

He points out that the Constantinople Patriarchate has recently "intensified its efforts to secure their primate's role as "the Eastern Pope," the supreme arbiter and head of the entire Orthodox diaspora."

"Main opponent of Constantinople and the only Church capable to contest its claims for hegemony in Orthodox world is the Russian Church. For this reason, Constantinople seeks to weaken, divide and deplete it in all fields," the bishop said.

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http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4808

Moscow, June 19, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad severely criticized the Constantinople Patriarchate.

"It seems to me that here (in relations with the Moscow Patriarchate - IF) Constantinople leads a kind of fight that is unhealthy and contradicts the spirit of Orthodoxy. They discredit Orthodoxy before non-Orthodox world. No one profits from it. They do it for their own reasons," Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany said in his interview published by the NG-Religii paper.

He believes that a Pan-Orthodox Congress should have discussed Constantinople's juridical claims.

"We have to clear out if Constantinople has any special rights in the Church, what are the bases for its claims to govern over the entire Orthodox diaspora and play the role of "the Eastern Pope" in Orthodox world," the foreign hierarch said.

He also called it "an outrage upon justice" that Constantinople decided to welcome under its jurisdiction former head of the Sourozh Diocese of the Moscow Patriarchate in Great Britain

Commenting on actions of certain Constantinople representatives who back up Ukrainian schismatics, Archbishop Mark said that "even if one doesn't understand anything in church politics, it's easy to come to the conclusion: a race for power is underway."

The archbishop stated that the Church Abroad, both in Western Europe and America, lived in peace with Constantinople and expressed hope that this tendency would be preserved. Bishop Basil (Osborne).

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4809

New York, NY [SCOBA] -- The Spring Session of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) met on June 12, 2008 from 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. This session was attended by all Hierarchs of SCOBA: Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Philip, Vice-Chairman (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Christopher, Secretary (Serbian Orthodox Church), Metropolitan Nicholas (Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese), Metropolitan Herman (Orthodox Church in America), Metropolitan Joseph (Bulgarian Orthodox Church), Archbishop Nicolae (Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese), Archbishop Antony (proxy, Ukrainian Orthodox Church) and Bishop Ilia (Albanian Orthodox Diocese). In attendance as well were Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Methodios of Boston (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), and Bishop Antoun of Miami (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese). Also present were the General Secretary and thirteen members of the SCOBA Study and Planning Commission representing all the SCOBA member Churches.

The Hierarchs held a fraternal and open discussion related to SCOBA Agencies, dealing with communications, education and mission. The formal request of the Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, who is also the Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchal parishes in the USA (33 in number), Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk to be included on SCOBA was presented by the Chairman, Archbishop Demetrios. He noted that the Moscow Patriarchate, through its Exarchate, had been one of the original signers of the SCOBA Constitution. After the Archbishop's presentation of the matter, there was immediate unanimous agreement, in a spirit of fraternal welcome, by all SCOBA Hierarchs to welcome the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the United States, in the person of Bishop Mercurius, to full membership in SCOBA.

In addition, both Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Philip shared with the other SCOBA Hierarchs the positive results of their individual meetings with Metropolitan Hilarion, the newly enthroned (May 18, 2008) First Hierarch of the Russi an Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).

The Co-Chair of the Orthodox-Roman Catholic Theological Consultation, Metropolitan Maximos, gave a presentation on the status of the various Inter-Christian Dialogues. The meeting closed with an open and fraternal discussion of ecclesiastical issues that need attention.

Source:

http://www.oca.org/News.asp?ID=1566&SID=19

The only Orthodox temple in Antarctica had a Holy Trinity Day service on Sunday, a source at the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of the Federal Hydro-Meteorological Service told Itar-Tass on Sunday. "Not only Russian polar explorers but also their colleagues from other Antarctic research stations attended the service," he said.

"The place for the Orthodox temple was selected so that it could be seen from afar. The HolyTrinity Church is the first site tourists see on their way to Antarctica from Terra del Fuego," the source said. The wood for the Antarctic temple was supplied from Altai. Palekh craftsmen did the iconostasis.

Thirty people can simultaneously visit the Siberian cedar church with the height of 15 meters. The church opened on May 29, 2004. A representative of the Holy Trinity - St. Sergius Lavra consecrated the temple. Nowadays, the church has a permanent priest.

There are about 45 round-the-year research stations in Antarctica. Russia has five active stations and one field base: Mirny, Vostok, Novolazarevskaya, Progress, Bellingshauzen and Druzhnaya 4. Three stations - Molodyozhnaya, Russkaya and Leningradskaya - are mothballed. All other former Soviet stations have been closed down permanently, he said. Russia resumed comprehensive research in the Pacific sector of Antarctica after a 16-year pause. The crew of the research vessel installed automatic meteorological and geophysical equipment at the previously mothballed stations Leningradskaya and Russkaya. The institute' s forecast center is regularly receiving reports from the Antarctic Pacific coast.

The Russkaya station, which closed down in the end of the 20th century for the lack of funds, received automatic weather and geophysical gadgets this winter.|

Source:

Serbian Orthodox Church

It's a day of renewal and enlightenment for all Orthodox believers as they celebrate Holy Trinity Day. All churches are decorated with fresh green plants, which symbolise life and renovation.

Orthodox Patriarchs and First Hierarchs held a service in own spiritual centre, especially in the Holy Trinity Churches.

The Trinity glorifies God in three forms - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The celebration marks the descent of the Holy Spirit onto the Christ's apostles fifty days after his resurrection.

The Blessing of Holy Muron is an occasion of unique importance for the Armenian Church. June 7, 2008 thus became a historic day for the Catholicosate of Cilicia, which was filled with waves of joyful and excited believers who had come to witness this ceremonious event.

The Blessing of the Holy Muron was performed by His Holiness Aram I on the platform built for this purpose at the entrance of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. Representatives from all the dioceses of the Catholicosate were present at the ceremony: Archbishop Norvan Zakarian (Primate of the Diocese of France), Bishop Yezras Nersisian (Primate of the Diocese of Russia) represented the Catholicosate of All Armenians in Etchmiyadzine. The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem was represented by the Grand Sacristan of the Saint Hagop Cathedral, Archbishop Nourhan Manougian. Patriarchal Vicar Arch. Shahan Sevadjian attended on behalf of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. He headed a delegation formed of Rev. Fr. Tatoul Anoushian and Father Vagharshag Serovpian. Alongside him on the platform, the Pontiff had also the Diocesan Primates of the Cilician See, who participated in the Holy service.

Thousands of pilgrims, who had flocked to Antelias from all over the world, filled up the Catholicosate’s headquarters to attend this ceremony, which occurs only once every seven years. This phenomenon is itself a testament to the love and commitment of our people towards the Armenian Church.

Also sharing this majestic occasion with the Armenian Church and nation were the representatives of various Christian communities in Lebanon: Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Chaldonean Protestant and Armenian Protestant. The Nuncio Apostolic in Lebanon and government officials were also present. His Holiness received on this occasion letters from heads of churches and ecumenical organizations expressing their spiritual love and fellowship.

The service started when the Pontifical Procession, led by Bishops followed and the Armenian Pontiff, proceeded from the Veharan towards the altar built on the platform outside the Cathedral especially for this occasion. The Godfather of the service was Mr. Vrej Armoyian, a community leader of the Prelacy of Canada.

The Catholicosate’s “Shenorhali” Choir performed the hymns. Members of the Cilician Brotherhood brought out the historic Cauldron of the Holy Muron rom the Cathedral carrying it on their shoulders and placed on the platform outside, in front of the Pontiff.

While the lid of the Cauldron was being lifted, it seemed as though the doors to the souls of believers were also laid open. Reciting prayers, the Catholicos added to the Cauldron the main ingredient of the Muron, the Balsam, and the old Muron, which according to tradition contains samples of the oil that the Apostles used to cure patients. The Apostle who evangelized Armenia, Saint Tateos, is said to have brought a part of this oil to Armenia. Amid the excitement of the faithful, Catholicos also mixed in the Cauldron a sample of Holy Muron blessed in St. Etchmiyadzine as a symbol of the unity of the Armenian Church. During the service, the representative of the Catholicos of All Armenians read out His Holiness Karekin II’s address on this occasion, in which he welcomed the blessing of Muron in Antelias and expressed his brotherly affection for His Holiness Aram I.

At the most sacred moment of the service, Catholicos Aram I stirred the new Muron with the Holy Right Hand of Saint Gregory the Illuminator sanctifying the new Muron with the blessings of the Patron Saint of the Armenian Church.

In his address to the thousands of pilgrims, His Holiness conveyed the meaning and symbolism of the Holy Muron.

His Holiness summarized his thoughts in the following four points:

A) The Muron as a guarantor of the Armenian Church’s continuity

During the blessing of the Holy Muron, the old Muron was mixed with the new Muron. This is not a mere tradition or a coincidence. It symbolizes the eternal path of the Armenian Church. In its true being the Church is a mission. In the life and mission of the Church, the past, present and the future are consistently present in a harmonious way. Neither time, nor historic circumstances or geographical distances can cause disruption in the Church’s continuity. Beyond this theological concept, in our Church the Holy Muron is the spiritual force through which our church refuses any thought and attempt of becoming part of the past and continues to exist with its path always headed to the future. Through the old Muron, our catholicoi, our saints and martyrs come to unite with the new Muron with their faith and their vision. Therefore, this Muron is a living history. To be blessed with the Muron means to come in live contact with our nation’s and church’s history. Receiving the Muron of the Armenian Church means being stamped with the faith and sanctity of our forefathers who had embraced Jesus Christ in their lives.

B) The Muron as a holy bind for the indivisible unity of the Armenian Church.

During the ceremony, the Muron of the Catholicosate of All Armenians was mixed to the Muron of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The same will be repeated in Saint Etchmiyadzine in September, when the Muron of the Catholicosate of Cilicia will be mixed with the Muron of the Catholicosate of All Armenians. This symbolic gesture concretely expresses the indivisible unity of the Armenian Church. The Holy Sees that have come to exist in the Armenian Church due to historic circumstances and necessity can in no way shake the internal unity of the Armenian Church. More than ever, our nation needs the strengthening of its unity in order to overcome the threats facing our spiritual, cultural and national identity both in Armenia and the Diaspora. In this Holy moment of Muron Blessing we greet our spiritual brothers Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Archbishop Torkom Manougian and the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Archbishop Mesrob Moutafian, wishing them a rich and long term of service. We also greet in the spirit of Christian love and fellowship all the representatives of churches who are with us at this ceremony, as well as all church leaders who through their prayers share this spiritual event in the life of our church.

C) The Holy Muron as an invitation to participate in the life of the Armenian Church

The Armenian Church is not a structure, a set of rituals or dogma. It is the wholeness of our nation, constructed as a community on the faith of Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Muron we become part of the Church’s wholeness, its collective life. Our children are blessed with the Holy Muron. The items used in Church life are ordained with the Holy Muron. Those called upon to serve the Church are ordained with the Holy Muron. The Holy Muron is a path that leads to participation in our Church’s common life. The Holy Muron is the heavenly power taking the Church’s God-given mission, evangelism and service to the people. We should approach the Holy Muron with this awareness. Let us not forget that on our foreheads is stamped the centuries-old Muron of the Armenian Church. With our life and work we should remain loyal to the Holy Muron, its symbolism and its message.

D) The Holy Muron as a source for spiritual renewal

As a mission the church has an essential need for internal renewal. The Muron is the renewing and revitalizing presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. It is through it that the Church remains active in its life and mission, resisting the rust and dust of time. It is through the presence of the Holy Muron that the Church renews its spiritual life and keeps itself strong against all types of distorting influences. In front of the challenges of the current world, our Church has such an imperative and immediate need for spiritual renewal, so that it can make its mission in the life of the nation more effective. We consider the infiltration of our church’s spiritual values in our nation’s life, its spiritual invigoration, the adoption of evangelical truths in our individual, family and collective lives as priorities for our church. Therefore, the Blessing of the Holy Muron should become an opportunity and an invitation for spiritual renewal and the strengthening of the mission of faith in our Church.

His Holiness then dedicated the new Holy Muron to the new generation: We express gratitude and satisfaction to God that this is the third blessing of the Muron that we perform. We dedicate the blessing of this Holy Muron to our new generation, the generation that is called upon to build the future of the church. He continued: In the globalised world, faced with new lifestyles, new viewpoints questioning our Christian faith, out spiritual truths and moral values, it is not easy to be true Christians. It is also not easy to stay Armenian in a context of a culture of globalisation, which destroys nation and culture, identity and tradition. Therefore, stay alert. Let the winds blowing around you not push you away from your roots. Be proud of your spiritual and national values, for the preservation of which your ancestors shed blood. You have the Armenian Muron on your forehead. Keep your faith strong, the Armenian Muron pure and in front of the current world’s storms transform your life into one stamped with spiritual and national values.

The faithful remained in Antelias until late at night, approaching the Muron pot with great awe and kissing it. A committee formed by the Catholicosate especially for this event had prepared several souvenirs, which were distributed to the faithful at the entrance of the Catholicosate. Particularly impressive was the presence of students, who were wearing special shirts with the theme of the blessing of the Muron.

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The leader of the nation’s Coptic Church, Pope Shenouda III, was reportedly flown this week to a U.S. hospital after breaking his leg in a fall at his residence. The 85-year-old patriarch has been in frail health for years, and his latest travail comes during rising tension in this predominantly Muslim nation over the murders and kidnappings of Copts.

On Monday, the pope “slipped on a carpet in his home and fell, breaking his thigh bone," Tharwat Bassily, a member of the church’s lay council, told Agenece France-Presse. He added that Shenouda was unable to reach the telephone and remained alone on the floor from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak arranged for the pope to be transported in his state jet to a hospital in Cleveland.

The Coptic church and the Mubarak government have been attempting to defuse a resurgence of sectarian animosity. In May, four Copts were shot dead in a Cairo jewelry shop by a man firing an automatic weapon who fled without stealing anything. Days later, armed Muslims attacked a monastery in the southern town of Malawi; one Muslim was killed and several Coptic priests were briefly taken hostage.

Egypt has prided itself on peaceful coexistence among its religious groups, but Copts, who make up about 10% of the country’s population of 78 million, have often complained of discrimination. Coptic protesters in Malawi recently chanted: “With our blood and soul, we will defend the cross.... Coptic hearts are on fire.”

-- Jeffrey Fleishman in Cairo

Source:

Pope Shenouda III, 84, fell in his bedroom on Monday evening and was later diagnosed with a fractured thigh, according to a statement issued by the church, saying he required surgery. President Hosni Mubarak ordered his government to provide a special ambulance plane to fly the patriarch to the United States, reported the official MENA news agency.

"He has high morale and we pray to God for his cure," said Health Minister Hatim el-Gibly at the Cairo International Airport. A close associate said Shenouda fell as he was trying to go the bathroom late Monday night.

"He slipped on a carpet and fell," said Tharwat Bassily, a member of the Coptic Council.

In 2006, the pope had spinal surgery at the Cleveland Clinic and last year he made several trips to the U.S. for further back surgery. Shenouda has long suffered from chronic cholecystitis, or gall stones, that can cause a high fever and severe pain, and was hospitalized in November in Cairo.

The Coptic Church is one of the Middle East oldest churches. Like the Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox churches it has no theological links with the Roman Catholic or the Anglican churches. Shenouda has led the church since 1971. Copts are believed to make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 77 million, making them the largest Christian community in the Middle East. Under his leadership, the church has established congregations in the United States, South America, New Zealand and Australia. It has more than 100 North American congregations, up from four in 1971.

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It was 18 years ago on June 10, 1990, that the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church elected Metropolitan Alexy (Ridiger) of Leningrad and Novgorod to the Patriarchal Throne. The newly-elected primate, the 15th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, was enthroned the same day in the Patriarchal Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo.

Alexy II was entrusted to lead the Church revival in the post-Communist Russia. For his years in the office the Church received an opportunity to renew its ministry in hospitals, senior centers, in army and prisons. New dioceses were set up, thousands of churches were built and over hundred theological educational establishments were open. Only in Moscow the number of Orthodox churches has increased ten times.

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"We have uncovered what we believe to be the first church in the world, dating from AD 33 to AD 70," said Archaeologist Abdul Qader Hussan, head of the Rihab Center for Archaeological Studies.

The discovery was "amazing," said the scholar, adding that "we have evidence to believe this church sheltered the early Christians: the 70 disciples of Jesus Christ."

The early Christians, described in the mosaic inscription on St. Georgeous floor as "the 70 beloved by God and Divine," are said to flee from Jerusalem during the persecution of Christians to the northern part of Jordan, particularly to Rihab, he added. Bishop Deputy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Archimandrite Nektarious described the discovery of the cave as an "important milestone for Christians all around the world."

"The only other cave in the world similar in shape and purpose is in Thessalonika, Greece," the bishop said in an interview in Amman.

Citing historical sources, Hussan said the 70 lived and practiced their rituals in secrecy in this underground church.

"We believe that they did not leave the cave and lived until the Christian religion was embraced by Roman rulers. It was then when St. Georgeous was built," said the expert. Saint Georgeous is believed to be the oldest "proper" church in the world, built in AD 230. This status is only challenged by a church unearthed in Aqaba, Jordan, in 1998, also dating back to the 3rd century.

The findings in the graveyard near the cave offer valuable clues, according to Hussan. "We found pottery items that date back from the 3rd to 7th century,"

The findings show that the first Christians and their offshoot continued living in the area till the late Roman rule, he said.The cave also embraces the living place of the first Christians. There is also a deep tunnel, which is believed to have led the 70 Christians to their source of water, the archaeologist added. Rihab is rich in unique archaeological sites and so far 30 churches have been discovered.

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The Inaugural Assembly is a culmination of the planning and preparation by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, that was started by His Eminence in 2001 during the Youth Pilgrimage to Armenia. His Holiness Karekin II appointed Father Maghakia Amerian, a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, as the Coordinator in Armenia for the Assembly.

Archbishop Hovnan has convened numerous planning sessions at different Dioceses of the Armenian Church around the world; Armenia, Europe, Russia, South America, and North America where he met with delegate representatives from youth unions and members of various youth organizations, introducing the goals of the upcoming Assembly.

The purpose of the international ACYO is to unite Armenian youth from around the world, through one global church organization, around the center of their spiritual faith, the Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The international ACYO will provide them with spiritual education and guidance, promoting involvement in the life of the Armenian Church; the ability to establish brotherhood and solidarity world-wide; and the opportunity to learn more of their homeland, jointly working for the benefit of the nation and strengthening of the Armenian Church.

20 Dioceses of the Armenian Church will be represented by 70 delegates, young men and women chosen by their Dioceses, who will actively participate along with clergy representatives in the first assembly of the ACYO. The assembly will be opened by His Holiness Karekin II who will deliver his Pontifical blessings and message.

The primary purpose of the Assembly is to establish and approve the overall mission of the ACYO and the governing policies and procedures, and to elect a governing board from among the delegates. Charter materials, by-laws, mission statement, and goals and objectives will be determined by the representatives during a series of working sessions. Also discussed will be implementation methods of new chapters, discussion of future purpose and goals of the ACYO headquarters and proposals for future international events.

The headquarters of the new global ACYO will be located in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin which will function with the same objectives under the auspices of the Catholicosate of All Armenians. The governing board of the organization will be an international Central Council. An interim Central Council was appointed in 2006, and their terms will end with the ratification of the members of the first elected Central Council.

The delegates and observers will participate in pilgrimages to historical churches and monasteries throughout Armenia, to better acquaint them with the spiritual, historical and rich cultural heritage of the Armenian nation. They are scheduled to visit Oshakan, Lake Sevan, the fortress and monastery at Amberd and the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide at Tsitsernakaberd.

The first organization to be known as the Armenian Church Youth Organization began in the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America in 1946. This new organization emerged from the foundations of many local junior leagues and clubs which had been formed and were in a status of semi-activity. Bishop Tiran Nersoyan, as Primate of the Diocese of North America, took on the challenge of reorganizing the locally organized church groups.

The culmination of this activity was in the Constitutional Assembly held at Providence, Rhode Island on January 12 and 13, 1946. In this Assembly gathered young Armenian men and women from the many Armenian Church communities throughout the Eastern and Midwestern states of the United States.

The two-day meeting resulted in the framing of the Constitution of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America. The Primate and the Diocesan council of the Diocese of North America ratified the first Constitution in July of 1946.

The idea of an Diocesan-wide youth organization spread and grew in popularity, all the way from the East Coast of the United States to California.

On September 3, 1949, in Fresno, California, under the presidency of Archbishop Vartan Kasparian, Locum Tenens of the California Diocese (now known as the Western Diocese of North America), 24 members of various Armenian Church young peoples' groups met to discuss with representatives of the Diocesan Council, the possibilities of forming a Central Committee and thus closely tying together the parish youth groups within the framework of the Diocese.

The Diocesan Council had prepared a Constitution for this purpose. Members of youth groups representing parishes in the California cities of Fowler, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pasadena and Yettem discussed, questioned, and commented about this Constitution. On November 19, 1949, a second meeting took place in Fresno to adopt the ACYO Constitution and to elect a Central Council. The Armenian Church Youth Organization of California (now ACYO Western Diocese) thus emerged from the foundations of local clubs on the parish level.

Following the conclusion of the first international Assembly, the delegates will return to their individual Dioceses to commence the work of starting local parish chapters or report to existing chapters the results of the works of the Assembly. A general meeting of the members of the International Central Council will be convened twice a year with additional regional meetings to be convened on different continents. The headquarters of the new global ACYO will begin the mission of assisting Dioceses with establishing ACYO chapters, networking with all the new and existing chapters throughout the world and carry out the mandates of the Assembly to serve the youth of the Armenian Church.

Source:

http://www.armenianchurch.org/

SOUTH CANAAN, PA [OCA Communications] -- Fifteen students were honored at the 66th annual commencement exercises at Saint Tikhon's Seminary here on Saturday, May 24, 2008.

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America and President of the seminary, was joined by other members of the Holy Synod of Bishops at the commencement, which took place in conjunction with the annual pilgrimage to Saint Tikhon's Monastery. His Eminence, Archbishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada delivered the commencement address.

Receiving Master of Divinity degrees were Matthew Baker, Theodore Brinegar, Nicholas Dellerman, the Rev. George Elliot, the Rev. Isaac Farha, Jason Franchak, the Rev. Philip Kontos, Deacon Igor Ksynyuk, the Rev. Seraphim Majmudar [valedictorian], Deacon Dennis Mathai [distinction in pastoral theology], Deacon Nikolai Meyers [distinction in pastoral theology], the Rev. David Moretti, John Murray II, Deacon Adam Sexton, and Kyrill Williams [distinction in Scripture]. Of the graduates, nine represent the Orthodox Church in America and three represent the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Three graduates represent the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and the American Diocese of the Indian Orthodox Church.

The seminarians also were honored at a banquet held in their honor.

Source:

http://www.oca.org/News.asp?ID=1562&SID=19

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4770

"The last Serbs are being driven out from Kosovo. I know what the situation is like there.There are no refugees coming back to Kosovo. And you can't guarantee them security and a civilized existence on that territory'', Vladimir Putin said in an interview to " Le Monde'', in occasion of his first visit to France as Prime Minister.

Mr. Putin reacted to a question related to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which the journalist called "separatis regions", by saying: "You said separatist? Why didn't you use this word about Kosovo?" "You cannot answer, and this is because you do not have an answer," Putin continued.

The lengthy pastoral visit of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa to the Metropolis of Johannesburg and Pretoria and the Metropolis of the Good Hope, is completed. During this visit, celebrations and liturgies were held for the 80th and 40th anniversaries respectively. Also celebrated was the 100th anniversary of the Hellenic Communities of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
His Beatitude also inaugurated the new and beautiful churches of St Nicholas in Durban and the Dormition of the Theotokos in Port Elizabeth, together with the clergy and Orthodox faithful of South Africa. He worked together with the local Metropolitans , visited the monasteries, institutions and Orthodox Missionary centres of both Ecclesiastical jurisdictions, far flung Hellenic Communities, government officials and the diplomatic officials of Greece, Cyprus and Egypt. He also met with and helped morally and materially some of the suffering African immigrants as he does on every Patriarchal missionary journey in the countries of Africa. Also, due to the presence here of His Beatitude, an Association of Office Bearers of the Patriarchal and Apostolic Throne of St Mark was organized here in South Africa.

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Hamburg has a new Christian Orthodox Church. The Bulgarian community celebrated the opening of the Bugenhagen Church in Hamburg-Barmbek on Sunday June 1st. A ceremonial church service marked the establishment of this church of The Holy Cyrill and the Holy Methodus.

It was celebrated by the Metropolitan Simeon from the Holy Synod in Sophia, who invested Priest Otez Antonij Naydenov. The service was attended by the who-is-who of the Bulgarian community in this city: Dr. Tinka Troeva, counsellor at the Bulgarian embassy to Berlin, honorary citizens of Hamburg Prof. Dr. Helmut and Prof. h.c. Hannelore Greve, Prof. Dr. Gerd-Winand Imeyer, honorary consul general of Bulgaria, Dr. Boris Galunsky, chairman of the parish council, and a lot of Bulgarian people living in Hamburg and its suroundings.

The ambassadors of the religious groups in Hamburg, Bishop Dr. Hans-Jochen Jaschke (Archbishopric Hamburg), Provost Kirsten Fehrs (Protestant-Lutherian Church Nordelbien) and Fatih Yildiz (Islamic Community Hamburg) are all looking forward to integrating the Bulgarian-Orthodox Church into the interreligious dialogue.

Source:

http://www.thehamburgexpress.com/content/view/786/54/

Archbishop Demetrios of America and the members of the official delegation concluded their official visit to the Russian Orthodox Church on Wednesday, May 28th, by visiting two of the most famous monasteries in Moscow. The evening before their departure, the Archbishop and the members of the delegation were received by the Mayor of Moscow, Yury Luzkhov, who has been Mayor for over 15 years.

The delegation was welcomed to the Mayoral Official Residence, a 200 year old structure just a short walk from the Kremlin by the Vice-Mayor of Moscow, Valery Vinogradov. Vice-Mayor Vinogradov introduced His Eminence and the delegation to Mayor Luzkhov. The Mayor then, accompanied by press and staff, led the Archbishop and the delegation into the Ceremonial Hall of the Mayoral Residence for a formal welcome, refreshment and discussion. The Hall is dominated by a huge symbol of St. George the Trophy-Bearer, the patron Saint of Moscow, and copies of important Classical Greek sculpture. In the dialogue that followed, both the Mayor and the Archbishop commented on the importance of the reconstruction of the Christ the Savior Cathedral, a project in which the Mayor had been deeply involved. The Mayor gifted the Archbishop with a commemorative crystal bowl featuring the Cathedral, and the Archbishop reciprocated with a silver commemorative plate from the Archdiocese.

The following day of their departure, the Archbishop and members of the delegation were received at two of the most important monasteries in Moscow, the Danilov and the Donskoy. The Danilov, or St. Daniel Monastery, is the oldest in Moscow (see website at http://www.msdm.ru/eng/index.htm). The Archbishop was welcomed by the Abbot of the Monastery, Archimandrite Alexy, and given a tour of the Monastery Churches. Following this visit, the delegation departed the hotel for the Donskoy Monastery, which houses the relics of the Patriarch of Moscow, Saint Tikhon, who was at one time the Russian Orthodox Primate of North America (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tikhon_of_Moscow).

The Archbishop and delegation, accompanied by clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate, were received with flowers by Bishop Alexander of Mitrof, and the Abbot together with Hieromonks. The Archbishop was escorted into the main church, where a special Service of Thanksgiving was chanted before the relics of St. Tikhon. Following the service, the Archbishop was led on a tour of the famous Donskoy Monastery Cemetery, which includes 19th century tombs of Pontian Greeks, as well as a few examples of the original monumental statuary that survived the destruction of Christ the Savior Cathedral.

Following the tour of the Donskoy Monastery, the Archbishop was accompanied to the airport by Bishop Alexander and representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate.

For photos of these events and the visit of Archbishop Demetrios and the delegation from the Archdiocese visit:

http://www.photos.goarch.org/main.php?g2_itemId=21