The statement of the bishopric concludes by expressing its protest against such parades, which sought to change the public beliefs in order to make the unnatural seem natural and be approved. Earlier this week the extreme rightist and nationalist Bulgarian National Union led by the former associate of the Ataka party Boyan Rasate declared it would organize several counter-events within a "Week of Intolerance". According to Rasate, homosexuality had a lot to do with pedophilia.

On the feast of the uncovering of the precious relics of St Sergius of Radonezh, the primates of the Russian and Cypriote Orthodox Churches presided over the festal divine services in the Cathedral of the Dormition at the Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra. With His Holiness, Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and All Russia and His Beatitude, Archbishop Chrysostomos II of New Justiniana and All Cyprus hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as priests who were members of the Cypriote delegation, and members of the Lavra's brotherhood, concelebrated.

After the Divine Liturgy, the primates of the fraternal Local Churches celebrated a service of supplication to St Sergius of Radonezh on the monastery's main plaza. In accordance with tradition, the chanting of the feast was provided by a unified choir of singers from the Lavra and from the Moscow seminaries, under the direction of Archimandrite Matthew (Mormil'). The chanters sang from specially erected platforms near the Lavra's bell-tower.

Present at the divine services was a youth group from several of the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, headed by Protopriest Andrew Sommer, a member of the clergy of the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign, in New York City. Following the service of supplication, His Holiness, Patriarch Alexy, and His Beatitude, Archbishop Chrysostomos, venerated the precious relics of St Sergius, and afterwards addressed words of greeting to the thousands of pilgrims who had traveled to the Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra from Russia, the Ukraine, Belorussia, and other countries.

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Born on January 1, 1937 in Campbell, OH, he graduated from Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA in May 1959 and was married to the former Anna Timpko the following month. He was ordained by His Eminence, Archbishop Dimitry [Magan] of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, to the diaconate at St. Barbara Church, Cassville, NJ, on August 26, 1959, and to the priesthood at the Nativity of the Theotokos Church, Cassville, NJ, the following day. He served several parishes in Ohio and Pennsylvania before his assignment to Christ the Saviour Church, Byesville, OH, in 1968. In 1984, he was assigned rector of Holy Transfiguration Church, Steubenville, OH, where he served until the time of his repose.

Father John was active in numerous community ministries and organizations. For many years he served as a member of the board of directors for the Salvation Army. A genuine "people person," he constantly pursued helping others and was well known for bring humor into their lives, whether it be in working at a soup kitchen, socializing with heart patients, or visiting friends at local restaurants or businesses -- always wearing his "signature" kamilavka. He left an indelible stamp on everyone he met. Passionate about his faith and the Church, he was never afraid to speak up on controversial issues. He supported the pro-life movement and attended numerous local and national pro-life celebrations. He was a leader in the pan-Orthodox community, placing the faith above ethnicity, as reflected in the parishes he served, which included faithful of Slovak, Russian, Romanian, Greek, Serbian, Albanian, Lebanese, and other heritages. He revealed his passion for life through singing, traveling, gardening, cooking, and grandparenting. His love for people, however, was obvious to all who knew him.

For his years of faithful pastoral service, Father John received numerous clerical awards, including the right to wear the nabedrenik, skufia, kamilavka, and gold cross; elevation to the rank of archpriest; and the right to wear the jeweled cross and palitza. At the time of his repose, he and his wife were anticipating the celebration of the 50th anniversary of his ordination in 2009.

Father John is survived by his wife, Matushka Anna; his son John and his wife Enid and his grandsons Jonathan and Alexander, St. Charles, IL; and his son Nicholas and his wife Cindy, Mingo Junction, OH. His third son, Andrew, fell asleep in the Lord in 1983. He is also survived by his sister Olga and sister-in-law Joann, both of the Youngstown, OH area. In addition to his immediate family, he leaves many godchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and faithful parishioners.

Funeral services will be celebrated on Friday evening, July 25, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 300 South 4th St, Steubenville, OH, at 7:00 p.m., after visitation throughout the day. On Saturday, July 26, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at Holy Transfiguration Church, Steubenville, OH at 10:00 a.m. His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, locum tenens of the Diocese of Western Pennsylvania, will preside. Following a repast, interment will take place at Saint John the Baptist Cemetery, Campbell, OH.

May Father John's memory be eternal!

Source:

http://www.oca.org/news/1598

CAMBRIDGE, NY [New Skete Monastery] -- The Monastic Communities and Chapel Community of parishioners of New Skete Monastery, Cambridge, NY, invite all to join them for a day of prayer and reflection celebrating their feast day on Saturday, August 9, 2008 (rain or shine). The theme of the pilgrimage is "Healing: New Life in Christ."As is the rule of monastic life, the day will begin and end with prayer with Matins at 8:30 am, followed by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am, and Vespers and Vigil at 5:30 pm.

A special healing service will be held at approximately 4:15 pm. Two main presentations will be held in the afternoon -- "Perspective on Healing" with Dr. Demetra Velisarios Jaquet and Fr. Steven Voytovich and "Holy Unction: Human Illness, Healing, and Wellness" given by Rev. Dr. Alkiviadis Calivas.

In addition, the day will include tours of the monastery Churches, a demonstration of the monks' dog program, as well as time for hiking, conversation, reflection and quiet. Activities for children and teens are also planned. Traditional ethnic and American style food will be available for purchase. The Monks, Nuns, and Companions of New Skete are a Stavropegial monastery of the Orthodox Church in America.

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The article appeared in the Monday, July 21, 2008 edition of La Patria, page 10a.

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The purpose of the seminar was to increase awareness on the issues of human trafficking. Topics discussed included prevention methods and counseling assistance for the victims.

The seminar was opened by Ms. Gyulnara Shahinian, UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) expert on trafficking and human rights, who presented a report on the overall situation of trafficking in the world. She discussed the manifestations of trafficking, new methods of exploitation, as well as current Armenian legislation on the issue. She also spoke about the re-integration of trafficking victims into society and other related issues.

During the three-day seminar, group discussions were held on several topics. Clergy participants identified ways to aid trafficking victims, methods to integrate them back into society and how to mediate between society and the family members of the victims. It was emphasized that the victims of trafficking very often need counseling and compassion from experienced priests, and therefore the Armenian Church has an important role to play in these efforts.

The participants also watched documentaries on trafficking issues, which were followed by discussions.

As part of the activities scheduled for the seminar, attendees toured the monastic complex of Kecharis and participated in evening services.

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http://www.armenianchurch.org/

His Holiness Aram I awarded the “Saint Mesrob Mashdots” Medal to Lebanese Armenian artist and painted Haroutioun Torossian during a ceremony in the Saint Asdvadzadzine Monastery in Bikfaya on July 18. The event also celebrated the launch of Torossian’s “Tuidanguines”

(“From my Perspective”) book.

Father Sahag Yemishian delivered the opening remarks of the conference, highlighting the importance of art and its influence on the lives of people. Well known pedagogue Krikor Shahinian, an old friend of the artist, then spoke about Torossian and his paintings. “The lines of his paintings are clear and firm, his shapes are impressive but not severe.” Due to his long-standing friendship with Torossian, Shahinian had come to know the man beyond the artist. “He’s a good man and a passionate Armenian. It is a true pleasure to see artistic skills and moral values on one person”, Shahinian observed.

Speaking in French, Mrs. Mary Therese Tabet portrayed in detail the artist’s personality. “The art of Haroutioun Torossian is an experience that enriches the soul, specially when produced by an artist who has such a sensitive spirit,” she said.

A student of Torosian, Hanna Bou Soujwan, expressed his gratitude towards her teacher. “An artist in every sense of the word, he never knew hatred, nor rest. He breathed with the colors, having Lebanon as his source of inspiration,” he said in his Arabic speech.

In his concluding remarks, His Holiness Aram I upheld the characteristics of Torossian the man and the artist. “Haroutioun Torossian is the combination of simplicity, love and spiritual values. As an artist, he has been one that has remained peaceful at times like the calm sea and restless at others like the stormy sea.” His Holiness highlighted three unique characteristics in Torossian: the artist of letters, colours and lines; the artist of dialogue between east and west; the artist who clearly articulates the spirit of what does it mean to be Armenian. His Holiness observed that Torossian had produced his art with faith and a firm dedication to our nation’s values. “We come and go, but we remain in the life of people by what we give to humanity” added the Pontiff.

His Holiness then placed the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s “Saint Mesrob Mashdots” Medal on the artist’s chest as a symbol of appreciation for his valuable work. The event also featured a cultural entertainment program including a performance by Father Torkom Donoyan on the piano. The ceremony ended with the collective singing of “Cilicia”.

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The collection of Eastern and Western Armenian literary masterpieces, “Orhnerkoutyoun Medzaskanchin” published last year by the Catholicosate of Cilicia, dedicated to the Armenian language, was presented on July 17 to educational officials from around the Armenian Diaspora gathered in Antelias to attend the second Pan-Diaspora Conference on Education.

The event, sponsored by His Holiness Aram I, was to re-evaluate the “Year of the Armenian Language” declared by the Catholicosate of Cilicia in 2007, during which several initiatives throughout the Diaspora brought the Armenian Language at the center of attention. The volume was edited by Lebanese-Armenian intellectual Sarkis Giragosian, also lecturer on the Armenian Language and Literature at the Seminary and an intellectual. It had been published towards the end of the year.

In his opening remarks, Deacon Father Mesrob Sarkissian talked about the educational mission of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, which coexists side-by side with its spiritual, religious mission. Seminary students then recited poems praising the Armenian Language.

Lebanese Armenian poet Hagop Manoukian delivered a comprehensive account of the content of the volume and the editorial work involved in its preparation. Mr. Manoukian presented to the audience poetic and literary excerpts from the volume, speaking about the uniqueness of the collection.

In his speech, His Holiness Aram I once again upheld the essential importance of the Armenian Language. Speaking about the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s initiatives to bring important issues to the center of public attention, His Holiness talked about the Year of the Armenian Language in 2007. “However, for each Armenian the Armenian Language is a daily existential struggle. The Armenian Language is one of the Holy values of our nation and one that can not be forgotten, not only because the discovery of the Armenian letters was made by a Saint, but because the Language acquired a value equal to that of sanctity in Armenian life. Is there an Armenian intellectual who has not realized the important value of our language? Is there an Armenian clergyman, who while conveying the Word of God, does not realize the sacred value of the Armenian Language?” wondered His Holiness. On this occasion the Pontiff also highly praised editor Sarkis Giragossian, the Cilician Brotherhood members who organized the conference, the Seminary students who participated in the program and the Seminary’s management. The cultural entertainment program continued with performances by Seminary students and a reception by the Seminary’s management.

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The second Pan-Diaspora Conference on Education was launched on July 17 in the Saint Asdvadzadzine Monastery in Bikfaya. The conference brings together some 100 Armenian community officials from around the world involved in the field of education, including principals of Armenian schools and teachers of Armenian Language, Literature, Religion.

The official opening of the conference in the “Prapyon Doumanian” Hall of the Seminary followed the morning service in the Saint Asdvadzadzine chapel. In his speech the Pontiff praised the commitment of the Armenian school and its dedicated teachers to the spiritual and intellectual formation of the new Armenian generations. Referring to the discussions of the first conference on education held four years ago in Antelias, His Holiness talked about those proposals, which had been brought to life as well as the shortcomings in realizing some others.

Outlining his vision of the second conference’s discussions, His Holiness advised that it should be unique in its kind. “This is not only a conference to share our difficulties and concerns with one another. We have come here to talk about re-organizing the teaching of Armenological topics, particularly Armenian Language, Literature, and Religion. We live in different circumstances. In some countries there are difficulties with regard to classes, textbooks and even teachers. Therefore, the exchange of viewpoints and your proposals are essential for the coordination of our collective efforts. Finally, His Holiness called up the participants to work collectively.

The sessions of the first day featured discussions on the status of the above-mentioned topics in each of the Dioceses and other concerns. The conference will continue over the next two days.

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On Friday, June 11, in the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra the celebrations were held at which thousands of pilgrims and numerous representatives of the clergy from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus were present. The vigil on the day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk Sergiy in concelebration with other hierarchs, clergy and brethren of the Lavra of Svyatogorsk.

On Saturday, July 12, in the Cathedral of Holy Dormition of the Svyatogorsk Lavra in the course of Divine Liturgy was performed the rite of glorification in the ranks of saints of the Synaxis of the Holy Fathers Who Shone in the Holy Mountains at Donets. Taking part in the solemn divine service together with Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Volodymyr were 18 hierarchs: Metropolitan Sergiy of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk, Hiero-archimandrite of the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol, Metropolitan Iriney of Dnipropetrovsk and Pavlohrad, Metropolitan Ioannikiy of Luhansk and Alchevsk,

Archbishop Efraim of Kryvyi Rih and Nikopol, Archbishop Ioann of Kherson and Tavriya, vicar of the Kharkiv Diocese Archbishop Onuphriy of Izyum, Deputy Abbot of the Hermitage of Nativity of the Theotokos in Glinka Archbishop Luka of Konotop and Glukhiv, Bishop Amvrosiy of Chernihiv and Novhorod-Siverskyi, Deputy Abbot of the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra, Vicar of the Diocese of Donetsk Bishop Arseniy, Bishop Mytrofan of Horlivka and Slovyansk , Vicar of the Donetsk Diocese Bishop Varnava of Makiyivka, Bishop Yelisey of Berdyansk and Prymorsk, Bishop Agapit of Severodonetsk and Starobilsk, Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary Bishop Anthony of Boryspil, Bishop Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi, and His Grace Bishop Alipy. Concelebrating with the hierarchs were the host of clergy and the brethren of Lavra. І

At the Divine Liturgy at the Lesser Entrance was served the last Litia for the reposed God-pleasers, thereafter two hierarchs said the word of enunciation. Bishop of Kryvyi Rih and Nikopol Efraim read out an extract from the Journal of Proceedings of the session of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which passed the decision on glorification among the saints of the Synaxis of Fathers who shone in the Holy Mountains at Donets, approved the troparion, prayer service and the icon for veneration. Then Bishop Mytrofan of Horlivka and Slovyansk read out the lives of each of the hermits of Svyatogorsk. Thereafter the icon depicting the synaxis of the Fathers of Svyatogorsk was taken from the altar to the singing of troparion to the newly-glorified saints, and the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr performed the first prayerful veneration of the holy image and of the reliquaries with the holy relics that stay here, at the Cathedral of Holy Dormition. This example was followed by other archpastors and clergy, and the Divine service went on.

Upon completion of the Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Holy Dormition the festive prayer service was performed proclaiming "many years" to the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, to the hierarchs, clergy and all those praying.

At Most, in Czechia, a new Romanian Orthodox church will be built with the feast day of Holy Martyr Valentine. The church will be a memorial for the 40,000 Romanian soldiers who died on the area of the former Czechoslovakia during the two World Wars.

The founding stone was consecrated by the praise-worthy Patriarch Teoctist on June 14 2007, together with Right Rev. Vincentiu of Ploiesti, Patriarchal vicar. The building of the new worship place will help promote the Romanian spirituality and traditional architecture in Czhechia.

The church is the first to be built in Czechia after World War II and its consecration is set to take place in 2010, when 65 years will be celebrated from the end of World War II.

Those who wish to join the Romanian Patriarchate by contributing to this sacred deed of honoring the heroes of the Romanian nation, can make deposits in the following accounts of the Romanian Patriarchate, mentioning 'For the Most church.'

The Romanian Patriarchate - Social and Cultural Mission: RO31RNCB0075004895030117 (account in RON) and RO04RNCB0075004895030118 (account in Euro), accounts opened at the Romanian Commercial Bank.

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SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] -- On July 15, 2008, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland returned home after a prolonged hospitalization. The primate of the Orthodox Church of Poland experienced severe difficulties in breathing on June 26, 2008, which led to his admission to the hospital for medical care and treatment.

"Metropolitan Sawa visited the United States as a guest of the Orthodox Church in America on several occasions," said Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky, OCA Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations. "He is personally well-acquainted with bishops, clergy, and lay people of our Church."

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman asks all OCA clergy and faithful to offer prayers for Metropolitan Sawa's full recovery.

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A delegation from Religions Dialogue Center at Iran's Culture and Islamic Communications Organization and representatives of Russian Orthodox Church were present in the two-day talks in Moscow. Chancellor of Iran's Islamic Culture and Thought Research Center and a member of the country's Supreme Cultural Revolution Council Hojjatoleslam Sadeqi Rashad headed Iran's five-member team to the talks. The dialogue focused on man and God from the view point of Islam and Orthodox Christianity and the participants issued a final statement at the end.

The statement said talks between Russian Orthodox Church and Iran's clergies, dating back more than 10 years ago, go on successfully. It condemned disrespect to religious sanctities, which constitute major part of human beings' life, and urged the world to counter such sacrilegious moves. It also stressed continuation of such talks because they will help the two sides have more engagement and get more acquainted with each other.

The Seventh Islam-Orthodox Dialogue will be held in Tehran in 2010 to focus on mutual agreements.

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http://www.spc.yu/eng/6th_islamorthodox_dialogue_winds

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the execution of the family of the last Russian Emperor in Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg.

The Holy Royal Passion-bearers died a martyric death: Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and their children—Tsarevich Alexei, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. Suffering together with them were Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara.

The evil deed that took place in July 1918 marked the beginning of the tragic events which our people endured in the 20th century.

In the Epistle of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church held in Moscow last June states: "Paying honor to the holy Royal Passion-bearers, we must draw strength and courage from the veneration of their podvig and, as we behold their resistance to evil through meekness and humility, 'follow their faith' (Hebrews 13:7)."

Ones Christian attitude towards the world and to oneself is measured by the degree that we are prepared to accept the suffering that meets us in our life's path.

We are called upon to view these sufferings not as mere chance occurrences, but as the sorrowful but also joyful path of emulating Christ, the path upon which the Lord leads us to salvation. That is why again and again we turn our thoughts to the tragic event in Russian history, so that we may make spiritual sense of the past and of the present of our people.

The decades of our history which were marred by the sufferings of war, internecine strife, starvation and indescribable, massive repressions were in many ways determined by the moral failings rooted in the abandonment of the eternal truths revealed to us by God.

I would hope that the period of militant atheism and its consequent sufferings have forever receded into the past. One sees signs of this in the spiritual image of our times: society is returning to the unchanging values of faith, Orthodox churches are springing up everywhere, and the land of the Urals, soaked in the blood of the innocent Martyrs, is today visited by tens of thousands of pilgrims streaming in from throughout Russia and from abroad to prostrate themselves before the podvig of the Holy Royal Passion-bearers.

The Memorial Church-on-the-Blood of All Saints of Russia, erected on the site of the murder of the Royal Family, has already become a symbol of the renascence of our Fatherland in repentance, truth, love and devotion to God, a symbol of the reestablishment of historical memory and of the resurrection of Holy Russia.

Another important visible sign of the transformation must be the spiritual and moral transfiguration of society, the establishment of peace and concord, the end of strife and quarrels, which were so abundant in the last century.

Yet it is important to remember that, as always, each person is faced with the duty of moral choice which determines his fate, for the All-Sovereign Lord, addressing the heart of each one of us, says: "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19).

We must remember under all of life's circumstances that only the Lord is the source of life. His leadership brings genuine good to mankind, and the true wholeness of being. Only by fulfilling His legacies will bring man into harmonic life and will enable eternal blessedness, and contrarily, every violation of the will of God will lead to new sorrows and misfortunes.

Therefore, the way out of every crisis lies on the path of spiritual renewal. The Lord Himself invisibly helps everyone who follows Him. The Church of Christ knows from Her two-thousand-year experience that the grace-filled help of God is able to make a cardinal change in the life of a person, it can illuminate ones heart and mind, and grant him strength. "The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace" (Psalms 29:11).

As we turn to God, let us beseech Him, that through the prayers of the Holy Royal Passion-bearers, He allow us to fulfill our labors in pureness of heart, in strong faith and unshakable hope, with inner peace and in concord with everyone around us, so that the words from the Holy Scripture apply to us: "not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing" (1 Peter 3:9).

May the Lord help us, by the example of the Holy Royal Passion-bearers, all the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, to banish from our hearts all enmity and hatred, deceit and untruth, wrath and envy, to don the good deeds of love and obedience, peace and patience, humility and brotherly love.

May Divine blessing be with all of you.

+ALEXY, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

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Yekaterinburg, July 18, Interfax - About 35,000 people participated in Yekaterinburg procession with cross at Thursday night, when the execution of the tsar family was commemorated for the 90th time.

The Yekaterinburg Diocese has reported that Orthodox procession was preceded by an all-night vigil in the Church-on-Blood built on the site of Nicholas II execution. The churchyard was overcrowded as many believers could not enter the church and prayed outdoors.

The bells clammed exactly in the midnight and the Moscow Patriarchate hierarchs including the hierarchs of the Russian Church Abroad started celebrating the divine liturgy. "It was the night of prayer and repentance when thousands of people communed the Body and Blood of Christ at the holy place purpled with martyr blood. Orthodox believers came to the Urals from all around world to repent, to purify their souls and ask the holy tsar passion-bearers for forgiveness," the diocese told the journalists. Projectors spotlighted the Church-on-Blood during the service. The divine service was broadcasted all around and everyone who could not enter the overcrowded church prayed outdoors.

The liturgy lasted until 4 a.m. and then the bell called the believers to participate in the procession with cross to the Ganina Yama. Thousands of people moved along the streets of Yekaterinburg in the dawn and set off for the 20-kilometer way with prayer. All Russian Orthodox churches conducted divine services to commemorate executed tsar family on Thursday.

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Moscow, July 16, Interfax - Italy has begun to register the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia said in the meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in Moscow. "Following the consultations with the Roman Catholic Church, we have started the process of registration of the Russian Orthodox Church in Italy to be represented by a bishop," he said. The permanent presence of the Russian bishop in Italy "will help to build constructive relations both with the Italian authorities and the Roman Catholic Church."

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Moscow, July 17, Interfax - Russia is marking the 90th anniversary of the execution of its last emperor, Nicholas II, and the royal family. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church ordered clerics to commemorate the sanctified family with church services.

The murder of the royal family "started the ill doings which had an effect on our people's life for decades," Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia said. He called on the people of Russia for unity. Yekaterinburg, where the royal family was executed 90 years ago, became the center of Church and secular remembrance ceremonies. About 35,000 people took part in a religious procession in the city in small morning hours of Thursday morning. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna is taking part in the Yekaterinburg remembrance events. She said she had forgiven the killers of the last Russian emperor.

"Certainly, I cannot forget - forgetfulness may lead to recurrences of such mistakes - but, being a true Christian, I must forgive them," she said. The royal family and their entourage (all in all, eleven people) were shot dead early in the morning on July 17, 1918, by decision of the Urals Soviet.

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http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4956

On July 9-11, 2008, the reliquary containing the hand of Holy Martyr Elizabeth visited Our Lady of Kazan Convent in Kentlyn, NSW (near Sydney), which was founded by Archbishop Savva (Raevsky, +1976) and established under Abbess Elena (Oustinov, +1984). The spiritual father of this convent at one time was Protopriest Rostislav Gan, who built the large Intercession of the Holy Virgin Church in Cabramatta. The latter church had already welcomed the relics of St Elizabeth on the feast day of St John of Shanghai.

Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky, the current caretaker of the holy relic, delivered it to the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, where, on July 12, the clergy and parishioners celebrated their feast day. His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion officiated at divine services along with a host of the clergymen of the Diocese. The following day, the reliquary was taken to Perth, where His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgy at SS Peter and Paul Orthodox Church together with the parish rector and Deacon Nicholas

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Moscow, July 17, Interfax - Bishop Niphon (Saikali) of Philipopolis, the Antioch Patriarch's representative to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia over 30 years, spoke against actions of Greek Patriarchates in the Middle East as they oppose increasing Russian presence in the region.
"I've heard that the Jerusalem and the Constantinople Patriarchates have certain objections against expansion of Russian presence in the Middle East. They are wrong," the bishop said in his interview published by NG-Religii paper on Wednesday.

He said, "Russian state is one thing and the Russian Orthodox Church is a quite different thing."

The bishop further said, the Moscow Patriarchate "plays an important role both in the Orthodox world and inter-religious relations." However, the Russian Church "doesn't have any claims for political influence on international arena and seeks only fraternal relations with other local Churches."

"I'd like to urge our Greek brothers to expand Orthodox impact together with Russians. The Russian Church is a great Church, and sister-Churches should gain strength from it for preaching our faith," the Middle East hierarch stressed.

He also urged the Constantinople and the Jerusalem Patriarchates, which clerics are Greek by origin, enlarge its clergy with Arab clerics. "Their mentality should be changed somehow," Bishop Niphon stated.

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Protocol Number 711

Your Eminence Demetrios, Most Reverend Archbishop of America, beloved brother in the Holy Spirit and co-celebrant of our Modesty,

Your Eminences, Most Reverend Brothers, the Metropolitans who are Members of the Holy Eparchial Synod,

Your Graces the Bishops,

Reverend Priests and Deacons,

Most Honorable and Distinguished Archons,

Esteemed Members of the Archdiocesan Council,

Eminent Presidents and Members of the Greek Orthodox Communities,and of the National Philoptochos,

And all those gathered for the 39th Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America:

Grace be unto you and peace from God, and from us benedictions, blessing and forgiveness.

The biennial convocation of the Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, a most beloved Eparchy of our most venerable Ecumenical Throne, comprises another significant historical milestone in the godly journey of the faithful People of God of this Eparchy, who are ecclesiastically ordered under the constant spiritual protection and canonical charge of the Great Church of Christ. The Clergy-Laity Congress is an institutional grand platform, where questions of both Clergy and Laity can be openly aired on issues of current concern in the United States, whether they be of ecclesiastical, parochial, or community life in general. The Clergy-Laity is a place where solutions are sought, views are exchanged, decisions are taken, plans for the future are framed, and the bond of brotherhood is reinforced. Here our unity is affirmed and made firm around the axis of our life, that is the Church, together with Altar and the Eucharist, together with the whole of our Sacramental Life, the Hierarchal structure, and the Church’s tradition and teaching.

The convening of the 39th Clergy-Laity Congress in Washington, DC, the Nation’s Capital and the center of the Federal Government of the great American State, which is “home” for all Americans, has a clear symbolic significance coming from the central theme of the Congress: “Gather My People to My Home.” Beloved, you are coming together in your national “home” – in awe of God, with love and with the best intentions, to carefully consider your broader and fuller gathering into the Spiritual House of your Heavenly Father, that is, the Church. That House is the “home” of all people. As much as it is the home for people like you who know it and recognize it as such, so it is for those who have yet to know it, as well as those who only possess a vague nostalgia for it. The House of our Father has great spaciousness, as the Lord said: In My Father’s House are many mansions, (St. John 14:2). There is room in it not only for us and our children, but for all who come with us. The Table of our Father is laden abundantly for the Supper – not only for us, but for the many.

We Christians have the Lord’s own commandment that we should go forth into the avenues and the alleys, and we should seek out the poor, the hurt, the blind, the maimed, and that we should bring them to the Supper – the Banquet. He has commanded us to run through the highways and the byways to convince, even to compel our fellow human beings to enter in, that His house might be full (St Luke 14:21-24). Every one of our fellow human beings is an icon of God, a person of eternal worth. Christ died for each one, and each one has a place numbered and named for them, waiting in Heaven.

Clearly, our obligation is not confined to philanthropic works, which, as Christians, we are by definition bound to perform for all those in need and whose lives are lacking and whose numbers are increasing geometrically throughout the world in these difficult times. Rather, our chief obligation should be that we love abundantly, manifesting the hope that is within us (I Peter 3:15) to whomever we encounter “outside our home.” There are many who are far from the Church of Christ – deprived of His grace and of the comforting “family” of the Saints. They are spiritually famished, hopelessly struggling and wandering through their dark, dead-end existence and isolation.

But you, beloved, you are so richly blessed by your Heavenly Father! You are the living branches of the Sacred Vine of the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople – the children of the precious yet martyred Ecumenical Patriarchate! You are both the heirs and the envoys of the Holy Greek Orthodox Tradition and of a brilliant Civilization thousands of years old, a civilization that is deeply honored throughout the American Continent. You are able to live out the Mystery of the Church in a communion of love. And what is more, because you have the privilege to live in a great, powerful, free and democratic Country, you have been given the open and free society in which to develop without hindrance your spiritual legacy and the values of your Tradition, not only for the benefit of you and your children, but for the benefit of your fellow citizens as well. We have no doubt that your current activities, and what you will accomplish in the future, are replete with the zeal and the “philotimo” – the special quality of the love honor for self and others that spurs us to succeed – that have always characterized our people. This is confirmed by the magnanimity and the love for your people that you have expressed in the past – in so many diverse ways, and also by the progress that you present in every sector that brings honor to you both as the Omogeneia and as the Body of the Church, a cause for which your countrymen rejoice.

As your Patriarch, and as the Holy and Sacred Synod which surrounds us, we always follow from our vantage point here in the shining, spiritual battlements of the historic Phanar, your progress, successes, and growth in Christ with much affection and a lively interest. Even as we feel a certain modest paternal pride for each and every advance you have made, we continue to pray daily for all of you, that you all may remain healthy and make progress in all your good works. We have appointed His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain as the representative of our Modesty and the Mother Church, and he will convey our warmest prayers and love for the complete success of the work of the Congress in person.

Wherefore we wholeheartedly congratulate you and salute Your Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitans and the Right Reverend Bishops with love. From our heart we bless each and every member of the Clergy-Laity Congress, the entire roster of the clergy and the laity. We also convey our warmest greetings to the Leaders of the great country of the United States. As a father to you all, we urge you in a spirit of unity to give always and everywhere an overflowing good witness of your faith, proving yourselves in all things as the servants of God … by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God (II Corinthians 6:4-7). Beloved and much-cherished brethren and children: the grace and the infinite mercy of the Lord be with you all.

In Constantinople, July 1, 2008

Your beloved brother in Christ
And constant intercessor before the Lord

B A R T H O L O M E W

Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome
And Ecumenical Patriarch

Delivered at the Opening Ceremonies by His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain, Representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the 39th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress

Source:

http://www.goarch.org/en/news/NewsDetail.asp?id=2028

MOSCOW, July 15 (Itar-Tass) - The head of the Cyprus Orthodox Church, Beautified Archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus Chrysostomus II begins his visit to the Russian Orthodox Church on Tuesday. The visit will continue through July 20.

The press service of the Moscow Patriarchate said the visit of Chrysostomus II to Russia is the first since his election as the head off the Cyprus Orthodox Church.

The future bishop was born in the village of Tala near the city of Pafos.

After graduation from secondary school, he went to the Neophyte Monastery as a novice.

He graduated from the lyceum in Pafos on 1963 and was ordained as a dean. In 1968, he studied at the theology faculty of Athens University from which he graduated in 1972. He was ordained as presbyter and raised to the rank of hegumen by Archbishop Macarius III.

He was elected Metropolitan of Pafos in February 1978. The Metropolitan of Pafos acted as the custodian of the Archiepiscopal Throne since September of 2006 after Archbishop Chrysostomus I was invalidated by age, head injury and Alzheimer disease in 2002.

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilis Ilia II has served a holly mass dedicated to celebration of the Mtskhetoba-Svetitskhovloba [the Twelve Apostles' Day] at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta. While delivering His Sunday Preachment Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia asked for protection of Georgia to the Twelve Apostles. Later a mass christening ceremony will be held at the courtyard of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral; as it is known, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II will become a godfather who will be christened.

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With respect to the recently published articles reporting that allegedly His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew believes that it is possible for the Greek Catholics (Uniates) to have a “double union”, in other words, full communion with Rome as well as with Constantinople, the Ecumenical Patriarchate refutes this inaccurate statement and affirms it was never made. The Ecumenical Patriarchate repeats its position that full union in faith is a prerequisite for sacramental communion.

At the Patriarchate, the 5th of July 2008
From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy Synod

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ATHENS – The President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias bestowed upon His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America the Great Cross of the Order of the Phoenix, the highest honorary distinction of the Hellenic Republic. The presentation took place during the Archbishop’s visit to the Presidential Palace, July 1, and his meeting with President Papoulias.

“The presentation of this medal is the least we can do in appreciation of the work you are doing for Hellenism in America,” said Mr. Papoulias. “The Cross and the resurrected phoenix are symbols for the Omogeneia,” the Archbishop said in his response. In the meeting that followed His Eminence and Mr. Papoulias talked about the important work of the Church in America and the progress of the Omogeneia.

Later in the day the Archbishop met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Mr. Theodore Kassimis, who is in charge of issues relating to Greeks abroad, and discussed many issues related to education and youth programs. “We discussed ways of increasing the number of young people who can come and stay at the camp of the Archdiocese in Peloponissos, the Ionian Village. We also explored many other issues regarding Greek Education in the schools,” Mr. Kassimis said in his comments afterwards.

The same evening the Archbishop presided at the Opening Ceremony of the AHEPA Convention, which is being held in Athens this year.

The next day July 2, Archbishop Demetrios met with the Prime Minister of Greece Kostas Karamanlis, in his office at Megaron Maximou. The meeting, which lasted approximately 40 minutes and was cordial and productive, revolved around issues of mutual concern for the Greek government and the Greek Orthodox Church in America. The Archbishop was accompanied by the Vice-Chairman of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Mr. Michael Jaharis.

A little earlier His Eminence was welcomed by the President of the Hellenic Parliament Mr. Dimitris Sioufas who bestowed upon the Archbishop the highest honor of the legislative body, the Gold Medal of the Hellenic Parliament, which bears a representation of the head of Pericles, the founder of the Athenian Democracy.

“We are honoring you on the occasion of your visit to the Hellenic Parliament for all you have contributed and will continue to contribute to the Church, the Omogeneia and Hellenism, for all you have done for the educational and cultural advancement of the ideals of Hellenism in America; we honor your work and we wholeheartedly support it. Be assured that the Hellenic Parliament will always stand by your side,” said Mr. Sioufas during the short ceremony. The Archbishop thanked Mr. Sioufas and the parliamentary body for the honor and for their steadfast support, both now and in the past.

At noon His Eminence visited the Minister of Economy and Finance Mr. George Alogoskoufis and had an hour long fruitful meeting with him and his team. Ways of realizing plans and proposals of interest to both parties were discussed, especially as they relate to the promotion of Hellenic civilization, Greek language and youth programs and particularly that of Ionian Village and its development.

The same afternoon Archbishop Demetrios paid a visit to the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and had a long and productive meeting with the Minister of Education Mr. Evripides Stylianidis. The meeting was held in a very cordial and straightforward atmosphere and was a continuation of their first meeting in New York, last April. All the issues of concern were reviewed and progress was reported on both sides.

Following the meeting Mr. Stylianidis thanked His Eminence and his team for the work and the cooperation under way, in the issues of Hellenic Education and language in the United States. “I feel we have entered a new era of cooperation from which we will all benefit,” he said at the conclusion of the meeting.

Archbishop Demetrios, responding to a question about the meeting, said that he was pleased to see measurable progress and the application of an old Greek saying which translates in English as “the sooner the better.” And he added: “Meetings of this kind offer hope and joy for the advancement and strengthening of the ideals of Hellenism and Orthodoxy.”

Today Archbishop Demetrios visited with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Dora Bakoyannis and later hosted a luncheon for directors of Athens newspapers and other media organizations. In the evening the Archdiocesan Youth Choir, which the Archbishop founded in 2000 in New York, gave an exquisite concert performance at the Zappeion Megaron. The concert which was offered for the benefit of the philanthropic organization ELPIDA, Foundation for the Child and the Family, was attended by many distinguished personalities of Athens including Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyannis, Minister of Employment and Social Protection Fanny Palli Petralia and Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Protection Sophia Kalantzakos.

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The newly elected committee of the Armenian Church University Students’ Association (ACUSA) attended the Holy Mass held in the Saint Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya on July 6. The committee convened its first ever meeting with His Holiness Aram I after the Holy Mass. The Association’s spiritual advisor Rev. Father Mesrob Sarkissian presented the members of the new committee to His Holiness and briefed the Pontiff on the activities organized by the previous committee, including public and non-public events, thanking His Holiness for his fatherly support to ACUSA. His Holiness welcomed the new committee and made several recommendations for the future, stressing in particular the concepts of responsibility and accountability. The ACUSA annual general assembly was held on June 28. The meeting elected Asdghig Djamboulian, Gacia Kouyoumdjian, Ardag Manoukian, Nazeli Kandaharian and Razmig Mikayelian as members of the new committee.

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Fifty percent of the success of any conference can be attributed to its organizers being excited by the chosen theme. One can state unequivocally that the organizers of the conference held from June 20-21 at the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin in Glen Cove, NY, were eager to answer the question: "How can the women serve the Church in today's world and what preconceived notions hinder such service?"

The Conference opened with a greeting from His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, in which the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia pointed to the importance of appreciating the role and service of women in the Orthodox Church. Women were the ones who historically, beginning with the Holy Myrrh-bearers and Equal-to-the-Apostles, bore a significant burden of service to the Church, whether on the kliros, the sisterhood, parish councils and schools, hospitals, nursing homes or scholarly conferences.

Professor Vera Shevtsoff of Smith College spoke on the topic of the laudation by women of the Most-Holy Mother of God in Russia. SI Snesareva, who corresponded with St Ignatius (Brianchaninov) in the 19th century during a period of aggressive nihilism, understood how the biography of the Most-Holy Mother of God should be composed; that it should be palatable to her contemporaries. Later, under the reign of atheism, it was women who preserved and passed on the stories of the origins and miracles of the many icons of the Most-Holy Mother of God.

Professor Marina V Ledkovsky of Columbia University gave a speech on her experiences working with the deans of St Vladimir's Seminary, Fr. George Florovsky and Fr Alexander Schmemman, who, while admiring the external forms of church customs, paid special attention to preserving their essence. Prof. Ledkovsky shared her thoughts on the fact that often, women might find the observance of traditions as a hindrance in liturgical life. For example, on Great Saturday, women must often tend to housework at the expense of attending divine services.

Eugenia Temidis, a researcher of Orthodox liturgical singing, read a lecture on St Cassia (9th century), a defender of the veneration of icons, whose spiritual life is forever remembered during the divine services of Passion Week and the Nativity of Christ. Elaborating on the "liturgical" image of St Cassia through her poetical works, written in the classical style, the speaker painted a convincing, living image of a person who lived an intense spiritual and intellectual life.

The central event of the conference was the speech of Archimandrite Robert Taft, Professor of Eastern Liturgy at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, the world's leading specialist in the Orthodox liturgy. Reconstructing the place of women in the church life of Byzantium, Fr Robert noted that until the 10th century, one finds references to "deaconesses" as an institution. In ancient times, women were allowed to administer the Holy Gifts to others. Limitations for women in connection with church service must be viewed in context with general restrictions placed not only upon the laity but even upon the emperor himself. In his speech, which was exceptionally respectful to the Orthodox Church, Fr Robert stressed that the Church is first of all a Christian community, and not an association of clerics. The organized service of women could very much help today's world, which suffers greatly from its loss of faith.

A more mixed reaction was elicited by a serious theological examination by Nun Vassa (Larin), a student of Prof. Taft, on ecclesiastical rules on the "impure" times in a woman's life. Sister Vassa's bold presentation posed the question: "is a person morally responsible for the period of cleansing, and to what extent does the corresponding prohibition from participation in liturgical life draw one closer to God?"

Professor Nadieszda Kizenko of SUNY Albany spoke on the concept of confession for women in Tsarist Russia, painting a picture of harsh social injustice, helping to grasp a sober, Orthodox attitude towards repentance, and also to understand that one's way of life's inseparable from one's sinfulness.

Natalia Ermolaev, doctoral candidate at Columbia University, delivered a lecture on the social service of women, which proved a revelation for many listeners. They learned that in our time there are Orthodox Christians who actively follow the testaments of the Savior and care for "these little ones" (Matthew 10:42). In North America there are a number of Orthodox societies formed to help the needy, among which is the renowned International Orthodox Christian Charities (www.iocc.org). Addressing the danger of feminism, the speaker, referring to the Orthodox theologian Elizabeth Behr-Sigal, explained that in feminism, women lock themselves into their own midst, abandoning their calling to work for humanity at large.

Each day of the gathering began with morning and ended with evening prayers. The Diocesan Holy Myrrh-bearer's Women's Choir, under the direction of Eugenia Temidis, sang all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy on the feast day of All Saints in English for the first time. It is important to note the efforts of the organizers of the Conference: Fr Alexander Antchoutine, the Rector of Intercession Church; Catherine Straut; Catherine Mickle; and Natalia Fekula, along with all the parishioners, who warmly welcomed the conferees.

The most valuable part of the Conference were the fruitful discussions on uncomfortable matters such as the ordination of women, the degree of their participation in the conciliar life of the Church, the relevance of the 16th-century compendium "Domostroy," etc. The Conference's two days showed that in addition to the fifty-percent that the organizers' enthusiasm contributed to its success, another 45 percent or so was attributable to the participation of the conferees. The Conference, without reaching a final conclusion on the questions, still illuminated the problems addressed, which began a dialog. This was a clear example of the striving of the people of God towards conciliarity, and was a sign of a new period in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, which moves from the preservation of Holy Tradition as its main goal to developing its meaning.

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Moscow, July 10, Interfax - Patriarch Alexy II has stated that attempts to sow discord between Russian and Georgian people are vain.

"Today relations between the two countries are indeed far from centuries-old love and friendship traditional for Russian and Georgian peoples. Our nations are bound up with vicinity, unity of faith, allied cultures, shared historical destiny and human cordiality," Alexy II said in his response letter to Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia.

Patriarch Alexy is convinced that "only foes of Orthodoxy striving to achieve their short-term and selfish aims wish to sow discord between Georgians and Russians, to oppose them to each other."

"But no one will ever succeed in it. We firmly believe there is no force in the world that can impede friendship between our peoples. It is based on spiritual and prayerful relations of two sister Churches, which can give a worthy example for inter-state cooperation between Russia and Georgia," the letter is quoted as saying by the official website of the Russian Church.

Patriarch Alexy also believes that "the majority of Georgian and Russian people are advocates of peace and good neighborly relations and their efforts will be fruitful."

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Moscow, July 8, Interfax - The Moscow Patriarchate has expressed concern about the Anglican Synod's decision to ordain women.

"This decision is of course painful in the inter-Christian dialogue, as it is further alienating the Anglican community from the Apostolic tradition," Priest Igor Vyzhanov, secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, said in an interview with Interfax-Religion on Tuesday.

Father Igor also said that the Anglican Synod's decision to ordain women "is a very painful blow on the unity of the Anglican community, as it is worsening a split among the Anglicans."

"The decision was predictable because the tendency of total liberalization unfortunately dominates in many Christian Churches, including the Anglican community," he said.

In the late 19th - early 20th century the Orthodox saw the Anglican Church as "the nearest amongst the western Christian Churches," he said. "A very serious dialogue was underway with it in a hope that good relations between the Orthodox and Anglicans would have good prospects," Father Igor said.

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Moscow, July 9, Interfax - The Moscow Patriarchate says that the present authorities should denounce the communist regime, both in word and practice. "The denouncement of communism was begin in 1990s, but we failed to see it through," Fr. Georgy Ryabykh, the acting secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, told Interfax-Religion Wednesday.

According to the priest, we need to continue denouncing communism today: "We have to honour memory of repression victims and their fortitude, open memorials, return cities and streets their original names, take Soviet symbols away from public buildings, remove monuments to bloody leaders from the central squares of Russian cities and the cemetery from the Kremlin wall."

"The only monuments that should stay intact are monuments related to the Great Patriotic War and scientific and cultural achievements of people during the Soviet era," Fr. Georgy said and called upon "avoiding the extremities of some Baltic countries." He stressed that it was crucial to reassess the Soviet past in view of the coming 90th anniversary of shooting the Imperial family.

"For some reason, we are avoiding to give a clear moral estimation of this evil act. But this estimation is needed and should be voiced in public actions and statements. Denouncement of this crime and recognizing the feat committed by the Tsar family would resist any revolutionary intentions in the national mind," the priest said. According to him, "patience and commitment of the Tsar family in following the evangelical commandments to the extent of sacrificing their lives brings a strong moral charge of patriotism and commitment to our Homeland."

"It would be a mistake to miss it in upbringing of a Russian generation," Fr. Georgy said. "If we wait to denounce the overthrow of lawful authority, we are risking to see this experiment repeated with the regard to the existing lawful authorities," he said.

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4914

Moscow, July 9, Interfax - Monday decision of the Church of England General Synod to consecrate women bishops affects Orthodox-Anglican relations, the Russian Church has stated.

"The so-called "women priesthood" is one of the stumbling blocks in the dialogue between Anglicans and Orthodox. "Women episcopacy" will become another one. It will set Anglican community aside of the Orthodox Church even more," head of the Russian Church representation to the European Institutions Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria told an Interfax-Religion correspondent.

According to Bishop Hilarion, the Russian Church interprets this step "as the Anglican community's next concession to the modern secular standards demanding to equal woman to man in every aspect."

"Centuries-old tradition of Christian Church is denied for political correctness once again," the interviewee of the agency said.

He reminded that the Orthodox Church has always disapproved of ordaining women practiced by the Anglican community "as such ordination contradicts original Church tradition ascending to apostles and Christ."

Bishop Hilarion is surprised that such a decision was adopted on the eve of the Lambeth Conference - a decennial meeting of Anglican bishops from all around the world to be held in London from July 19 to August 4.

"The conference has invited Orthodox observers and they will have a chance to express their opinion on the processes underway in the Anglican community," the bishop said as the Moscow Patriarchate has appointed him an observer to the Lambeth Conference.

He wonders if "it makes sense for Orthodox observers to participate in a forum of the Church that takes decisions invariably contradicting Orthodox ecclesiology."

"And to what extent bilateral Orthodox-Anglican is rational in such a situation. I suppose leaders of local Orthodox Churches should consider these questions seriously again," the Russian Church representative said.

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Istanbul (AsiaNews) - Ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew I will lead the delegation to Constantinople for the celebrations of the 1020 years of the Christianisation of the Russians of Kiev. The decision satisfies both the invitation of the patriarch of Moscow, Alexy II, to send a delegation from the ecumenical patriarchate, and that of Ukrainian president Victor Yushchenko, who asked Bartholomew I to provide over the festivities.

A statement from Constantinople recalls that "the Mother Church [Constantinople] . . . led the Ukrainian people toward baptism in Christ, [and] has decided to send its own delegation under the leadership of the ecumenical patriarch, to the celebrations that will take place from July 23rd to the 25th ".

With this gesture, Constantinople intends to seize the occasion to offer its own contribution to smoothing over the tensions within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, divided between Russians and Ukrainians. Because of authoritarianism and the impact of national contrasts, Ukraine sees its own Christian world divided into three churches.

There is a "uniate" church of the Greek-Byzantine rite. In 1695, tired of the overweening PolishChurch and afraid of the tsarist Russian Church [1], since Constantinople had been weakened under Ottoman rule, it placed itself under the protection of the patriarch of the West, the pope of Rome. It is worth noting that the region had no concept of the schism between West and East.

After the fall of the Soviet empire, in 1991 the Ukrainian Orthodox Church proclaimed its autonomy from Moscow, and under the guidance of Filaret it sought its own recognition in the Orthodox world.

Finally, there is the flock of Orthodox faithful of Russian origin, who have remained faithful to Moscow.

Constantinople has always tried to oppose the nationalist tendencies of these churches, and to moderate the tensions within the Orthodox world, struck - according to an expression of Bartholomew I - "by the modern heresy of nationalism". For this reason, the ecumenical patriarch favours meeting and talking with everyone, even with the "uniates", often considered an obstacle to ecumenism.

Bartholomew I himself, in a highly significant symbolic gesture, gave a chalice to the new Greek Catholic bishop of Athens, Bishop Salachas. "The chalice of our shared communion", he commented, "must be our point of reference".

An Orthodox wise man once said: "In the Christian world, the spirit of the scribes prevails over that of Christ toward the Samaritan woman . . . because we have given more importance to defining ourselves as Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant, instead of being Christians before all else".

Bartholomew's decision to preside over the celebrations is highly criticised in Orthodox circles in Moscow. The agency Interfax launched a few days ago a series of articles highly critical of Constantinople. According to some Orthodox priests, no invitation was issued to Bartholomew I by Alexy II; according to some historians, Bartholomew's decision is even "a hostile act against Russia".

[1] The Russian Church was elevated to the status of patriarchate in the 16th century, by Constantinople.

Source:

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=12692&geo=1&size=A

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Residents here spend their days piling debris outside their ruined homes. One woman who lost everything only cared about not finding her favorite picture of her daughter. "This is a vibrant community, which has been changed forever. People try to go about their daily lives and they can't deal with a lot of what's hitting them emotionally right now," says Father Chris Flesoras, a member of International Orthodox Christian Charities' (IOCC) Emergency Response Network, known as the "Orthodox Frontline," which is providing trauma counseling and coordinating resources with other charities on the scene.

IOCC's US Program dispatched the Frontline team to Iowa after a week of torrential rains caused the worst flooding to hit the Midwest in 15 years. Twenty-four people perished and more than 40,000 had to evacuate their homes in what is being described as the largest disaster since Katrina.This Frontline team, which includes Orthodox clergy from California and Georgia, arrived in Des Moines and quickly went to work building a network of contacts and resources within the Orthodox community, various Catholic charities, and local hospitals.

Father Vasile Bitere, an IOCC Frontliner from Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Augusta, Georgia, says that while "Des Moines residents were overwhelmed by the damage, what affected them more was the stress of repeating history. In 1993 the city was devastated by massive flooding."

The Frontline team then made their way to Cedar Rapids, which sustained much more damage. Local papers reported that of the 4,000 damaged homes, 2,000 were condemned.

The team met with the Orthodox community including clergy and parishioners from St. John the Baptist and St. George, and then on to the St. Raphael mission in Iowa City. While the churches did not sustain damage, some parishioners lost homes and possessions.

The IOCC team organized a pan Orthodox service of supplication to the Theotokos and performed stress management debriefings. "We offered them our ministry of presence," says Father Chris, who is pastor of St. Anna Orthodox Church in Roseville, California. "And we worked to link people with the resources we had gathered from different charities." Some of the help offered was as basic as filling out FEMA disaster claims and informing the survivors of other assistance options.

IOCC is also providing cash grants to Orthodox parishioners who have sustained damage and, and is partnering with Catholic Charities to reach out to the community at large. The Frontline team will make their final report to IOCC senior executives, who will then determine resources available for future assistance.

"This is going to be a long recovery process," says Frontliner Father Bob Fox, of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Northridge, California, "and people will experience a crisis of faith along with the day to day hardship of trying to recover homes and businesses."

To offer financial assistance to IOCC for their relief work in the Midwest call the IOCC 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.

Source:

http://oca.org/News.asp?ID=1579&SID=19

His Holiness Aram I received the General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Gerges Saleh, in Antelias on July 2. Saleh was accompanied by the directors of different departments of MECC.

The General Secretary and the directors of the departments briefed His Holiness on the Council’s activities and projects. Listening to the reports of various MECC officials, His Holiness made several recommendations with respect to cutting certain projects short and prioritizing some others.

The Ukrainian presidential secretariat deputy head Yury Bogutsky said at a briefing the day before that Patriarch Alexy had not give a final response whether he would arrive in Kiev and the Synod was to decide if Alexy II or "a representative delegation" would come to the Ukrainian capital. Meanwhile, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has already confirmed his intention to visit Kiev, according to Bogutsky, on invitation of Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko and Patriarch Alexy II.

The Moscow Patriarchate "is surprised" with such a statement. "Since February, when Viktor Yushchenko invited Patriarch Alexy II to visit Ukraine and participate in the 1020th anniversary of Russia's Baptism, the Russian Orthodox primate has confirmed his intention to see Ukrainian flock more than once," a secretary for inter-Orthodox relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Nikolay Balashov told the Interfax-Religion on Friday.

He reminded that Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine addressed the same request to the patriarch.

Besides, according to Fr. Nikolay, "Alexy II confirmed his intention to visit Kiev in July (and it wasn't even questioned by either party) during his conversation with Yury Bogutsky as the Patriarch met with him on Yushchenko's personal request."

"The possibility of inviting personally Patriarch of Constantinople to Kiev was also discussed at the meeting, so Bogutsky knows pretty well that the Russian Church primate didn't invite Bartholomew I to Kiev," the interviewee of the agency noted.

He also didn't confirm the information Bogutsky voiced earlier that the patriarchs of AlexandriaJerusalem were to visit Kiev. According to Fr. Nikolay, primates of the Alexandrian and Jerusalem Churches informed that their representatives would come to Kiev on Alexy II's invitation.

Besides, the Moscow Patriarchate representative is concerned with Bogutsky's statement that Yushchenko intends to initiate discussions on establishing the Ukrainian Local Orthodox Church.

Fr. Nikolay agrees with the Ukrainian state's representative that steps to church unity should keep "within the rules of canonical Orthodoxy." At the same time the priest doubts if it is canonically valid that a secular state "establishes the one Orthodox Church," and the opinion of the Ukrainian presidential secretariat deputy head as the latter believes that the process "should be approved by hierarchs" of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, "the Kiev Patriarchate" and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.

"However, in compliance with canonical requirements, it's impossible to compare canonical and recognized as such by the entire Orthodox world the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to non-canonical Ukrainian Autocephalous Church and moreover to "the Kiev Patriarchate," headed by the person alienated from the Orthodox Church," the interviewee of the agency noted.

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http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4900

Moscow, July 4, Interfax - The intent of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to visit Ukraine without prior consent of Patriarch Alexy II shows his full disregard of the Russian Church, Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for Relations with the Armed Forces, says.

"Such attitude of Constantinople patriarchs to canons, history, and this country is shameless. Nothing can explain it to Russians. May be it is some inner irritation which drowns historical gratitude which they should feel," Fr. Dimitry said Friday to Interfax-Religion.

"We feel completely ignored - there is no canons, no Russian Patriarch, and no Russian Church," Fr. Dimitry said.

This is how he commented the intent of Bartholomew I to attend the celebration of 1020th anniversary of Baptism of Russia in Ukraine by the invitation of Victor Yushenko but without the relevant invitation by Alexy II.

According to Fr. Dimitry, this invitation of Bartholomew I to Ukraine and attempts to establish the independent of Moscow Orthodox Church in this country were the "result of consultations by Yushchenko's allies who helped him to come to power and hold it."

"This is one segment of the global politics which is aimed at making troubles for Russia," Fr. Dimitry said.

Commenting prior statements and actions of some members of Constantinople Patriarchate aimed at supporting the Ukrainian church separatists, Fr. Dimitry said, "The fact that the American Ambassador in Ukraine was prohibited to go to Moscow Patriarchate churches, proves that the USA Administration has direct relation to all the above. It is quite evident, who they support."

According to Fr. Dimitry, "the Constantinople Church and the Ellada Church owe to tens of thousands Russian people who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of Greeks."

"Therefore, this dislike to Russians and Russia which we now feel from Greeks (Greeks are a majority of believers and clergy of the Constantinople Church - IF) is very regrettable."

According to Fr. Dimitry, the existence of ancient Greek Patriarchates has for centuries "depended on the Russian empire." "If we come to Greek Athos, we see Russian icons and Russian chandeliers. The Simonopetra Monastery restoration was paid by Russian money," Fr. Dimitry said.

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4898

Several thousand Serbs rallied in Gazimestan to attend the service, with intensified police and KFOR patrols are securing the event. The service dedicated to the souls of Serbia's fallen soldiers more than 600 years ago was also held in the Church of Sv. Marko in Belgrade.

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His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, together with His Eminence Alexandros Metropolitan of Nigeria and His Grace Damaskinos Bishop of Ghana, inaugurated the new Church of St Nicholas on June 29^th

This is a significant event both for the few Greeks who still live in Ghana as well as for the local inhabitants whom the Patriarch met and gave them a piece of bread, symbolically, as is the custom in the region, as a token of honour, friendship and love.

During the inauguration of the Church, Mr Tsakos announced that already a start had been made on the study for the creation of a community and medical Centre, to be named “St Nicholas” which will be funded by the “Maria Tsakos Institute”.

His Beatitude thanked Mr Panayiotis Tsakos and the Greek Sailors, for their financial contribution towards the completion of the work. Awarding him the Cross of St Mark as a token of gratitude from the Alexandria n Church, he spoke of the passion of Greeks who know no limitations of labour and effort when they are to build their church even in one of the most distant corners of the earth.

Our African brothers and sisters also participated in their national dress, with the sounds of drums, by welcoming both the Venerable Primate of the Church of A l e x a n d r i a and the inauguration, thereby presenting a unique image of the meeting of Greek Orthodox tradition with African culture.

Present at these Liturgical and festive events were the Ambassador of Greece Mr Haralambos Dafaranos, representatives of the country’s officials, as well as Mr Theophilos Bizanios, representative of the shipping group “AEGEAN BUNKERING”, owned by Mr N. Melissanidis, which is situated in the area and is responsible for shipping trading and transporting petroleum.

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The 13^th anniversary of His Holiness Aram I’s consecration and enthronement was celebrated in Antelias during the Holy Mass held on Sunday on the occasion of the Feast of Vartavar. Members of the Cilician Brotherhood recited prayers and read sections from the Holy Bible wishing the Pontiff a long and fruitful service for the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

Bishop Norayr Ashekian officiated the Mass. In his sermon, the Bishop upheld His Holiness’ dedication and courage as a spiritual leader. The Mass was followed by a special event in the hall of the Veharan to mark the 13^th anniversary of the Pontiff’s consecration. Deacon Mourad Tchorbadjian read an address on behalf of the Seminary’s management, staff and students, congratulating His Holiness on his anniversary. Mrs. Haygoush Meguerditchian also congratulated His Holiness on behalf of Sister Azadouhi Manougian’s prayer group. Addressing the Pontiff, who she described as “committed to our nation’s Christian education”, Mrs. Meguerditchian said: “Your Holiness, you announced this year to be the Year of Christian Education to remind us all that the Church is the source of our nation’s true spiritual education. Spiritually we were all born in the basin of this Church and we acknowledge it as our true mother. And as the foremost Servant of this holy house, you have your arms widespread to protect us from all kinds of misguiding tides. And here we are, a group of spiritual sisters who have come together in the name of Christ, proud of our Church’s and nation’s values and ready to voluntarily serve the Church through the Catholicosate of Cilicia.”

The group of sisters had prepared a special pontifical garment in honor of His Holiness.

His Holiness expressed his gratitude for the well-wishes made to his benefit. He credited the Catholicosate of Cilicia for the progress and the projects achieved in the years past. He pointed out that it is through the Catholicosate of Cilicia “that we became what we became and were able to realize our achievements as Catholicos in the last 13 years. This path is the path of service, through which we will all walk whatever our status, Catholicos, a member of the Cilician Brotherhood, or believers.” His Holiness praised sister Azadouhi Manougian and her group of spiritual sisters and their beautiful idea of presenting a souvenir to him. His Holiness also spoke about the importance of spiritual education under the auspices of the Church. “You became the voice of the people today, because you are the church, to the service of which we are destined as clergy,” said the Catholicos. After “Cilicia” and “I Veh Partsants” songs, His Holiness blessed those present with “Bahbanitch”. The faithful then congratulated His Holiness and presented their well-wishes to him through Atchahampouyr.

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On 29 June 2008, the day when the Russian Orthodox Church commemorates All Saints who shone forth in the Land of Russia, the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church completed its work taking part in which were one hundred and eighty-three archpastors from twenty countries. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia officiated at the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Metropolitan Philaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of Al Belarus, read out the Message of the Blessed Bishops' Council to the clergy, monastics and all faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Russian President Medvedev greeted His Holiness the Patriarch after the festive prayer service. He congratulated all those present with the beginning of the celebration of the 1020^th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia and underscored that people in our country had actively discussed the work of the Council. He believes it to be a positive consequence of the revival of the Church.

The head of the Russian State remarked that thanks to the Orthodox faith Russian culture acquired Biblical values on which the system of moral ideals common for our country and Europe is built.

'The celebration of the millennium of the Baptism of Russia was a momentous event for our country. Two decades that followed was a time when Orthodoxy flourished. Not only church buildings were restored, but also the integrity of the Church,' President Medvedev said and handed over to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church a part of the robe of the Most Holy Mother of God, a particle of the relics of St. Prince Vladimir, and a particle of the relics of St. John the Baptist that were kept in the museums of the Moscow Kremlin.

The return of these holy shrines before which many of our pious predecessors prayed marks the restoration of good relations between Church and State, His Holiness said. – These shrines would serve to the spiritual and moral revival of the Russian people.

His Holiness told all those present about the Bishops' Council and added that it was the first time that the hierarchs of the Russian Church Abroad took part in it after the Act of Canonical Communion was signed.

The festive divine service concluded the work of the Bishops' Council and began celebration of the 1020^th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia. His Holiness the Patriarch wished the archpastors, pastors, monastics and all Orthodox Christians to bring forth the joy of our unity: May you be inspired by the words we sang today, 'Holy Russia, keep the Orthodox faith!'

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Moscow, June 30, Interfax - State borders shouldn't impede the unity of the former Kievan Russia, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia believes.

"Today peoples of historical Russia live have new federal status, but their unity in faith should be steadfast," Alexy II said on Saturday speaking at a ceremony dedicated to the 1020th anniversary of Russia's Baptism in State Kremlin Palace of Congresses.

He urged the nations of three states to remember that "together we are invincible: communion, mutual help and fraternal support will lead us to joint future."

"I am convinced that state borders on the map of historical Russia do not impede our church unity," the Patriarch said.

According to him, Kiev is still "historically and spiritually important for the entire Holy Russia" as it remains a spiritual center for nations united by "Orthodox faith, Orthodox culture, Orthodox lifestyle, and Orthodox moral and social ideals."

"It means that we cannot fail to be together, only if we won't give up our freedom for temporary goods," the Russian Orthodox primate believes.

According to him, thanks to Baptism, Russia "gained strength to set up one powerful state rich not only in lands and properties, but also in the great Orthodox culture."

The Patriarch urged all Orthodox believers of Russia, Ukraine and Byelorussia "to stick to peace and unity based on historical faith and sincere love."

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http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4875

Moscow, June 30, Interfax - The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on Saturday dismissed Bishop Diomid of Chukotka and bared him from service, Interfax-Religion was told at the Moscow Patriarchate.

The Holy Synod met in the framework of the Bishops Council of the Russian Orthodox Church that on Friday defrocked the bishop for his disobedience to his superiors.

Bishop Diomid has repeatedly made statements in the past year and a half criticizing Patriarch Alexy II and other leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church and calling for the self-isolation of the Church. He has also called for the rejection of any dialogue with the authorities, other religions, as well as the rejection of missionary activity among young people.

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http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4873

Moscow, June 30, Interfax - President Dmitry Medvedev has announced that the holy relics kept at the Moscow Kremlin Museum will be handed over to the Russian Orthodox Church.

"Among them are relics of inestimable value - part of the robe of the Holy Virgin and relics of Prince Vladimir - St.Vladimir, who baptized Russia," Medvedev said in the Christ the Savor Cathedral in Moscow on Sunday.

"We understand how important this act is for believers and for the whole of the Orthodox world," he said.

Parts of the sacred relics of John the Baptist, of St.Basil and other saints were handed over to the Russian Orthodox Church in a ceremony attended by the president. Medvedev had earlier arrived at the Christ the Savior Cathedral to attend a solemn service on the occasion of the end of the Bishop's Council meeting and the beginning of festivities to mark 1020 years since Russia adopted Christianity.

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http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4870