Russian Orthodox mission has first service in Belfast
1 Comments Published by OBL on Tuesday, December 30 at 6:15 PM.
The liturgy took place on Saturday, December 20, in the St George's church in the city centre, made available by the Church of Ireland.
It was well-attended by mostly Russians and a number of local Orthodox. After the liturgy Fr George performed the first Russian baptism service in Belfast.
The events were the fruits of more than a year of planning and preparation.
Organisers say this was done to begin serving the spiritual needs of the Russian-speaking community in the Belfast area. The Russian Orthodox mission in Belfast welcomes both Russian-speaking immigrants and others interested in the Orthodox Christian Tradition. The next liturgy is planned for January 24.
The Serbian Orthodox Church
to her spiritual children at Christmas, 2008
PAVLE
By the Grace of God
Orthodox Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch, with all the Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church to all the clergy, monastics, and all the sons and daughters of our Holy Church: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, with the joyous Christmas greeting:
Peace from God! Christ is Born!
Every year, dear spiritual children, and so it is this year as well, we anticipate and welcome Christmas, the birthday of the Son of God, with joy, faith, hope and love. Why? Because it is in this event that the "fullness of time" was fulfilled, and so God the Father, "gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). This event is the fulfillment of all cosmological and historical events: everything that had happened in God's creation and mankind's history received in that day "which the Lord had made" its fulfillment and realization. The entry of God into the innermost part of life represents, also, a fulfillment of all of mankind's deepest yearnings as attested and proclaimed in all earthly nations before the birth of Christ. With His birth, the light of the knowledge of God shone forth. In that Divine light the meaning of the world, nature, and the ultimate goal of man's existence and the existence of all creatures, both visible and invisible, was revealed to us.
In Christ God, Whom we in the Creed confess as "the Only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made; being of one essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made, Who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and became man..." - the victory has been realized once and for all over imperfection, sin and death. With the manifestation of the fullness of His Divinity and His unification with human nature, man's fullness and perfection has also been realized. Without mingling or change, the undivided unity and community of the divine and human natures in the God-man Jesus Christ bestows upon the world and man humanity, through the indestructible truth and the eternal, Divine-human community which is God's Church.
From the day of Christ's birth the world is not nor can it ever be that which it was before. Man's nature and the world, filled with the yeast of eternal Life, received the potential to be a new man, a new heaven and a new earth, a new eternal mankind. This is why Christ was the only one Who could say these words: "Behold, I create everything new" (cf. Rev. 21:5). He, as "the Only new under the sun," eternally renews everything that exists; His Light enlightens everyone and everything, enlightening every man that comes into the world (cf. John 1:9).
As such, Christ is the "fullness of the Law and Prophets" as He Himself said: "I did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it." (Matthew 5:17) This word - "to fulfill" - has dual meaning: to accomplish, on the one hand, and to give to the world fullness and perfection, on the other hand, so that we humans and the world may be filled and grow in Him until, as the divinely wise Apostle Paul says: "we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
It is on this all encompassing truth about the Person Christ, as the beginning and the endlessness of all that exists, that everyday life is founded, and which enlightens man's way of life and behavior. This is why we always come back to the Nativity of the God-child, His Theanthropic work, with which we enlighten our own works and our relationship with each other, with God and with His creation.
With His birth as a man, the holiness of every birth and of all life is affirmed. It is fearful to imagine - let alone to accept and legalize as something normal - that defiling attitude towards the sanctity of life which would allow that even the Mother of God could be a child killer, just as are many contemporary women who kill their offspring in their wombs. Those mothers who kill their children become not only child murderers, but also God murderers, since every human being is a God-bearer and Christ-bearer. We will mention only one distressing and sad example of one mother who gave birth to a few daughters, and together with her husband wanted to have a son. When she conceived again, because the doctor wrongly determined that she was carrying another girl, she underwent an abortion, despite the pleas of her husband and others. It was discovered after the fact-oh, how heartrending-that she was carrying two boys, twins! What then, can comfort and heal this unfortunate mother's deep wound?! May our Lord have mercy upon her and all other child destroying mothers who, in their selfishness or some similar reason, sacrifice their most holy gift from God. Don't they turn the mother's womb - that workshop of life - into a shop of death and nothingness!
The selfishness and self-indulgence of man, such as that cited above, leads to the endangerment and misuse of the very nature into which we are born and live. As man lives and breathes with love, likewise all creatures and all nature's elements need mercy, love and goodness: the water which we drink, the air that we breathe, the flowers and trees in the field, the fish in the sea, the beasts in the mountains, the domestic animals - all yearn for mercy, love and goodness. If we misuse any part of creation or infect and pollute it - it becomes alienated, falls apart and disintegrates, and retaliates against its abusers. In this way the God-given order is broken : water loses its healthiness, and so does the earth, and with it the earthly fruits are polluted, and in turn they contaminate those who consume them - man and other living beings. The climate is changing, the ice is melting in the North Pole, the change of seasons is diminishing; the rising heat is preparing the globe to be one day, God forbid, consumed in fire.
Together with this, contemporary man, in conquering with his technology far-flung territories, imperils the living space of numerous other beings. Instead of turning to the inner spiritual dimensions which are limitless and conquering those territories which endanger no one, but rather which give fullness to all things, opening up inexpressible horizons of growth and perfection - instead, man turns to that which is by it's very nature limited and transient, and thus himself becomes limited and crippled. The real and true fullness of all things is precisely the Theanthropic Person of Christ in Whom is the "plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God" (Ephesians 3:9). When "Christ enters into our hearts through faith," only then can we be "rooted and grounded in love...comprehending with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:17-19).
Aside from this, today's mankind is very concerned with the beginning of a severe economic crisis. More frequently than not, it is overlooked that the crisis is not only economic, but rather its nature is more complex and deeper. Is it no wonder that it is manifested first of all among the wealthiest: the most frightened are those who are the most affluent. Their unquenchable greed for money and enjoyment, their over-consumption of natural and material goods, produces an imbalance in human relationships - the relationship towards the deepest mysteries of life and the relationship towards the entire creation. This means that behind the economic crisis is hidden a spiritual and moral crisis, and with that a crisis of all of mankind. It has been rightly stated that the economic crisis is connected with political calamity; as is the disregard for international rights and the ignoring of the United Nations Charter on human rights - as well as the extinguishing of justice in general, engenders a political crisis, and this in turn engenders economic and financial chaos. The law and justice, both God's and man's, are ignored because of lust for power and economic interest. The consequences of placing the economic and global interests of the world's mighty ones above justice and human rights are best seen in the tragic situation of our country and of the Serbian people, as well as other countries and peoples in the modern world.
The new hedonistic-utilitarian myths, today placed on the pedestal of divinity and propagated with all the modern means, are endangering most of all those most innocent and least able to repel them: children and youth. Drugs and immorality, the narrowing of life to instinct and the satisfaction of carnal lusts, the desire of the eye and of vanity (cf. 1 John 2:16), are the fruit of these ancient myths dressed in new and eye-catching clothing.
In the midst of all this we Christians, as before and as always, "wait for Christ, and not better times" (St. Nicholai of Zicha); we wait for Him Who is "the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow." We always go back to Him - "to a Young Child, the pre-eternal God," as the absolute measure and criterion of everything that happened and happens in all of human history. In Him as God's Son and Man's Son, as perfect God and perfect man "we have known and believed the love that God has for us" (1 John 4:16). Since God appeared to us with His Birth and lived with us, we know that "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this..." (1 John 4:16-17), and with "this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also" (1 John 4:21).
In the name of such a God Who is Love, and in the name of such a Love to which all peoples and nations are called, we greet you all, dear spiritual children - most especially you in the suffering Kosovo and Metohija and throughout the world, with the greeting of God's truth, justice and eternal love:
PEACE FROM GOD - CHRIST IS BORN!
And may the crown of the goodness of the new year of our Lord be blessed!
Given at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade, at Christmas, 2008.
Your prayerful intercessors before the Divine Christ-Child:
Archbishop of Pec,
Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and
Serbian Patriarch PAVLE
Metropolitan of Zagreb and Ljubljana JOVAN
Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Coastlands AMPHILOHIJE
Metropolitan of Midwestern America CHRISTOPHER
Metropolitan of Dabro-Bosna NIKOLAJ
Bishop of Sabac-Valjevo LAVRENTIJE
Bishop of Nis IRINEJ
Bishop of Zvornik-Tuzla VASILIJE
Bishop of Srem VASILIJE
Bishop of Banja Luka JEFREM
Bishop of Budim LUKIJAN
Bishop of Canada GEORGIJE
Bishop of Banat NIKANOR
Bishop for America and Canada (New Gracanica Metropolitanate) LONGIN
Bishop of Eastern America MITROPHAN
Bishop of Zica CHRYSOSTOM
Bishop of Backa IRINEJ
Bishop of Great Britain and Scandinavia DOSITEJ
Bishop of Ras and Prizren ARTEMIJE
Retired Bishop of Zahumlje and Hercegovina ATANASIJE
Bishop of Bihac and Petrovac CHRYSOSTOM
Bishop of Osijek and Baranja LUKIJAN
Bishop of Central Europe CONSTANTINE
Bishop of Western Europe LUKA
Bishop of Timok JUSTIN
Bishop of Vranje PAHOMIJE
Bishop of Sumadija JOVAN
Bishop of Slavonia SAVA
Bishop of Branicevo IGNATIJE
Bishop of Milesevo FILARET
Bishop of Dalmatia FOTIJE
Bishop of Budimlje and Niksic JOANIKIJE
Bishop of Zahumlje and Hercegovina GRIGORIJE
Bishop of Valjevo MILUTIN
Bishop of Western America MAXIM
Bishop of Gornji Karlovci GERASIM
Bishop of Australia and New Zealand IRINEJ
Vicar Bishop of Hvostno ATANASIJE
Vicar Bishop of Jegar PORFIRIJE
Vicar Bishop of Lipljan TEODOSIJE
Vicar Bishop of Dioclea JOVAN
Vicar Bishop of Moravica ANTONIJE
THE ARCHDIOCESE OF OCHRID
Archbishop of Ochrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje JOVAN
Bishop of Polos and Kumanovo JOAKIM
Bishop of Bregal and locum tenens of the Diocese of Bitolj MARKO
Vicar Bishop of Stobija DAVID
His All Holiness Bartholomew I: Turkish bureaucracy is trying to make us Disappear
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The new religious object will be constructed in the north part of the town, at a 3,000 square meter-site located near the sports hall. The total investment is estimated at about 1 million euros. The funds will be provided through citizens' donations, and a portion of the needed resources will be allocated by the Macedonian Orthodox Church.
The announcement of the tender for the architecture design and the execution of the construction works of the new church building is expected to be published after New Year's holidays. The idea for the new church was initiated by the citizens of the Tetovo's District of Boris Kidric with support of the Tetovo's clergy, under blessing of the Metropolitan Kiril. Tetovo's local authorities have already adopted the decision for building of the new religious temple.
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IOCC and Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Help Peloponnese Farmers Recover Their Productivity
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Baltimore, MD — International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) announces a new program that will help farmers in Greece’s Peloponnese region to significantly increase their production yield. Through a $1.3 million grant from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and other supporters, IOCC will construct a soil lab in the Peloponnese to help farmers analyze the condition of their soil and water in order to determine what crops to cultivate and what kinds of fertilizers to use.
This is the third grant that the Archdiocese has provided to help farmers recover their livelihood since the devastating wildfires of 2007 which destroyed cattle, grazing lands and significantly altered the composition of soil and polluted water sources. The Pancretan Association of America will also assist in the lab’s funding with a $75,000 grant to IOCC.
Previously, farmers willing and able to test their soil had to send samples to Athens and wait an average of three weeks for the results. Farmers often think of testing their soil very close to the agricultural season and the three week waiting period is impractical. “The availability of a soil lab in the Prefecture would return results within a matter of days and encourage more farmers to test their soil,” said Alex Machaskee, IOCC Board Chairman. “Environmentalists and agronomists agree that this will help the Peloponnese to recover economically and environmentally.”
This latest grant from the Archdiocese will also provide a two month supply of feed for up to 80,000 animals, benefiting 1,000 farming families whose lands were completely destroyed by the fires of 2007. “We are grateful to the Almighty for the devoted faithful of our Archdiocese of America whose magnanimous generosity enabled us to respond in such a substantial way from the onset of this catastrophe,” said His Eminence Archbishop DEMETRIOS of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The 2007 fires were Greece’s worst wildfires in a century and killed 61 people and over 25,000 cattle and sheep. More than 500,000 acres of land were damaged and destroyed, amounting to about 5% of Greece’s territory. IOCC has provided nearly $4 million in relief and development programs to the Peloponnese since September 2007, including 3,100 tons of animal feed and 60 tons of forage seed to replant grasslands.
Help us speed relief to families in the Peloponnese that are still feeling the effects of the 2007 wildfires. Visit www.iocc.org, call IOCC toll free at 1-877-803-4622 or mail a check or money order payable to “IOCC” and write “Greece Wildfires” 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.
OCA Holy Synod of Bishops meets in Washington, DC, December 29, 2008
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The first order of business at the meeting was a discussion of the preparation for the strategic plan that was mandated by the OCA's 15th All-American Council in Pittsburgh, PA, November 10 to 13, 2008. The hierarchs heard a presentation from Metropolitan Council members Protodeacon Peter Danilchik, Deacon John Zarras, and Dr. Dmitri Solodow, on possible processes for developing the plan. In his comments, Metropolitan Jonah stressed that strategic planning must be carried out under the initiative and guidance of the Holy Synod, but that it is critical that the planning process also involve the Metropolitan Council and the Church at large. The Synod will further discuss the development of the strategic plan at a meeting in mid-January in Mexico City, coinciding with the Enthronement of His Grace, Bishop Alejo of Mexico City and the Exarchate of Mexico, and also at their coming retreat in February.
Other business at the December 29 meeting included a progress report on St. Tikhon's Monastery, Book Store and Seminary, and the appointment of the Lesser Synod. For the year 2009, members of the Lesser Synod will include, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate, His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest, and His Grace, Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West.
A number of episcopal candidates were also reviewed at the meeting. The discussion of possible episcopal elections will be continued at the Synod's 2009 spring session, when candidates, and elections are normally considered.
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New Chairman Appointed for Orthodoxy Beyond Limits
0 Comments Published by OBL on Monday, December 29 at 3:43 PM.
The New Chairman will officially take charge of the office from the first of January, 2009. Vice-Chairman of OBL, Mr Subin Varghese officially thanked Mr George Alexander for all his commendable services and also expect him to do more help to the forum as head and in charge of the Public Relations Department.
Orthodoxy beyond Limits is an Online Forum for Orthodox Christian Unity and Faith, which is online since 2007. It has around 1500 readers worldwide.
Special News By:
Mr Boaz Reji John
Project Manager-OBL
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah enthroned at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC
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In attendance at the Enthronement were members of the OCA Holy Synod of Bishops and guests representing several Orthodox Churches in North America and abroad. "Unfortunately, because of poor travel conditions in some regions, not all of those who were to take part in the Enthronement were able to join us," said OCA communications director, Archpriest Andrew Jarmus.
Among the guest hierarchs and clergy that were able to attend the Enthronement were His Grace, Bishop Mercurius, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, who represented His Eminence, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Patriarchal Locum tenens of the Church of Russia, His Grace, Bishop Ilia of Philomelion, representing His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania, and His Eminence, Archbishop Abel of Ljublin and Kholm representing His Beatitude, Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland.
Hierarchs from North American jurisdictions taking part in the Enthronement included His Eminence, Metropolitan Christopher of the Serbian Orthodox Mid-western Diocese, His Eminence, Archbishop Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada, His Grace, Bishop Thomas of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and His Grace, Bishop Jerome of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
"In addition to visiting hierarchs, we welcomed Fr. Mark Arey, the ecumenical officer of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, who represented the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archpriest Jan Polansky, representing the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia and Archimandrite Kirill Hovorun who represented the Church of Ukraine."
"We were also honored to have with us the Russian Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency, Mr. Sergei Kislyak," Fr. Andrew noted.
"Among other participants," Fr. Andrew said, "we were looking forward to having Ancient Faith Radio [AFR] join us to broadcast events from the Enthronement on the Internet. Unfortunately, they were among those who were unable come to Washington because of complications with their travel plans. This was disappointing for both the OCA and AFR. However, OCA Communications will be providing AFR with audio files to post on their web site."
Although unable to attend in person, His Eminence, Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland conveyed his greetings in a message read at the Enthronement banquet. Archbishop Leo wrote that the election of Metropolitan Jonah revealed that the vocation of the OCA is to bring to Orthodoxy the hope that affairs in the Church do not always have to be conducted "in the same unproductive way" and hope "that the future can be good." His Eminence said that much that is not possible in Orthodox churches elsewhere in the world can be done in North America, and he encouraged Metropolitan Jonah to continue the OCA's tradition of "innovative continuity."
In his banquet address, Metropolitan Jonah said that the Church can keep the message of hope alive only if all of its members keep their eyes fixed on Jesus Christ alone. He stated that the vision of the Church had been very narrow in the past and that it was time to broaden it to include the work of bringing all people into communion with the Father. He said that this will only be achieved as members of the Church become the living presence of Christ in the world, "going into highways and byways to bring in whoever may come."
His Beatitude also stressed that Orthodox unity in North America is a goal to which all the faithful here must strive. He stated that unity is not only a canonical or institutional imperative, but the will of God. It is God who calls His faithful to put aside the things that separate them from one another. However, Metropolitan Jonah said, the task of achieving unity in North America must be carried out with utmost respect and love for the other Orthodox churches of the world who have faithful here.
His Beatitude called the Enthronement a celebration of new birth in the OCA. Making reference to the process of strategic planning mandated by the 15th All-American Council earlier this year, Metropolitan Jonah said that it was time for the OCA to overcome old ways of being Church and to reevaluate every aspect of its life. This process of reevaluation, he said, must involve the Holy Synod of Bishops, the Metropolitan Council and clergy and faithful from all corners of the Church. He stated that the thing most needful was to put aside personal opinions and preferences for the sake of the Church. "Overcoming ourselves," His Beatitude said, "is a tremendous ascetic act."
Metropolitan Jonah was born James Paffhausen in 1959 and was baptized into the Episcopal Church. His family later settled near San Diego, CA, where he was received into the Orthodox Church in 1978. After completing studies at UCSC, he attended St. Vladimir's Seminary, Crestwood, NY, from which he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1985 and a Master of Theology in Dogmatics in 1988. He went on to pursue studies towards a Ph.D. at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, but interrupted those studies to spend a year in Russia.
In Moscow, while working at the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, he was introduced to life of the Russian church, in particular monastic life. Later that year, he entered the Valaam Monastery, where he received a blessing to become a priestmonk. He was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in 1994 and in 1995 was tonsured to monastic rank at St. Tikhon's Monastery, South Canaan, PA, having received the name Jonah.
Returning to California, Fr. Jonah served a number of missions and was later given the obedience to establish a monastery under the patronage of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco. During his time building up the monastic community, Fr. Jonah also worked to establish missions in Merced, Sonora, Chico, Eureka, Redding, Susanville, and other communities in California, as well as in Kona, HI.
On Saturday, November 1, 2008, Fr. Jonah was consecrated Bishop of Fort Worth and Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of the South. On Wednesday, November 12, 2008, he was elected Archbishop of Washington and New York and Metropolitan of All America and Canada at the 15th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America in Pittsburgh, PA.
"Going into the Council, the then-Bishop Jonah was not considered a likely candidate for the office of Primate, simply because he was new to the episcopacy," Fr. Andrew said. "But on the evening before the election, he gave a presentation on the current state of the OCA, on where we have been in recent years and where we need to go. He spoke in such a forthright, honest and loving manner. By the time he finished, I think that for many the choice the following day was clear. Almost anyone in the room the day Vladyka Jonah was elected Metropolitan will tell you that the movement of the Holy Spirit in the process was palpable."
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Announced for Enthronement of His Grace Bishop Daniel as a Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
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UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USACONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
Preliminary plans announced for Enthronement of His Grace Bishop Daniel as a Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
The Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA has announced preliminary plans for the Enthronement of His Grace Bishop Daniel as a Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, 2238 West Cortez Street, Chicago, IL, on Saturday, 7 February 2009. On Friday, 6 February 2009, at 5:00 PM, Bishop Daniel will preside at the Vespers service at the Cathedral.
The Enthronement will take place following Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Metropolitan Constantine along with His Eminence Archbishop Antony and the visiting hierarchs. The Greeting of the Hierarchs and Divine Liturgy will begin at 9:00 a.m.
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Archdiocese "Greek Fire Relief Fund" Allocates $1.3 Milion in Ongoing Assistance
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This amount will fund two important projects to be coordinated by International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). The first project will help build a Soil Laboratory in the affected region. The second will continue the Livelihood Recovery Project III, a program for farmers in the Prefecture of Ileia, the region that suffered the greatest destruction.
“We are grateful to the Almighty for the devoted faithful of our Archdiocese of America whose magnanimous generosity enabled us to respond in such a substantial way from the onset of this catastrophe,” wrote Archbishop Demetrios in a letter to IOCC, announcing the Committee’s decision to approve these two proposals.
Since its inception, the Fund has collected over $4.1 million. With these two latest allocations, the Archdiocese has distributed over $3,315,000 in assistance to farmers and firefighters in the Prefectures of Ileia and Arcadia. Immediately after the fires, in the Fall of 2007 the Archdiocese gave over $250,000 to provide 442 metric tons of feed to almost two thousand farmers and in January of this year, gave another $1,652,998 to continue this critical program which has greatly assisted hard-hit farmers with 2,685 metric tons of animal feed and forage seed. Last September the Fund donated $117,322 to supply the firefighters in Pyrgos with 215 fire shelters, which will improve their safety and enhance their ability to effectively combat wildfires. There are several proposals that the Committee will review in the New Year.
These latest endeavors will greatly assist the Prefecture of Ileia to recover its agricultural production following the devastation of 2007. The new Soil Laboratory will enable farmers to determine how best to revive production and rehabilitate the soil which has been impacted not only by the fires and the chemicals used to extinguish them, but also by years of haphazard use. Until now, farmers in the area have had to send soil samples to Athens and wait an average of three weeks for results. A local laboratory will facilitate those farmers as well as encourage many others to take advantage of this innovative program. The Livelihood Recovery Project III will assist those farmers whose lands have not recovered from the devastation and do not yet produce sufficient quantities of forage to sustain their animals especially during the winter months.
Archbishop Demetrios serves as Chairman of the committee overseeing the Greek Fire Relief Fund. Committee members are Michael Jaharis, vice-chair of the Archdiocesan Council; Aphrodite Skeadas, president of the National Philoptochos; Steven Yeonas, chairman of Leadership 100; Peter Kikis, president of the Faith Endowment; Anthony Limberakis, national commander of the Order of St. Andrew and Andrew Natsios, past administrator of USAID who has extensive experience in effectively coordinating international philanthropic assistance.
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December 25, 2008
The Nativity of Christ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
Full of grace and truth;
(John 1:14)
To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On this most joyous day, our Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and the fundamentally life-affirming and awesome consequences that flowed from this miraculous event. The birth of Jesus Christ was nothing less than the entry of salvation into our world. It was at that singular defining moment in history, a moment of cosmic significance, that God the Word became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ, and began to dwell among us. This is what is meant by the above-cited passage from the Gospel of John, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
That the Almighty God freely chose to become a human being, in every manner like us except for sin, is a concept that is unique and central to our Christian faith. It is, in fact, a quite radical concept: because God became a human being, we have been offered the ability to appreciate anew the exalted status of what it means to be a true human being. Equally radical was the divine and saving plan behind the manner by which God chose to enter our world and our human condition. Even though it was within His power, our God did not enter our world clothed as an earthly monarch seeking to acquire worldly dominion and control over those who might be called subjects. Rather, He came as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), Whose desire was to restore all human beings to a relationship with God permanently bonded by love, to herald the coming of a heavenly Kingdom, and to loose all human beings from the bonds of death. And this is what is meant by those familiar and beautiful words of Saint John, the Evangelist, which we truly take to heart on this most magnificent day: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
My beloved Christians,
These words are especially important on this day of Christmas since we are living at a time when in our world we are experiencing heavy levels of anxiety due to many ordeals. Some of these ordeals include the present state of our global economy, the rising of unemployment, the problems related to the use of energy, the health of our environment, and the continuing presence of terrorism and civil unrest. In the face of such tremendous stress, we take comfort that our loving and Almighty God Himself took on all kinds of ordeals. Indeed, the newborn Christ took on all the evils, sins, and pains of the entire humanity, and He transformed these ordeals into hope, strength, peace and resurrection. Therefore, even in the midst of difficulty, we experience the joy of hope and love that we spread abundantly to others.
On this day I extend to all of you my fervent prayers that the divine light of our Incarnate God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who is born to us on this day, may shine forever in your hearts and homes as a brilliant beacon of hope, joy, and love throughout this Christmas season, and indeed on every day of this New Year 2009 now at hand; and may His infinite mercy, protection, and peace be with you always.
With paternal love in Christ,
† DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
See a Video Christmas Message by Archbishop Demetrios.
Video
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CAIRO - Egypt’s Coptic pope has banned the faithful from confessing their sins to priests over the telephone because intelligence agents might be listening in, a newspaper reported on Friday.“Confessions over the telephone are forbidden, because there is a chance the telephones are monitored and the confessions will reach state security,” the independent Al-Masri Al-Yom quoted Pope Shenuda III as saying.
The leader of the Coptic minority also said confessions over the Internet were invalid because they might be read by websurfers.“A confession over the Internet does not count as a confession, because everybody can look at it and it won’t be secret,” he said.
The sacrament of confession, also practiced by Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians, is normally a very private conversation between penitent and priest.
Unlike Roman Catholic confessions, Coptic confessions are done face to face.
Coptic Patriarch Anba Morcos said that people have begun to phone in their confessions.
“It’s a new thing; it’s been happening for the past four or five years,” he said.
Morcos added that Pope Shenuda has also banned monks in Coptic monasteries from using cell phones.
“The monk is supposed to be secluded from the world. But the mobile phone brings the world to him,” he said, adding that monastery administrators were allowed to keep their cell phones.
The Vatican does not recognise confessions by telephone or over the Internet.
Archbishop John Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, has said “confession requires the physical presence of the priest and the penitent.
“Privacy is absolutely not guaranteed on Internet, and there is no certainty as to the identity of the two parties to the communication. You can’t have confession by e-mail, any more than you can have it by telephone or letter.”
Beloved brethren and children in the Lord,
The great and sacred day of Christmas has dawned, the metropolis and mother of all feasts, inviting each of us to spiritual uplifting and encounter with the Ancient of Days, who became an infant for us.
As St. John of Damascus underlines: “By the grace of God the Father, the only begotten Son and divine Word of God, who is in the bosom of the Father, consubstantial with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the pre-eternal and perfect God, who is without beginning, condescends to us as His servants, becoming fully human and achieves that which is newer than new, the only new thing under the sun.” (On the Orthodox Faith) This incarnation of the Son of God is not merely symbolical, like the other incarnations of the numerous gods in mythology; it is reality, a truly new reality, the only new thing under the sun, which occurred at a specific historical moment in the reign of the Emperor Octavian Augustus some 746 years (according to new astronomical data) since the establishment of Rome, in the midst of a specific people, from the house and line of David (Luke 2.4), in a specific place, namely Bethlehem of Judaea, with a very specific purpose: “He became human in order that we might become divine,” in accordance with the succinct expression of Athanasius the Great. (On the Divine Incarnation 54).
The event of incarnation of God’s Word grants us the opportunity to reach the extreme limits of our nature, which are identified neither with the “good and beautiful” of the ancient Greeks and the “justice” of the philosophers, nor with the tranquility of Buddhist “nirvana” and the transcendental “fate” or so-called “karma” by means of the reputedly continuous changes in the form of life, nor again with any “harmony” of supposedly contradictory elements of some imaginary “living force” and anything else like these. Rather, it is the ontological transcendence of corruption and death through Christ, our integration into His divine life and glory, and our union by grace through Him with the Father in the Holy Spirit. These are our ultimate limits: personal union with the Trinitarian God! And Christ’s nativity does not promise any vague blessedness or abstract eternity; it places “in our hands” the potential of personal participation in God’s sacred life and love in an endless progression. It grants us the possibility not only “of receiving adoption” (Gal. 4.5) but also of becoming “partakers of divine nature.” (2 Peter 1.4).
Of course, amid the global confusion and crisis of our time, these truths have a strange echo. Most people’s hope, resting on worldly “deities,” is falsified on a daily basis in the most terrible ways. The human person is humiliated and crushed by numbers, machines, computers, stock markets, and diverse flags of vain ideological opportunism. Nature is blasphemed; the environment groans; young people despair and protest against the injustice of the present and the uncertainty of the future. “Darkness, clouds, storms and noise” (Deut. 4.11) prevail in our world, giving the impression that even the light of hope that dawns in Bethlehem is threatened with extinction and the angelic hymn of universal joy – “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will to all people” (Luke 2.14) – is in danger of being overcome. Nevertheless, the Church calls everyone to sober attention, re-evaluation of priorities in life, and pursuit of divine traces and value in every other person of respect toward the image of God. Indeed, the Church will not cease to proclaim – with all the strength acquired by its two millennia of experience – that the child that lies in the manger of Bethlehem is “the hope of all ends of the earth,” the Word and purpose of life, redemption sent by God to His people, namely to the whole world.
We share this good news with much love from the martyric Throne of the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople, proclaiming it to all children of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and to every person that thirsts for Christ, invoking upon all of you the mercy, peace and grace of God, together with the saving gift of the only-begotten Son of God, who came down from the heavens – for us and for our salvation – and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, becoming human. To Him belong the glory, power, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, to the ages.
At the Phanar, Christmas 2008
Fervent supplicant to God for all
+B
HIS BEATITUDE ATTENDS IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS AT THE ALEXANDRIAN LIBRARY
0 Comments Published by OBL on at 12:53 PM.
On the afternoon of 27th November 2008, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, accompanied by His Grace Gabriel, Bishop of Mareotis, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, went to the Alexandrian Library where the inauguration of the Hellenistic Studies Centre as well as the significant Velimezi-Margariti Icon collection Exhibition took place. His Beatitude made the following address at the function which is under the aegis of His Excellency the President of Greece Mr Karolos Papoulias and Mrs Susan Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt:
“Alexandria, of art, letters, culture, spiritual research, and man’s ascending to God, famous to the ends of the universe and untouched by the ravages of time once again opens the doors of history here at the Alexandrian Library and welcomes the excellent exhibition of icons from the collection of Velimezi-Margariti.
It is undoubtedly a unique event, because, looking t these brilliant ecclesiastical works, which are the artistic tangible expression of Orthodox faith and teaching, we come to know the historic outcome of their formation, from their beginning, to the technique of Fayum of the ancient Egyptian culture up until their final shaping in the spiritual bosom of Byzantine art.
A meeting, then, of cultures from within the transforming power of faith! A visible expression of the soul’s need to portray high and venerable emotions! A spiritual fragrance, emanating from the finest chords of human substance. Holy artifacts which were respected by the centuries and were preserved by the nations within the changes in the autocracies which prevailed over the ages, so that today, we, the citizens of the 21st century can enjoy them and through them we can remember that even in contemporary times when creation is revered and the Creator God is unknown, man can still adorn the earthly world with unique and inspired works.
We worthily congratulate the organizers of this exhibition which is under the aegis of the President of the Hellenic Republic , Mr. Karolos Papoulias and Mrs. Susan Mubarak, the First Lady of Egypt, the country which surrounded us with so much love, honour and respect and to which we wholeheartedly express our deep and sincere gratitude.
We congratulate Messrs. Emilio and Christos Margaritis, who donated the icons from the Collection of Velimezi-Margaritis to the Benefit Insitute “Alexander Onasis” which, under the Chairmanship of the Hellene from Egypt Mr. Antonios Papademetriou, and his colleagues, are inaugurating in the city of Alexander the Great, this great exhibition.
REPORT BY HIS BEATITUDE ON THE DECEASED PATRIARCH ALEXIOS II OF RUSSIA
0 Comments Published by OBL on at 12:46 PM.
His Beatitude had bonded with the deceased Patriarch from 1985 when he was appointed Exarch of the Alexandrian Patriarchate to the Russian Church , but more especially from 1986 following the sudden passing of Patriarch Nicholas VI of Alexandria in Russia , while on an official visit. The then Metropolitan of Leningrad, later Patriarch Alexios II, fully supported the Alexandrian Exarch in his responsibilities for the preparation and transfer of the remains of Patriarch Nicholas VI, accompanying him to Egypt.
During his tenure as Patriarch, the late Alexios II surrounded with paternal love the and concern from 1990 the Bishop of Cyrene and Exarch of the Alexandrian Church in Russia, now Patriarch Theodoros II, and supported in all ways the Ancient Patriarchate, especially following the elevation to the Apostolic and Patriarchal Throne of St Mark in 2004 of His Beatitude Theodoros II.
In October of 2007, His Beatitude paid an official Conciliatory visit to the Church of Russia, within the framework of which he had the opportunity to have private contacts with the late Patriarch Alexios II, whom he met in Constantinople for the last time on the 11th and 12th October 2008 at the Synaxis of the Primates called by His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios.
Immediately following the passing of the Russian Primate His Beatitude sent the following Patriarchal letter of condolence to the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Moscow and All Russia:
Protocol Numbe: 583
To the Holy Synod
of the Patriarchate of Moscow and All Russia
Moscow
Your Eminences and Holy Brothers,
On the sad news of the passing to the Lord of the late Patriarch Alexios II, who guided the Holy Church of Russia most skillfully for many years and under whom we, personally, while serving as Exarch in Moscow, received his assistance and support, through this fraternal letter we pass on to you and all the Hierarchs, clergy and the faithful people of Russia our heartfelt condolences and we pray the Lord of Eternal Life will number him among the Saints and the Righteous, and appoint a worthy successor.
We wish you also a long life, with the blessings of divine treasures and gifts, and we remain yours in the Lord’s love.
Your beloved brother in Christ,
THEODOROS II,
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa
In the Great City of Alexandria
5th December 2008
Orthodox faithful gather in Washington DC for Enthronement of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah
0 Comments Published by georgy on Sunday, December 28 at 9:19 PM.
Washington, DC [OCA Communications] -- Hierarchs, clergy and faithful from parishes throughout the Orthodox Church in America are gathering in Washington, DC, this weekend for the Enthronement of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah at St. Nicholas Cathedral.A NEW BOOK IN FRENCH BY HIS HOLINESS CATHOLICOS ARAM I: “POUR UN MONDE TRANSFORMÉ” (FOR A TRANSFORMED WORLD)
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 9:17 PM.
Metropolitan Kirill congratulates Pope, other Churches leaders on Christmas
0 Comments Published by brj on at 9:05 PM.
Moscow, December 25, Interfax - Locum tenens Metropolitan Kirill has sent felicitation messages to the heads of Churches celebrating Christmas on December 25."In these holy days we deeply call on every person who professes Christianity to testify before modern society eternal spiritual and moral values annunciated by the Savior and God," Metropolitan Kirill's message obtained by Interfax-Religion on Thursday reads.
The locum tenens wished that God gives "mirth, peace, competence and His generous help to Your high service."
The message was sent Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Chairman of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany Wolfgang Huber and the leaders of other Churches and Christian communities that celebrate Christmas on December 25.
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Head of the Russian Church Abroad and Archbishop of Kamchatka to conduct the Christmas liturgy at the South Pole
0 Comments Published by brj on at 9:04 PM.
This trip was blessed by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II and Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.
A mobile Orthodox church is being put up for this purpose.
Members of the Russian Antarctic Expedition, specialists of Tsentrospas (central air-mobile rescue team) of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Agency on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring take part in the organization and execution of the mission.
"The participants are sure that this mission will foster further reunification of the two branches of the Russian Orthodox Church, reinforce the international standing of Russia and allow attracting the world community attention to spiritual values," a spokesperson told the agency.
The Russian Church to work together with the Georgian Patriarchate on settling the conflict between two countries
0 Comments Published by brj on at 9:02 PM.
Members of the Synod, who met on Wednesday in Moscow, believe this dialogue should touch upon a wide range of themes on peacekeeping, church cooperation, strengthening spiritual and cultural relations between peoples under jurisdiction of the two Churches.
The Synod is also satisfied with the visit of the Georgian church delegation to the Russian capital on November 5-10, 2008.
Members of the delegation concelebrated with Patriarch Alexy II at the prayer service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on November 5 when Moscow welcomed relics of St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki. Patriarch Alexy II and Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad conducted talks with them on November 6. The delegates also met with Russian Foreign Ministry leaders during their visit to Moscow.
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Former Miss Universe to open an icon exhibition in St. Petersburg
0 Comments Published by brj on at 9:01 PM.
Oxana is “the face of Project on reviving traditions of baptismal icon in Russia,” press service of the Russian Club of Patrons told Interfax-Religion. She has already opened similar exhibitions in Tallinn and Paris.
The Russian Club of Patrons started reviving an ancient tradition of baptismal icons late in 2005. About 50,000 baptismal icons were written only during 2006. All the icons are made according to canons of icon painting, which existed 300 years ago.
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Ukrainian Church denies nominating Metropolitan of Kiev for Patriarch
0 Comments Published by brj on at 9:00 PM.
Metropolitan Vladimir "thanked bishops for their trust, but would not respond or formally comment on the request," the Metropolitan's press secretary said.
"The formal nomination of the candidate for Patriarch, including the nomination of His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir, should he agree to it, will take place at the Russian Orthodox Church's Archbishop Council on January 25-26, 2009, as provided by relevant regulations," Fr. Georgy said.
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Moscow Synod advises to elect new Patriarch by secret ballot
0 Comments Published by brj on at 8:59 PM.
This trip was blessed by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II and Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.
A mobile Orthodox church is being put up for this purpose.
Members of the Russian Antarctic Expedition, specialists of Tsentrospas (central air-mobile rescue team) of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Agency on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring take part in the organization and execution of the mission.
"The participants are sure that this mission will foster further reunification of the two branches of the Russian Orthodox Church, reinforce the international standing of Russia and allow attracting the world community attention to spiritual values," a spokesperson told the agency.
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Orthodox Monk Bags the Best Teacher Award Installed by a Roman Catholic College in India.
0 Comments Published by georgy on Sunday, December 21 at 11:39 AM.
Profile of Fr Dr Markose Joseph, SST
Visit of the Ethiopian Patriarch His Holiness Abuna Paulose to India
0 Comments Published by georgy on Friday, December 19 at 11:12 AM.
Metropolitan Jonah commemorates 25th anniversary of Father Alexander Schmemann's Repose
0 Comments Published by georgy on Wednesday, December 17 at 11:40 PM.
Calling Fr. Alexander "the most significant person in Orthodoxy in the twentieth century," His Beatitude first remembered the impact that his former teacher had on his own life. "Father Alexander used to say to incoming students: 'You will not save the Church. The Church will save you.' He desired only that we understand the reality of union in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, through an authentic ascetical struggle.
"We are heirs of Father Alexander's vision, ministry, and mission," His Beatitude continued. "His prophetic vision of what the Church can be, in all of its fullness, can come to pass in and through us. If we strive with love and compassion to cast out the works of darkness, then we can let his vision of faith—which transcends mere 'religion'—enter into us."
Concelebrating the divine services with Metropolitan Jonah were seminary chapel clergy, among them Dean Archpriest John Behr; Chancellor Archpriest Chad Hatfield; Associate Dean for Student Affairs Archpriest Steven Belonick; Priest Alexander Rentel, Assistant Professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies; and Protodeacon Kirill Sokolov, Associate Chancellor for Systems. SVS seminarians serving included Priest Aaron Warwick and Deacons John Vitko, Peter Robichau, and Gregory Wassen.
Visiting priests who served included Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, Chancellor of the OCA, and Archpriest John Hopko, grandson of Fr. Schmemann and rector of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Church, Terryville, CT. His Grace Bishop Seraphim (Sigrist), formerly of Sendai, also attended the services.
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The Moscow Patriarchate appeals to stop the extinction of European population
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 11:34 PM.
"The dramatic and unprecedented in scale social sweeping change caused by the "sexual revolution" has affected almost all Western countries. Within less than fifty years, the traditional assumptions about family and sex have been overthrown: they are replaced with the "progressive" norms based on a liberal ideology," Bishop Hilarion said reporting to the First Orthodox-Catholic Forum in Trento, Italy.
According to Bishop Hilarion, quoted by his press-service on Monday, the "sexual revolution" and an upsurge of the feminist movement in 1960s "have resulted in a radical transformation of the family and sexual ethics, and started the avalanche liberalization of legislation in the moral sphere, which continues now."
Bishop Hilarion said that this "has not only drastically changed the image of the Western civilization", but also has created "an impassable gulf between the Western civilizations and those ones which keep the traditional family and sexual ethics."
The "sexual revolution" said Bishop Hilarion, has destroyed "the balance between a man and a woman in the family deeply rooted in the human nature, overturned the idea of maternity, and damaged the image of a husband as a "breadwinner" who is mainly responsible to support his family."
"Now, both a man and a woman are equally concerned with the realization of their own professional potential, and they both have to bear the financial burden of the family," Bishop said.
According to Bishop Hilarion, this is "one of the reasons why the number of large families declines, and the number of families with one or two children and childless families grows, and the total birth rate in the most Western countries goes down during the last years."
"Sexual revolution" Bishop Hilarion said, has lead to "the world-wide campaign for the legalization of abortions," and changed "the traditional negative attitude towards homosexual relations."
Bishop Hilarion believes that only the return to the traditional ideas of the family and marriage, childbirth and the value of human life can reverse the "process of extinction" of the European population.
The Final Agreement of Cooperation was signed between the Albanian Government and the Religious Communities
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 11:19 PM.
On October 24th, a special ceremony took place in the Tirana Hotel where the respective agreement was signed. The Ministry of Culture organized the event and present were the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha, the Archbishop of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, His Beatitude Anastasios, the leader of the Muslim Community, Mr. Haxhi Selim Muça, the world leader of the Bektashian Community, Mr. Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi and the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic community in Tirana and Durres, Rrok Mirdita. Other guests who took part in the ceremony were leading figures from the political, cultural, and religious communities; the local diplomatic corps, and national media representatives. Apart from Archbishop Anastasios, there were also other delegates from the Christian Orthodox Community like the Metropolitan of Berati, His Grace Ignatios, the Metropolitan of Gjirokastёr, His Grace Dimitrios, the Episcope of Apollonia, His Grace Nikolla, the Episcope of Kruja, His Grace Anthony, and other clergy and faithful.
* * *
In his speech, His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios said: “The Constitution of the Republic of Albania of the year 1998 is one of the best in the Balkans, especially in relation to religious freedom. The 10th article of the constitution is about an official agreement between the government and the traditional religious communities, which are the cultural and the spiritual wealth of the country. In spite of the laic character, the state recognizes the fact that the religious communities play a very significant role in society and give their contribution not only towards a peaceful religious coexistence in the country, but they also create an atmosphere of tolerance, understanding, fairness and peace. Therefore, we joyfully welcome today the historical signing of this agreement on ‘the arrangement of reciprocal relationships’ between the Albanian government and the traditional religious communities. In the name of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, we would like to express our gratitude towards all those who contributed in this remarkable event. First of all, to the Prime Minister, Professor Sali Berisha, the leader of the Public Committee of Religions, Mr. Rasim Hasanaj, and to all those who made
possible the finalization of the Agreement. From now on, the religious communities will operate in harmony with each other and thus will have more opportunities for their activities and initiatives which will aim towards the spiritual upbringing of the people, in particular of the youth, in order that they conduct a way of living with honesty, creativity and solidarity. Speaking in the language of religion - a life of faith in Christ, love for our neighbour, and hope for the future; giving in this way a significant contribution to the development of Albania, and to the spiritual and the cultural progress of the Albanian society.”
The leader of the Muslim Community of Albania, Mr. Haxhi Selim Muça stated: “It is an important event which we were expecting in the sphere of religious development in our country. Such an agreement is made on the basis of the constitutional principles that guarantee the freedom of performing and exercising religion and the religious beliefs. The agreement will resolve the issues of recognition, as well as the cooperation between the State and the religious communities for the benefit of the entire Albanian society.”
On the other side, the world leader of the Bektashian community, Mr. Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi emphasized that: “I feel excited about this historical event we are experiencing today. It was 41 years ago when the dictatorial regime used all kinds of tools like pickaxes, shovels, etc. to destroy the mosques and the churches. A sudden excitement fills the heart when one sees the understanding, the care, and the continuous assistance of the State towards the faithful. This agreement is indeed a historical act and intends to keep faith pure according to the principle, ‘There is no religion without a State.’
The Archbishop of the Catholic community in Tirana and Durres, Rrok Mirdita, said the following in his speech: “I hope that this agreement is not simply a symbolic act, but a lively expression of the common will of both the religious communities and the Albanian State with regard, not only to issues of an economic nature, but to everything else that is necessary for the normal development of their activities. I wish that this example of good will provides a point of common understanding between the religious communities, and that the Albanian government will expand on it and that it is practiced even in the other social domains in our country.”
* * *
This agreement brings to light the passing of a specific law regarding the financing of the religious groups by the State, following the European example for the support of the activities of different religious groups.
The head of the Cults Committee, Mr. Rasim Hasanaj emphasized that an important place in the compilation of the legal project regarding religion will be given to the problems, which the communities and other religious groups face. “Such an agreement returns to the religious communities the status which was lost in 1967. A very specific law is predicted to be compiled about the financial aid of the State for the religious communities, based upon European standards. The monuments of cults of different religions will become visitable as the result of a strategy for the development of religious tourism. I would like to thank all the clergy who maintain the religious traditions of the country and the harmony among them which has already become very famous in the world”, - said Mr. Hasanaj.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, Mr. Sali Berisha considered the agreement to be a historical document and promised to compile a law for the financial support. “The agreement which we signed today, together with the other personalities of religion in our country, marks a new chapter in the field of relationships between the Albanian State and the religious beliefs in Albania. For this reason, the agreement is a historical one and I would like to guarantee you, who are the leaders of the main religious beliefs in the country, that I will make every effort in order to put it into practice and make it alive for the best interest of our country and nation”, - said the prime minister, Mr. Berisha.
In addition, he publicly asked for forgiveness from the representatives of the religious communities in the country for the deprivation of religious rights for several decades. “I emphasize that such an agreement is in itself an enormous obligation for the State for their deep contrition to the Albanian clergy and the faithful who sacrificed and were martyred in the name of their beliefs in God, but nonetheless stood indomitable, and enriched, with eternally illuminating values, the altar of the national martyrs”, - stated Mr. Berisha.
The representatives of the religious communities expressed their gratitude towards the government for the assistance it has provided during all the time.
By
Isidor Koti
Translated by Juliana Pici
Edited by Anastasia Pamela Barksdale
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Russian Church is no longer “the Church of old ladies,” the Moscow Patriarchate Believes
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 11:17 PM.
“The situation has dramatically changed. It didn’t happen at once in the early 90s, but about eight-ten years ago. Old ladies have become a minority at least in the church where I serve,” Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said on air Finam FM.
According to Fr. Vsevolod, “when I give communion to people during divine liturgy on Sundays or festival days, old women constitute about 20-30 per cent, the majority is young families with children.”
“This situation is typical not only for
Fr. Vsevolod pointed out to the important role of mass media in making youth permanent parishioners of Orthodox churches in recent years. “The situation has changed, I believe that people who speak about Orthodoxy and Christ in the media have no small share in it,” he said.
The Moscow Patriarchate reports about a conceived provocation in the run-up to the elections of Patriarch
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 11:15 PM.
Moscow, December 16, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church claims that some persons are setting up the Diomid-2 project aimed by provocative acts and blackmail to influence the Local Council which shall be convened to elect a new head of the Orthodox Church.
"Diomid-2 is in the pipeline. There are three people in Holy Orders who intend to issue a booklet stating that our Church hierarchy is on too close terms with the Catholics, which is really dreadful," Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, Deputy Head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, told in a live radio broadcast of Finam FM.
He said that these people blamed the Church hierarchy of reading "joint prayers" with the Catholics. The priest, however, reminded that the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church convened in June, 2008 had criticized "experimental prayers and rituals which mix different Christian traditions, and different religions, all the more."
Fr. Vsevolod believes that "simply put, it would be untrue to say that the Church conducted joint prayers with the Catholics sometime, and this still remains an indelible stain on the Church's reputation."
Besides, according to Fr. Vsevolod, the reunification of the Catholics and Protestants with the Orthodox Church today "is becoming increasingly unlikely, in particular, in the Protestant world ruled by the extreme liberalism allowing such things as homosexual "weddings" and demonstrating a careless attitude to what once used to be the Church's Sacraments."
The Bishops' Council has defrocked Diomid, the Bishop of Chukotka, for insubordination to the Church hierarchy and attempts to set up a schism within the Church. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has also suppressed the publication of several newspapers issued upon his blessing.
Patriarchal Locum Tenens believes the Russian Church main task is to guard “spiritual boundaries” of Motherland
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 11:14 PM.
“Guarding spiritual boundaries of our Motherland and preserving unity is the task of the
According to him, protecting “the Church, her people and the Holy Russia from spiritual aggression” was one of the main achievements of late Patriarch Alexy II, the Moscow Patriarchate official website has reported.
“If we speak about future of our Church, I believe our main task is to stick to this way and not to let anyone tear our nation to pieces, none of false teachers, be they false philosophers preaching next “isms” and enticing our people as Marxists once did, or be they cultists, schismatics or false missionaries that joined those who wanted to divide people of Holy Russia in difficult times,” the Locum Tenens stressed.
He urged to remember, “Russia like other countries steps into a very dangerous epoch of globalization.”
“The most powerful will win as existing borders are being eliminated, and they will be even fewer in the future...This process may end in failure, if we are weak, if we lose real collision of forces and ideas. We don’t have a right to lose historic fight for
Patriarch Tikhon's relics to be brought to the USA and Canada in 2009
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 11:08 PM.
Moscow, December 17, Interfax - The Relics of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, will be brought to parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) in the USA and Canada in 2009.
The sacred procession with the Relics will be held in the spring of 2009 as part of the program launched by St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation and the Center of National Glory of Russia, the Foundation's spokesperson told Interfax-Religion. The bringing of the relics was blessed by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II. Metropolitan Laurus, the previous Hierarch of ROCOR, who died in 2008, also made the relevant request to the Foundation.
St. Tikhon was the first head of the Russian Orthodox Church whose time as Patriarch was under the Soviet regime. In 1989, he was canonized and glorified as head of the Assembly of Russian New Martyrs and Confessors who had suffered persecution for their faith from the Bolsheviks. At the turn of the 20th century, Patriarch Tikhon has become the symbol of the Orthodox resistance against the Soviet power and, therefore, he is specially worshipped by the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad which history is closely connected with the White movement. Today, the holy Hierarch's relics rest at the main Cathedral of the Donskoy Monastery in
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I MEETS WITH PATRIARCH SFEIR
0 Comments Published by georgy on Tuesday, December 16 at 11:14 AM.
Father Zakaria Botros Named WORLD 2008 Daniel of the Year
0 Comments Published by georgy on Thursday, December 11 at 10:38 PM.
What happens when an elderly Coptic priest takes to the airwaves and the internet to confront Islam?Death threats, conversions, and a global following. Meet Zakaria Botros, WORLD’s 2008 Daniel of the Year.
WORLD Magazine’s “Daniel of the Year” award is named after the Biblical Daniel who was thrown into the lion’s den by the Babylonians for refusing to worship false prophets. How absolutely fitting that a Coptic priest living in Egypt is the recipient.
At 28 minutes before air time, an assistant is lint-rolling Father Zakaria Botros’ cassock, polishing the pectoral cross he wears over it and giving the dark circles beneath his eyes a last smudge of makeup from a cosmetics sponge. The studio lights are on, the clock is running, and assistants are checking a pair of teleprompters. Two full glasses of water, one for Botros and one for his guest, stand ready at opposite ends of the table where the men will sit.
At 20 minutes before air time Botros, his guest, and crew pause to pray. It is 9 p.m. on a Thursday evening in Cairo, 10 p.m. in Riyadh, and 10:30 in Tehran. Botros, an Egyptian, will host the live show about to be broadcast via Cyprus-based satellite channel Al-Hayat, which will last 90 minutes and may have an audience of up to 60 million viewers across the Arab world and beyond-from the Middle East to Europe to North America to Australia. And most of the viewers who sit down to watch the televised ruminations of a 75-year-old Christian will be Muslims.
Botros has been hosting Truth Talk since 2003. The weekly show grew out of an internet chat room attended by thousands where the Coptic priest engaged Muslims on the inherent contradictions of their own religion and found that he was leading many to faith in Jesus Christ. As the geographic scope of the show has grown, so has its reach into the lives of Muslims. It is broadcast in Arabic, and this year began also to be translated for Turkish audiences and into Farsi to be aired in Iran.
Father Zakaria, as he is known to millions, has won his enormous following not by borrowing from the toolbox of the televangelist. For someone whose ecclesiastical tradition began in a.d. 100, his tools are decidedly 21st century: satellite uplinks, Wi-Fi connectivity, a late-edition Vaio laptop that is with him at all times, and a trusted reference tool he refers to as “St. Google.” He can spend 14-hour days on research for each show, and for this episode emailed the final script to producers at 4:30 a.m.
The result is less a preaching ministry and more like battlefield strategy. It’s the late-in-life culmination of a conscious decision, Botros says, to move away from apologetics and toward what he calls polemics: “My program is to attack Islam, not to attack Muslims but to save them because they are deceived. As I love Muslims, I hate Islam.”
Such conviction earns Botros a heady following-and serious enemies. Jihadist groups have reportedly posted a death threat worth $60 million against him. This year his name and photo appeared on an al-Qaeda website, seeking retribution for his teachings, which often depict Muhammad as less of a prophet and more of a womanizer. For his fearless determination in the face of his enemies, for his willingness to label Islam a false religion in a year when many Christian leaders have overreached in their quest for common ground with its worshippers, Zakaria Botros is WORLD’s 2008 Daniel of the Year.
When Al Jazeera began broadcasting about a decade ago as the only independent channel in the Middle East, the Qatar-based news station opened a door to the free flow of information no Arab dictator could close. Until about 2000, state-sponsored news broadcasts and censorship were the norm (satellite dishes remain illegal in Iran, and were banned until the early 2000s in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere). As more Arabs could own televisions and the programming grew, all it took to outsmart the censors was a tuner and a set.
What followed was a burst of Arabic-language programming. Islamic teachers of every type leapt to the airwaves, hoping to expand the teaching of the mosque-once reserved for Friday prayer services and male-only audiences-to 24/7 preaching and propaganda piped directly into the Muslim living room. Botros is turning their campaign on its head.
By culling from what’s now a bloated archive of televised remarks from the Islamic world’s leading sheikhs and imams, he has found a potent way to expose the war within Islam, including raging debates between reformers and traditionalists, and to force Muslims who for generations took its teaching at face value to examine it at its roots.
One recent episode of Truth Talk, aired Nov. 21, cut to 20 separate clips, most of Cairo’s respected Al-Azhar University Sheikh Khaled El-Gendy, to debate the age of Aisha when she became Muhammad’s second wife. Islamic hadiths (the sayings and actions of Muhammad) say she was 6 years old when married and 9 when the marriage was consummated (and reportedly returned to play with her toys afterward).
Yet many scholars-and a controversial new novel about Aisha, The Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones that was dropped from Random House’s list because of Muslim threats-have tried to paper over the obvious morality issue of child marriage with assertions that Aisha was 14 or even 18. What’s at stake, it becomes clear as the episode unfolds, is whether the Quran and the hadiths can be both true and exemplary.
In one clip El-Gendy argues that “the Quran is enough” and the hadiths on Aisha aren’t needed. Another scholar cites a recent magazine article claiming she was a teenage wife. As Islamic authorities shout at one another onscreen, Botros calmly asks, “Are these holy books or not?” “If you are explaining her age based on a magazine article, what’s your reference?”
On the set Botros alternates between a jovial Captain Kangaroo persona and a finger-pointing, cloaked authority figure who sets his face toward the camera and declares, “Everyone should question all these discrepancies.” But Botros says he’s not looking to leave Muslim viewers with only questions: He begins and ends each episode with prayer, he sometimes reads from the Bible, and he almost always brings on a guest who is introduced as a Muslim convert to Christianity.
In another recent episode titled “Was Muhammad a messenger from God or Satan?” Botros recites the characteristics of a false prophet by Sunni scholar Ibn Taymiyya, then lays down his book, looks into the screen, and says each of the characteristics cited by Taymiyya apply to Muhammad. He quotes Matthew 7 and asks viewers, “Does this sound like a real prophet to you? Remember: ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits.’”
Botros told me in our first interview, “When I started to preach this way many or most Christians refused the style. They were afraid. For 14 centuries we [as Middle East Christians] are under the threat of the sword of Islam. So they were afraid and told me, ‘They will kill us! They will destroy our houses!’ But after I preached the gospel and spoke in this manner for years now, many of them now say, ‘We are no longer ashamed of our religion when Muslims attack us.’”
Others this year have joined Botros in prominently questioning the teachings of Islam. In July the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a leader in the radical Palestinian group Hamas, gave his first public interview declaring that he had become a Christian and renouncing Hamas. “I reexamined the Quran and the principals of the faith and found how it is mistaken and misleading.
The Muslims borrowed rituals and traditions from all the surrounding religions,” he said. In November Germany’s first professor of Islamic theology, Muhammad Sven Kalisch, surprised colleagues by declaring that his research had led him to conclude that Muhammad probably never existed. “The more I read, the historical person at the root of the whole thing became more and more improbable,” he said.
At the same time, emphasis on Muslim-Christian interfaith dialogue has grown. Last month King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia hosted a UN interfaith dialogue in New York, which was preceded by similar meetings in Madrid and at Yale, as well as a dialogue that included discussion of theological distinctives at the Vatican.
Botros believes such rapprochement can succeed only for a short time. But he says his methods won’t work unless the motive is “nothing else but love.” Despite his confrontational style, he says: “I am not against Muslims although I am against Islam as a false religion. I don’t want to disgrace Muslims but to expose Islam.
My ultimate intention is to glorify God and to save people, especially Muslims. Muslims are victims. Muhammad deceived them as he himself was deceived by Satan. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the best prophet, that the Quran is the only proper book from God, and Islam is the only religion from God. Muslims are in bad need to be saved from these false beliefs.”
Botros is fairly sure he’d be dead by now if it weren’t for the virtual universe in which he operates. Were he to make these kinds of statements on a street in almost any Islamic-dominated country, he would be hauled into court on charges of insulting Islam, where a guilty verdict could lead to his being killed. His broadcasts are aired from an undisclosed studio and he is strict about keeping his whereabouts out of public light. More positively, he discovered as he neared his 70s that with some tech-savvy, he could reach Muslims with Christian teaching in a way not possible in nearly 50 previous years as an active priest.
So besides the weekly program, Thursdays find him seated with his laptop to sign into the “Truth Talk” chat room. He quickly clicks through his admin passcode and finds hundreds of attenders already signed in online. When username “Father Zakaria” shows up, they begin to ask him questions about Islam and Christianity, all behind the safety of their screen names. Botros will spend six straight hours this way, answering questions and having conversations while anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 chat room guests show up.
In a virtual form of what others might describe as one-on-one discipleship, Botros says he moves some chats to private rooms where they can continue apart from other watchful Muslims: “People who are affected by the preaching come to our chat room and confess Christ. I let them say in detail what happened to them.” Usually the conversations are typed rapid-fire in Arabic, but occasionally Botros and others use a mic. He’s grown adept also at outing chat room insurgents. One recently became so angry with Botros’ responses, the participant declared, “I want to kill you and I want to cut your neck, but I cannot find you.”
Audience participation is a feature of the TV shows, too. Producers screen callers from around the world (using Skype and SMS numbers) and feed a select few into a queue for questions at the end of each show. Of about 1,500 call-ins each week, five or six get on the air. In the control room their names light up on an oversized screen: Emad from Lebanon, Aras from Germany, Farag from France, and others. If Botros can’t answer a question he is quick to tell a caller, “Look it up on St. Google.” To Western ears it sounds hokey, but to many in the Muslim world it’s the first time a man of the cloth has given them permission to find answers themselves.
And he is remembered for it: “I pray for that man every day,” a recent convert from Islam told me on the streets of Damascus when asked if he’d heard of Father Zakaria. His reaction is common: Among Muslims or Christians in the Arab world, Botros wins the kind of recognition Ed Sullivan had with Americans a generation ago.
Is your heart always in the Middle East?” I ask. “Yes,” Botros replies, “in the Muslim world always.” Botros grew up in a Christian family in Alexandria. Muslim attackers killed his older brother when he was a young teenager. “Instead of anger against Muslims, the Lord saved me from that. I had pity on them.”
In his last year of high school he had a Muslim teacher who regularly challenged him for worshipping “a dead God.” Botros said he realized, “If I answered him from the Bible it would be no good. I had to read the Muslim books and the Quran itself.” Throughout his university years, he said, he read all the teachings of Muhammad as a way to answer Muslim questions about Christianity.
“This is a problem for every Christian in Egypt: He faces a fight for his faith in the schools. So I started to write what I had learned about Islam and how to answer questions about Christianity. I wrote them in books and started to publish them, small books. These were apologetics, defending our faith,” he said.
The books eventually led to deep discussions with leading Islamic scholars in Cairo, where he became an ordained Coptic priest in the 1950s. He learned that the scholars doubt some of their “official” teachings because no one can agree on which version of the Quran is authentic and which teachings are original. He began to learn more about what he calls “the ugly face of Islam,” the contradictions between Muhammad’s own life and his teachings, between Islam’s earlier and later writings, and he began to speak about them.
Twice authorities jailed him for preaching the gospel to Muslims, once in 1981 for one year, and again in 1989. A judge sentenced him to life in prison but ordered him released on the condition of forced exile: He had to leave Egypt and never return. By that time he had ministered in Cairo for over 30 years but moved to England with his wife, where he ministered in a Coptic church for 11 years before he said he “retired” to begin the television and internet ministry.
“What do you fear?” I ask.
“Fear? I fear nothing,” says Botros. “My dictionary does not contain the word fear. I believe in God and I believe that the epistle of Ephesians says we are created in Jesus Christ for a plan, which was engaged from the early beginning. No one can cut it, and when it is completed no one can continue it.”
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CSW calls for official investigation into Cairo Church riot
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 10:28 PM.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is calling for an official investigation into a recent attack on a Coptic church building in the East Cairo district of Ain Shams that later flared into mass rioting on the streets.
The Coptic Church of St Mary and Anba Abraam was attacked on Sunday by a mob of thousands, who began by protesting outside the church’s newly constructed extension building.
The protest soon degenerated into a riot that lasted until 4am the following morning. The crowd initially threw stones at the new church building, and as the violence escalated, bottles and gas canisters were launched at church, despite the presence of Christians inside the building.
Several people were wounded and the glass front of the St Mary and Anba Abraam church building was completely destroyed in the attack. Video footage of the event shows protestors setting banners alight while chanting Islamic slogans. The violence ended after police reinforcements arrived to disperse the crowd.
The church building was initially purchased in October 2003, and had been converted from a textiles factory to provide a range of services to the Christian community. After the church gained government permission to practise religious rites on the third floor of the building in May 2008, the first mass was held on 23 November. However the Sheikh of a nearby mosque that was still under construction unexpectedly announced its official opening on the same evening, and called for a large-scale protest.
A church member asked, “Why? Why are they doing this? We are not opening a nightclub, but a place of prayer. Are we regressing or progressing as a society? We funded this building ourselves, we’re not asking for anything, but to be allowed to pray in a privately owned building that we’ve funded ourselves.”
Police are reported to have questioned up to 60 rioters. However, eight people who were arrested have since been released, three of whom were Christians.
CSW’s Advocacy Director Alexa Papdouris said: “We are deeply shocked by the scale of the violence in Cairo, especially since the building under attack had already been officially approved by the state authorities.
“We call on the Egyptian government to bring to justice the instigators and perpetrators of the violence, and to prevent attacks on churches in the future by providing equitable laws governing the construction of places of worship.
“Given the frequency of anti-Christian violence in Egypt over the past year, we also call on the Egyptian authorities to urgently recognise the desperate need for greater protection of vulnerable Christian communities.”
THE OFFICE OF GREAT LADY OF THE PATRIARCHATE AWARDED TO MRS MARIANNA VARDINOGIANNI
0 Comments Published by georgy on Wednesday, December 10 at 11:19 PM.
Immediately afterwards His Beatitude welcomed Mrs Marianna Vardinogiannis, Good Will Ambassadress for UNESCO, with whom he also held private talks in his Patriarchal Office.Afterwards, in the Patriarchal Throne room, His Beatitude conferred the Office of Great Lady of the Throne of St mark, on Mrs Vardinogiannis.During his address, the Venerable Primate of the Church of the Alexandrines, spoke of the importance of the work done by mrs Vardinogiannis as a Good Will Ambassadress for UNESCO, as Chairlady of the "Elpida" Association and the Vardinogiannis Institute, for the children of the world. He also mentioned the long friendship he has had with the Vardinogiannis family.
In her reply, the Great Lady expressed her admiration for the humanistic and missionary work of the ancient Patriarchate on the African Continent, praised His Beatitude and assured him that she will always support him for the good of the suffering people, especially the children, of Africa.
Following this modest ceremony, which was attended by the Elder Metropolitan Dionysios of Leontopolis, Vicar General of the Patriarchate, His Grace Gabriel, Bishop of Mareotis, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Mr Theodoros Kassimis, His Excellency the Former Minister Mr Andreas Zaimis, the Consol General of Greece in Alexandria Mr George Diakofotakis, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr Haralambos Katsimbris, the Megas Archon Logothetis of the Patriarchate Mr Spyridon Kamalakis, the Chairman of the Office Bearerd of the Throne Professor Theodoros Panagopoulos, representaitves of Hellenic Societies, African students of the Patriarchal Academy of Alexandria who sang hymns. The dignitaries were then taken on a conducted tour of the Patriarchal Mansion and the Patriarchal Library.
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The Pilgrimage of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr to the Orthodox Church of Greece Ended
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 11:11 PM.
On December3-4 a part of the pilgrim group with Archbishop Pavel at the head visited the Monastery of St. Panteleimon at the Holy Mount of Athos. At that time another group of pilgrims bowed unto the shrines of Salonika. There His Beatitude met with Council General of Ukraine in Salonika S.O. Shutenko to whom he handed in the jubilee order "1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus".
On December 4 the group flew to the island of Kerkira (Corfu). Next day in the morning the Ukrainian pilgrims bowed unto the relics of the Holy Hierarch Spyridon of Tremithous. At the Cathedral where the relics rest the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was met by Metropolitan Nectarios of Kerkira, who personally led the guests to the holy relics.
Having bowed unto the relics, the pilgrims were invited to dinner by Metropolitan Nectarios. At that time they were informed on the repose of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II. On the instance Metropolitan Nectarios and Metropolitan Volodymyr officiated the Office for the Dead (Litia) for the departed patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II. At the end of the meeting His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr awarded Metropolitan Nectarios with jubilee order "1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus".
After dinner the group of pilgrims flew to the Athens. At the airport they were met Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine in Greece V.I Tsibukh and archimandrite Prokopios Petridis, co-worker of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece. They accompanied the guests to the residence of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Greece. Archbishop Hieronymos II of Athens and All Greece personally met His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine at the hall of his residence. He greeted the pilgrims on the arrival to the land of Greece and warmly recalled his visit to Kyiv at the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Rus. On behalf of the Orthodox Church of Greece he expressed condolence on the death of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II.
Having visited the Archbishop of Athens' office, the pilgrims headed to the Ukrainian Embassy in Greece. The Primate if the Ukrainian Orthodox Churchblessed the premises of the Embassy after the repairs made there. He also handed the jubilee order "1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus" to the Ambassador of Ukraine and the Counsel to Ambassador of Ukraine T.M. Malyshevsky. .
On December 5, in the evening the group of pilgrims returned to Ukraine.
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A Liturgy service in Holy Sepulcher in the memory of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 11:03 PM.
A Liturgy was held this morning in Jerusalem in the memory of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and all Russia. The Liturgy was headed by Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna, Archbishop of Sevastia, of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. A number of priests and deacons helped him during the service, in the presence of hundreds of pilgrimages from all over the world. A representative of the Russian church was also present in the liturgy. Archbishop Theodosios in his speech gave his condolences to the Russian church in the name of his His Beatitude Theophilos III. He also talked about the good deeds of his Holiness Patriarch Alexy and his contributions to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Each diocese (currently, there are 156 of them) will elect three delegates who will attend the Council, Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan Kirill said on Wednesday after the Synod, which set up a commission in charge of preparations for the Council. Patriarchal parishes in the
Also, a special quota will be assigned to religious schools and stauropegial monasteries (being in direct management of the Church leader). Currently, there are 25 cloisters in Patriarch's direct management, and 38 seminaries in the
The total number of archbishops in the Moscow Patriarchate today is 190, the Department for External Church Relations told Interfax-Religion.
According to the Synod's resolution, the lists of diocesan delegates will be sent to
It was announced on Wednesday, the Local Council will be held in
New Russian Patriarch will be elected on January 27-29
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 10:54 PM.
"The Divine Liturgy will be conducted in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on January 25 after which the first session of the Bishops' Council will be held which in line with the charter of the Russian Orthodox Church precedes the Local Council," he said. The enthronement of the new Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia will take place on February 1, 2009.
Preparations for the enthronement of the new Patriarch, who will be elected by on January 27-29, will be done on January 30-31, he said. The enthronement of the new Patriarch is expected to be held in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
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“THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR NATION’S LIFE THROUGH ITS SERVICE”
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 10:51 PM.
Three topics were on the agenda of the fourth day of discussions: the youth and the church, ecumenical relations and Armenia-Diaspora cooperation. Ms. Asdghig Djamboulian (
The participants in the Assembly comprehensively discussed these topics during three consecutive issues, always basing their positions on the supreme interests of our church and nation. An emphasis was put on finding new ways of attracting the youth. The inter-faith and inter-church relations were considered particularly important, especially given the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s geographical position and its rich ecumenical experience and its active involvement in Christian-Muslim dialogue. With respect to the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation, the Assembly reaffirmed the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s positive approach and firm commitment.
The final item on the agenda of the meeting was the election of the Central Committee’s Religious and Lay Committee for the next four years. The following were elected as members of the Religious Committee: Archbishop Ardavazt Terterian, Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian, Archbishop Varoujan Hegelian, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Bishop Shahan Sarkissian, Bishop Shahe Panossian V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, V. Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Mandjigian and Father Masis Tchobouyan.
Elected as members of the Lay Committee were Hagop Ateshian, Vicken Kassabian, Dikran Djinbashian, Dr. Bedros Karadjerdjian, Dr. Hratch Hadjetian, Dr. Vahe Yacoubian, Dr. Dertad Mangigian, Khajag Dikirdjian, Dr. Jirayr Basmadjian, Hagop Yapoudjian, Dr. Levon Tavtian, Daron Avedissian and Ara Denirdjian, representing the world-wide dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
Concluding the General Assembly, His Holiness Aram I addressed the attendants and praised the dedication they demonstrated towards our church and nation. His Holiness summarized that dedication in three words: faithfulness, commitment and vision. The Pontiff then spoke about the mission of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and its priorities for the next four years on the national, church, inter-church, inter-faith and international levels. “The Catholicosate of Cilicia will continue its ecumenical vocation. Our Holy See will continue its cooperation with the Catholicosate of All Armenians. It will continue supporting
At the end of his Pontifical address, His Holiness commended all the delegates. Particular praise was paid to the Religious and Lay committees ending their terms of service. Two members, Mr. Yervant Pamboukian and Mr. Tsolag Tutelian, received special recognition for their active participation in the life and mission of the church for over 50 years.
The Diocese of Lebanon organized a dinner in honor of the General Assembly’s participants in the evening.
REQUIEM SERVICE IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN ARMENIA 20 YEARS AGO
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 10:46 PM.
A Requiem service was held in the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias on December 7 to mark the 20th anniversary of the devastating earthquake that hit parts of
The celebrant spoke about the dreadful event that sent shockwaves through the Armenian nation globally. He observed that this natural disaster became an extraordinary occasion for demonstrating national unity, when Armenians around the world hurried to assist their compatriots in need with a strong sense of national belonging. He also referred to the humanitarian assistance provided by the international community, which showed, he added, that regardless of color, ethnicity or religion, human beings remain true to one another and care for each other especially in time of need. His Holiness Aram I, the clergy and the believers attending the Mass prayed for the souls of the victims, asking the Almighty to protect our nation and all of humanity from such disasters.
MECC OFFICIALS MEET WITH HIS HOLINESS ARAM I IN ANTELIAS
0 Comments Published by georgy on at 10:41 PM.
Senior officials from the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held a meeting in Antelias on December 8. The President of the Council’s
The participants reviewed and assessed the main aspects of the MECC’s activities over the last few months as well as the meeting held with the representatives of the ecumenical partners.
The meeting adopted important decisions of administrative and financial nature to be executed at two stages. During the meeting His Holiness also held a phone conversation with Dr. Sam Kobia, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches to discuss the prospects of further expanding the cooperation between the two councils.
Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II laid to rest
1 Comments Published by georgy on Tuesday, December 9 at 10:12 PM.
MOSCOW, December 9 (RIA Novosti) - Patriarch Alexy II was laid to rest on Tuesday in Moscow after a grand funeral ceremony attended by top Orthodox figures, political leaders, and thousands of ordinary people.
Alexy II, who died of heart failure on Friday aged 79, was buried in Moscow's Epiphany Cathedral, where he was enthroned as patriarch in 1990, a year before the demise of the atheist Soviet Union.
The burial ceremony in the cathedral, which included prayers for the dead, was attended by top church clergy from Russia and abroad. Political leaders and other secular figures were not expected at the ceremony in the Epiphany Cathedral, the Moscow Patriarchy said.
When the clergy left the cathedral after the burial, mourners were let inside to bid farewell to the late patriarch.
The funeral service in the Christ the Savior Cathedral earlier in the day, where the patriarch had lain in state since Saturday, was attended by clergy from across the Orthodox Christian world, as well as representatives of the world's major religions.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, as well as the leaders of Belarus, Armenia and Serbia, Cabinet ministers, top Kremlin officials, and senior lawmakers also attended the funeral service.
Speaking during the service, the church's acting leader, Metropolitan Kirill, said: "Today his Holiness, standing before the face of God, can say that he left us with a different Church: no longer powerless and weak."
"The Church is with its people... Millions of people have realized that without God and his truth, there can be no human truth," he said.
The huge, gold-domed cathedral near the Kremlin was demolished by the Bolsheviks and rebuilt during Alexy II's leadership, along with hundreds of other churches. Thousands of half-ruined churches and monasteries were reconstructed across the country.
The patriarch's body was taken to the Epiphany Cathedral after the six-hour service in a procession led by Metropolitan Kirill. The 7 km (over 4 miles) journey across the city center, disrupted traffic until late afternoon. The hearse containing the body was given a police escort.
Moscow police said more than 100,000 people paid their last respects to Alexy II between Saturday evening and Tuesday. Mourners waited for hours around the clock to file past the coffin. Tens of thousands took to the streets to see the funeral procession on Tuesday as unseasonal rain hit the Russian capital.
The Patriarchy denied media reports earlier on Tuesday that Kirill, one of the candidates to replace the late leader, had fainted during the liturgy in the Christ the Savior Cathedral.
Kirill, 62, who heads the church's foreign relations department, was helped away during the service, but later returned.
"I am glad to give brotherly comfort to those who rushed to make diagnoses and forecasts. The metropolitan is feeling fine," Patriarchy spokesman Vsevold Chaplin said. "He did not faint. And there is no danger to his life."
The church's national council convenes within the next six months to elect a new leader.
The line of people showing up to say goodbye was more than 1 kilometer long on Monday despite the heavy rain.
Radio shows and Internet forums were full of people complaining that it took them two to three hours to get to work on Monday and that the already-overcrowded metro would be the only option on Tuesday if they wanted to move about within the city.
Traffic jams stretched into the Moscow region on Monday as a result of the street closures, Interfax reported.
The city police have asked drivers to refrain from using their cars in the city center on Tuesday, since the streets leading from Christ the Savior Cathedral to the Bogoyavlensky Cathedral, where Alexy will be buried in one of the side chapels, will be closed, Itar-Tass reported.
"We urgently ask drivers to avoid using their cars, especially in central Moscow," a spokesman from the City Police said, Interfax reported.
"Judging from the situation on the city's streets, Muscovites don't listen to recommendations or requests from city authorities," he said. "As a result, they lose their time in the traffic jams instead of saving it by using public transport and the metro."
The requiem service is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Christ the Savior Cathedral, and the procession will set out for the Bogoyavlensky Cathedral at 1 p.m. The burial ceremony there is scheduled to last until 4 p.m.
Among the foreign guests expected to attend are Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, Serbian President Boris Tadic and Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has sent a special delegation to the funeral.
Metro officials said Monday that they are expecting a busier Tuesday than usual, but the system is prepared to deal with the extra riders.
"We are not taking any extra measures Tuesday," metro spokesman Pavel Sukharnikov said Monday. "The metro will work at its usual rhythm and can deal with any problems."
The metro carries some 9.5 million passengers daily -- more than those of New York and London combined.
The country's three national, state-controlled television channels -- Rossia, Channel One and NTV -- said Monday that they would not broadcast commercials or entertainment programs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. in observance of the funeral ceremonies, Interfax reported. Mayor Yury Luzhkov has ordered that all New Year's lighting be turned off until midnight Tuesday, the report said.
Ostozhenka and Prechistenka ulitsas and Soimonovsky Proyezd were closed to traffic Monday and will remain closed through Tuesday. At 6 a.m. Tuesday, City Police will close Maroseika, Pokrovka, Novoryazanskaya, Spartakovskaya, Bakuninskaya and Staraya Basmannaya ulitsas as well as Razgulyai Square and Yelokhovsky Proyezd.
Mokhovaya, Znamenka, Nikitskaya, Tverskaya, Petrovka and Myasnitskaya ulitsas, Okhotny Ryad, Pokrovsky and Chistoprudny bulvars, Teatralny Proyezd, Borovitskaya and Manezh squares and the Garden Ring at the intersection with Ulitsa Pokrovka will be closed for part of the day for the funeral procession.
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The first liturgy for the repose of the deceased Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated at his coffin at the Church of Christ the Saviour
0 Comments Published by brj on Monday, December 8 at 11:25 PM.
During the night the flow of the faithful who came to part with the Primate of the Russian Church did not run out. Their line stretched out from the Church of Christ the Saviour for many hundreds of meters.
Among those who came to pay the last respect to His Holiness the Patriarch were also leaders and representatives of Muslim communities in Russia.
In his oration before the service for the dead began, Patriarch Locum Tenens Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, said, ‘The life of His Holiness the Patriarch was fully devoted to the service of the Church of Christ, and perhaps everyone who knew him is trying now again and again to perceive his way of thinking and his spirit and to become aware of his contribution to the history of our Church’.
His Eminence Kirill recalled the Reading of the Gospel and the Apostle for the day. Thus, a passage from the Gospel tells the story about the Saviour’s healing on a Saturday of a woman who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years: she was bent over and could not straighten up. Indignant because Jesus healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’ But the Lord condemned him for hypocrisy, saying ‘Should not this woman whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’
Hypocrisy condemned by the Lord is a splitting of conscience when we are one in private and not the same before other people, Metropolitan Kirill reminded the congregation. ‘This inner splitting is extremely dangerous for one’ spiritual life, for it does not only create a dividing wall in our relations with people but also destroys one’s inner integrity’, he emphasized.
‘His Holiness the Patriarch was a man of integrity, the same inside and outside. And those who were close to him were well aware of it’, the Patriarchal Locum Tenens said, sharing his remembrance of the deceased Primate, adding, ‘He never played the hypocrite or offended anybody by rude words or sharp actions. At the same time, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy could clearly express his disagreement with people’s actions or agree with them and encourage them. He was the same with those who were close to him and with those who were far from him – equally tempered and natural. He was an example of how one’s inner life should be consonant with one’s external life’.
Addressing the words from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 4:5 ‘One Lord, one faith, one baptism’, which were read out during the service, Metropolitan Kirill stressed that the Letter speaks of church unity a symbol of which in the Russian Church was His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.
‘It is not accidental that during the first liturgy for the repose of his soul at the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour, where our Primate lies in state on his Patriarchal throne, the Lord makes an appeal to us, archpastors, clergy and the people of God, through the fiery words of the apostle – a call to safeguard the unity of our Holy Church, the unity of entire Orthodoxy. This was a concern for the deceased Primate’, Metropolitan Kirill underscored, adding, ‘Standing at the coffin we hold so dear, we must be ready to respond to the call of the Saviour to preserve unity and fellowship, to defend our Church together, her being, beauty and power so that through them the beauty and power of God may be revealed’.
The Patriarchal Locum Tenens called upon the faithful to lift up prayers for the deceased Patriarch Alexy so that the Lord may give rest to his soul in His heavenly mansions, comfort the souls of his relatives and friends, those who grieved humanly, standing at his coffin. ‘I believe the Lord will deign to give us all His mercy as the deceased Primate asked him in his prayers’, Metropolitan Kirill said.
DECR Communication Service
Parastas memorial service conducted at the coffin of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy
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In his address to the congregation, Metropolitan Juvenaly testified that it would not be an exaggeration to say that entire peoples of Russia felt profound sorrow, crying and weeping as they knew that the deceased Patriarch prayed and interceded for them, safeguarding peace in his homeland and building unity.
“We all who have gathered together today at the Primate’s coffin were his closes helpers. Here there are vicar bishops and members of the diocesan council and deans – all with whom he daily shared the responsibility for governing the Moscow Diocese as its ruling bishop. And we feel a special bereavement, but we know that sorrow cannot be drowned in tears. For us all it is a trial, a lesson’, His Eminence Juvenaly said.
Speaking about the deceased Patriarch Alexy, the metropolitan described him as a man of faith. ‘Without personal faith he could not have returned the faith in God to Russian people who had lived and had been raised under atheism. He attracted our people to Christ, and today we should continue the task he set us, not to weaken our service’, he said.
Having announced that the Moscow clergy would celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the morning at the Church of Christ the Saviour, Metropolitan said addressing his concelebrants, ‘It is an appropriate moment for us before we have said our prayer to God to turn to our First Hierarch, asking his forgiveness for all our imperfections. He trusted us, and we always sought to be obedient to the Church through him. We were aware that we served not a man but a Patriarch through whom we serve God and sought to do it in good faith. There is no man who lived and did not sin. And we sinned and voluntary or involuntary offended the rank and dignity of His Holiness the Patriarch when we proved unable to do what he wanted us to do. And at this moment I would like to appeal to you, archpastors and pastors, who stand around the body of our father and Patriarch, to kneel and ask him as his brothers and children for his forgiveness for all we could have tolerated in our imperfection until the last moment of his life’.
‘Forgive us, Holy Master and Father, and bless us for continuing our service of the holy Church, our people and our motherland! And our heartfelt prayer will always be for you’, the archpastor said and expressed hope that His Holiness Patriarch Alexy now acquired the daring before God to pray for the living and help people.
The metropolitan reminded the congregation that the parting with the deceased Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church took place in the days of the Presentation of the Holy Virgin in the Temple, and worshippers asked her to accompany the immortal soul of the Patriarch to the Throne of God in the Heavenly Kingdom.
DECR Communication Service
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONVEYS HIS CONDOLENCES TO THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH FOR THE PASSING AWAY OF HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY II
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His Eminence
Your Eminence,
It is with profound sorrow that we heard the passing away of His Holiness Alexy II, the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. We, as former Moderator of the World Council of Churches and as spiritual leader, have known His Holiness, his perspectives and vision. In fact, His Holiness was a great spiritual leader who led with courage and commitment the Russian Orthodox Church for eighteen years. He was called to his pontifical ministry at a most crucial period of the history of Russia. At a time of great change and challenge His Holiness was able to engage his church in a process of spiritual renewal by responding to the emerging realities and expectations of the people. He gave a renewed dynamism to church-society relationship, enhanced the evangelistic, educational and diakonal witness of the church, strengthening at the same time its ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue and collaboration.
On this sad occasion, on behalf of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, its hierarchy and people, and personally we would like to extend our deep condolences to Your Eminence, to the Holy Synod, to the clergy and the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church. May God accept the soul of His Holiness Alexy II in His heavenly kingdom.
Your in Christ
ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA
Mourners, many carrying bouquets, queued up over several streets in spite of the cold drizzle to bid farewell to the Orthodox patriarch who died of heart failure on Friday. He was 79.
U.S. President George W. Bush offered his condolences to the people and to the members of the Russian Orthodox Church, according to White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
"The President's heart is with the community of Russian believers as they continue to rebuild the rich spiritual traditions of Russia," she said Friday.
Alexy II was appointed leader of the Russian Church in 1990 and is credited with restoring the Church as a central moral and spiritual force in society after years of repression under the Soviet Union. During his 18 years at the helm of the world’s largest Orthodox church, he oversaw the construction of thousands of new churches across Russia.
The patriarch had to fight off frequent accusations, however, that he used to work for the KGB as well as criticism that the Church had become too closely aligned to the Kremlin under his leadership.
Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kalingrad has been appointed interim leader of the Russian Orthodox Church until a new leader is chosen in the next six months.
Alexy II will lie in state at Christ the Savior until his funeral at Moscow’s Epiphany Cathedral on Tuesday.
Russian Muslims thankful to late Patriarch for protecting Islam
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"At times when campaigns slandering Islam, religious scandals were launched in this country and especially in the West Patriarch Alexy II came to the defense of truth and called for making a difference between religion and extremism, terrorism and crime," Ravil Gainutdin said in his Monday sermon in the Moscow cathedral mosque on the occasion of the feast of Eid Al-Adha.
He called the Patriarch a peace keeper, a person of open spirit, an advocate of strengthening religious peace, promoting a dialogue and cooperation between the traditional regions of Russia.
"Not just the head of the Church but a statesman and public figure has died," the mufti said. On behalf of the Council of Muftis he expressed deep and sincere condolences to the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church and all compatriots on the death of the Patriarch.
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Leaders of six local Churches to attend Patriarch's funeral in Moscow
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Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II, Patriarch Daniel of Romania, Metropolitan Christopher of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Archbishops Anastasios of Tirana and Ieronymos of Athens. The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church will be buried on Tuesday in line with his will in the Epiphany (Yelokhovsky) Cathedral in Moscow after a funeral service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
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Late Patriarch can be canonized only after 50 years - official
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"The glorification commission of the Holy Synod holds the opinion that it is possible to consider the canonization of some one Christian or another no less than 50 years after his or her demise," member of the glorification commission Archpriest Georgy Mitrofanov told Interfax-Religion on Sunday.
There are almost no precedents when someone has been canonized earlier, he said.
He named as the key criteria for canonization "a long period of public reverence during which people pray much for a specific person, order memorial services and also if it is not the case of a martyr, that is a Christian dying for his or her faith - miracle-making related to prayers for this person (healing, effective spiritual assistance)."
Canonization also requires a thorough study of the life and activities of the potential saint, Father Georgy said. He said that three Russian Patriarchs have been canonized - Job (died in 1607, glorified in 1989), Hermogenes (died in 1612, glorified in 1914) and Tikhon (died in 1925, glorified in 1989).
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The CE Secretary General pays tribute to Patriarch Alexy
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Strasbourg, December 7, Interfax - The Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis has expressed his deep sadness following the death of Patriarch Alexy II, the head of Russian Orthodox Church.
"I wish to pay tribute to Patriarch Alexy II for his important contribution to the inter-confessional dialogue. He will also be remembered for the key role he played during the delicate period of transition in his country after the collapse of the Soviet Union", he said.
Davis offered his deep sympathy and condolences to the government and people of Russia and to the followers of the Russian Orthodox Church across the world.
Patriarch Alexy passed away on day of blowing up the Cathedral of Christ the Savior
0 Comments Published by georgy on Sunday, December 7 at 9:33 PM.
Moscow, December 7, Interfax – Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia died on the day tragic for the Church: the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was blown up 77 years ago on December 5, 1931.
Destiny of the main Russian cathedral is closely connected with Patriarch Alexy's personal destiny as thanks to him the church was restored in 1990s. One of the main tasks in the primate's life - restoration of the Church unity divided by revolution and civil war - was completed here in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior with signing the Act of Canonical Communion.
"The Lord summoned His Holiness the Patriarch, when the primate fulfilled the task of restoring the Church divided and weakened by the catastrophes of the 20th century, while provisional coincidence of blowing up the Cathedral and earthily decease of the Patriarch should remind us that if we don't take up Alexy II affair on strengthening church unity and presentation of Russia into the Church, then the evil may come back," Head of the Moscow division of the Union of Orthodox citizens Kirill Frolov told an Interfax-Religion correspondent.
The day before, the Vozvrascheniye public movement suggested renaming Kropotkinskaya
Activists believe this is the way to restore justice taking into account that marble plates torn down from the blown up cathedral were used in the interior design of the metro station. Metro station named after revolutionary Kropotkin for Patriarchal and thus to commemorate the late primate of the Russian Church as this station is located not far from the patriarchal residence and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia says Alexy II was a historical personality
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Moscow, December 7, Interfax – The Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia condoles with the Russian Orthodox Church in connection with Patriarch Alexy II's decease.
"The great man has died and the whole epoch has passed away with him. Patriarch Alexy II's death is a great loss for the Russian Orthodox Church and for the entire religious community," FJCR President Alexander Boroda said in his address handed over to Interfax-Religion.
"His life was laid on the altar of serving people. Patriarch Alexy II often undertook the mission of peace-maker in times difficult for Russia and his word kept people from unrighteous deeds," the address went on to say.
Its author reminds that the Patriarch came up with peacemaking initiatives on the days of confrontation near the Russian White House in 1993, during the Balkans conflicts, the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorny Karabach, military actions in Moldavia, conflicts in the Northern Caucasus and Far East.
"Patriarch Alexy II was not only a great religious figure of the present, but a historical personality as well. It is impossible to imagine new Russia without enormous work on reviving the country that Alexy II carried out during the years of his patriarchal ministry," the Federation President stresses.
The Patriarch paid much attention to interreligious dialogue and good neighborly relations between various religions, Boroda reminds.
According to him, the Jewish world remembers when Alexy met with the group of New York rabbis in 1991 and said: "Your law is our law, your prophets are our prophets."
More than twenty years of Patriarch Alexy's leadership in the Russian Orthodox Church formed and strengthened cooperation between the country's Orthodox world and Jewish community, with Muslim community, with representatives of other religious trends on the questions of social ministry and opposition to various vices of today's society," the FJCR says.
"Jewish tradition says that people who led righteous life don't die as their deeds go on living. Today Alexy II is not with us anymore. But his outstanding deeds have stayed with us as well as the blessed memory of a person who did so much good for Russia," the Federation head summed up his address.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Ukraine on Patriarch Alexy II
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A Word on the book "Life Journey of the Patriarch", prepared for publication in February, 2009, the 80th birthday anniversary of the Patriarch
In the difficult periods of the Church history the Lord providentially chose as her Primates the people who are capable of leading the bark of the Church without encumbrance through the waves of the sea of life.
The Lord chose His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II as Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church in a difficult historical period. It was a critical period in the history of the Church - the end of God-fighting, perestroika, breakdown of the Soviet Union, revival of the Uniate movement, emergence of schisms and energetic activity of various sects and non-religious movements.
At the same time it was a blissful period for the Church, when, having freed herself from the atheist imprisonment, she started to revive spiritually. Thousands of the new churches and monasteries were opened, the Orthodox communities organised. The Church received the possibility to preach openly, to do the deeds of mercy and social service. .
In such circumstances a heavy cross devolved upon the shoulders of the First Hierarch - the responsibility to channelize the processes, developing in the Church, to be directed in the right spiritual canonical course. And His Holiness Patriarch Alexy copes with this task with dignity, with assistance of the God's All-mighty hand. In the period of his tenure the Russian Orthodox Church has significantly grown quantitatively and qualitatively. As it was throughout the period of its more than 1020-years' history it continues keeping the Holy Orthodox faith intact. The personal qualities of His Holiness facilitate this task to a high extent - these are strictness and exactingness combined with kindness and love, high encyclopedism and a gift of eloquence, ability to build kind relations with the high and mighties for the benefit of the Church, care and concern of the flock. All these qualities have won him love and respect both of the episcopate, clergy and believers of the Russian Orthodox Church, and of the social and political leaders as well. His Holiness enjoys high authority of the Universal Orthodoxy and all over the Christian world.
His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow Alexy II visited the Ukrainian Orthodox Church several times throughout his patriarchal tenure - in 1990, 1997 and 2008.
In 1990 His Holiness the Patriarch brought to Ukraine the Tomos on granting self-governance to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, he also officiated the Divine Liturgy in St. Sophia Cathedral and visited the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and Pochaev Lavra.
In 1997 together with the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Georgia the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church took part in the symposium "Science, religion and ecology", dedicated to the problems of the Black Sea region.
In 2008 the Ukrainian Orthodox Church met His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia at the festivities dedicated to the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus by the Holy and Equal to the Apostles Prince Vladimir. The divine services performed at the hill of St, Vladimir and in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra gathered thousands of believers, who came to pray with their First Hierarch, it was the visible token of unity of the Holy Orthodoxy; of the unity for preservation and restoration of which His Holiness the Patriarch and the Orthodox people of Ukraine pray for.
His Holiness the Patriarch Alexy II will enter the history of the Russian Orthodox Church as a symbol if her gathering and spiritual revival. We pray to All-merciful God for strengthening of the spiritual and bodily force of His Holiness for the blessed labour for the God's glory, for the benefit of His Holy Church and the faithful people.
Orthodox Church in India pays Tribute to the Russian Patriarch
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Mr Abraham P Koshy
(Head- Public Relations-OBL Forum)
Condolence from the Patriarch of Antioch andall the East
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President Bush offers condolences as Russian Church Mourns
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"President Bush offers his sincere condolences to the people of Russia and to the members of the Russian Orthodox Church," Perino said in a statement.
"The President's heart is with the community of Russian believers as they continue to rebuild the rich spiritual traditions of Russia," she said.
Alexy II, who was 79, oversaw a post-Soviet renaissance of the Russian Church yet was steadily criticized as subservient to the Kremlin.
"Alexy became Patriarch at a time when Russia was in transition and during his term in office spiritual faith in Russia experienced an astounding revival after years of repression under Communism," said Perino.
Despite leading the Church during a period of robust resurgence, Alexy II was regarded by many as essentially an establishment figure and was criticized by some as being too ready to serve the Kremlin's political causes.
Born Alexei Ridiger, he made his ecclesiastical career at a time when the Church was controlled by Soviet authorities before forging an alliance with the new Russian state under presidents Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin.
Alexy II took stances on foreign policy issues that often matched the Kremlin line, criticizing NATO strikes against Yugoslavia, the US-led war in Iraq and defending the rights of ethnic Russians in the former Soviet Union.
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Bartholomew I: Alexy II felt his end approaching, and worked for peace in the Church
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Yesterday, during first vespers for the feast of St. Nicholas in Ipsomatia, behind the walls of the Yedikule, Bartholomew officiated over prayers for the deceased patriarch. His voice trembling with emotion, he said: "the mother Church of Constantinople shares in the sorrow of our Russian brothers, over the death of our brother Alexy, patriarch of Moscow."
Bartholomew I recalled that "sometimes there was tension between us, and we did not have the same opinion on various questions concerning the Orthodox Church." Constantinople and Moscow have gone through difficult moments over the question of the independence of the Estonian Orthodox Church, which Moscow wanted to control; on relations with Catholics; on the Orthodox Churches of the diaspora; on the attitude toward the Ukrainian Churches. On this last point, Bartholomew added: "when I went [to Ukraine] to participate in the celebration of the 1020 years of the Christianization of the Russian people, after the celebration of the liturgy and after the official lunch, we had a long and productive meeting, in which [Alexy] told me that he felt his end approaching, and that we had to work to reestablish peace within the Church. He told me that he might not be able to come to the pan-Orthodox meeting last October. In spite of his dour predictions, and disobeying the orders of his own doctors, Patriarch Alexy came to the meeting because he had a strong desire to add his signature to the important final document of the pan-Orthodox meeting, which constitutes the reply of the entire Orthodox Church to the challenges of the contemporary world. With this signature, he left an indelible mark of his testimony."
"Dear brother," Bartholomew added, "may your memory be eternal, and we pray that the Holy Spirit may help the Russian Church to provide a worthy successor to you."
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An Orthodox Parish in South India Mourns over the demise of His Holiness Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and Russia
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Reporting From South India:St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral in the State of Kerala- South India mourns over the demise of the Russian Patriarch His Holiness Alexy II. The Cathedral is believed to be 1500 years old and belongs to the Mavelikara Diocese of the Orthodox Church of the East (Indian Orthodox Church).
A five feet cut out of His Holiness has been placed in the front of the Cathedral. The cut out was placed on behalf of the St Thomas Orthodox Youth Movement .Special prayers were offered for the departed soul of the Patriarch by Vicar Rev Fr Alexander Vattakatu. Special announcements and prayers were held at all parishes and shrines of the Malankara Orthodox Church as per the special order of the Catholicose of Apostolic Throne of St Thomas and Malankara Metropolitan, His Holiness Moron Mor Baselius Marthoma Dydimos I who is supreme head of the Orthodox Church in India.
Snaps:
Mr Boaz Reji John
Special Report:
Mr Abraham P Koshy
(Head – Public Relations, Orthodoxy Beyond Limits)
Moscow, December 6, Interfax – Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia died on the eve of the Day of St. Alexander Nevsky while certain important milestones in his biography were connected with this saint, Interfax-Religion reports. Thus, the first responsible task given to a 16-year old Hipodeacon Alexy in 1945 was to prepare Tallinn Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky to an opening ceremony. Archimandrite Alexy was consecrated to Bishop of Tallinn and Estonia in this cathedral sixteen years later in 1961. Then Bishop Alexy (future Patriarch) didn't let Soviet authorities close St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Many years later, Alexy II insisted on bringing back relics of St. Alexander Nevsky from the Museum of Religion to St. Alexander Nevsky Laura and it became a very important event for the whole Church. The Union of Orthodox Citizens noted that Alexander Nevsky left his mark in the history as a "man who struggled for kneeled down Russia, fought for Orthodoxy and won a victory as he didn't allow dividing the country and the Church."
"Thus, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy didn't allow dividing the Russian Orthodox Church," Head of the Union Moscow division Kirill Frolov said. Saying that Alexy II passed away next day after the feast of the Presentation of the Holy Virgin into the Temple, he stressed that "the whole epoch of Patriarch Alexy was presentation of Russia into the Church, and today we can say that our Primate has brilliantly fulfilled the main task of his life."
Bulgarian President Purvanov sends condolences on the death of Russian Patriarch Alexei II
0 Comments Published by georgy on Saturday, December 6 at 11:38 PM.
Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov sent his condolences to the holy synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on the death of patriarch Alexei II of Moscow and all Russia, the Presidency press office said on December 5 2008.
Estonian-born Patriarch Alexei II died in his residence in Peredelkino, Moscow region on December 5 2008 at the age of 79 Alexei was head of the Russina Orthodox Church for the past 18 years following the fall of communism. His close ties with the new Russian leaders starting from Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev was among reasons why he was able to restore many of the Orthodox Christian places of worship in Russia that for decades had been neglected by the communist regime.
These close ties, however, were among the reasons why some secular Russians viewed Alexei II with suspicion. He was engaged in a number of political matters, mainly by strongly and openly supporting the position of the Russian state including its refusal to recognise the independence of Kosovo. Another controversial case was his appearance in 2001 in a TV commercial for Lukoil, Russia's largest oil company. At the time, the company and the church said it was a natural way to thank the company for its contribution to the rebuilding of church buildings.
One of the highlights of his reign was the pact that Alexei II signed in 2007 with Metropolitan Laurus in 2007 which ended a 80-year long schism within the Russian Orthodox Church.
Laurus had been head of a faction established by the group of White Guard Russians (the colour of the Russian Tsarist army) who fled the Soviet Union for the West after the fall of the Russian empire following the end of World War 1. Another achievement was to bring back religion to school by introducing Orthodox Christian classes in some public schools. In the past 18 years, he had been constantly accused by critics that he had been a KGB agent, which he vigorously denied. He will be buried at Moscow's Epiphany Cathedral.
Metropolitan Kirill elected interim head of Russian Church
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Moscow, December 6, Interfax - Kirill, the Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, was elected on Saturday as the interim head of the Russian Orthodox Church after Patriarch Alexy II died on Friday.
Kirill, 62, was elected at an urgent meeting of the Holy Synod at the countryside patriarchal residence in Peredelkino outside Moscow, the External Church Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate told the Interfax-Religion.
The metropolitan will remain locum tenens up until the election of the new Patriarch that cannot be called earlier than in six months' time.
Metropolitan Kirill (secular name Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyaev) was born in Leningrad (now St.Petersburg) on 20 November 1946 into the family of a priest.
After graduation from the secondary school he entered the Leningrad Theological Seminary in 1965 and then the Leningrad Theological Academy, which he finished in 1970.
Tonsured by Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad and Novgorod with monastic name of Kirill on 3 April 1969, ordained hierodeacon on April 7 and hieromonk on June 1 that same year.
1970-71 - lecturer of dogmatic theology, assistant inspector of the Leningrad Theological Academy and Seminary, private secretary of Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad and Novgorod and form-master of the 1st class of the Seminary.
Elevated to the rank of Archimandrite on 12 September 1971.
1971-74 - representative of the Moscow Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva.
26 December 1974 to 26 December 1984 - Rector of the Leningrad Theological Academy and Seminary.
Consecrated Bishop of Vyborg on 14 March 1976 and elevated to the rank of Archbishop on 2 September 1977.
Appointed Bishop of Smolensk and Vyazma on 26 December 1984 and Administrator of the parishes in the Kaliningrad diocese in 1986.
1988 to the present day - Archbishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad.
13 November 1989 to the present day - chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate (DECR MP) and permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
25 February 1991 - elevated to the rank of Metropolitan.
At present Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad is Permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church from 1989; Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate from 1989; Honorary President of the World Conference on Religion and Peace from 1994; Member of the Presidium of the Interreligious Council of Russia from 1998.
Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia to attend Alexy II’s Funeral
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Tbilisi, December 6, Interfax - Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia plans to travel to Moscow on Sunday, December 7, to attend the funeral of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, which is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, the Georgian Patriarchate reported on Saturday.
On Friday Ilia II served last rites for Alexy II and sent a letter of condolences to the Moscow Patriarchate.
Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, the head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, said earlier on Saturday that Alexy II would be buried on the grounds of the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow. Alexy II himself wished to be buried at the Epiphany Cathedral, where he had conducted services for years and where the relics of St. Alexy, the deceased Patriarch's patron saint, are stored, he said.
Numerous foreign religious leaders to attend Patriarch Alexy II’s funeral in Moscow
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Moscow, December 6, Interfax - The heads and representatives of all Orthodox churches, many other churches, and other prominent religious leaders will come to Moscow to attend the burial ceremony of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.
"Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia, Archbishop Hieronymus II of Athens and All Greece, and Metropolitan Christopher of the Czech Lands and Slovakia have already confirmed their participation in the mourning ceremonies," Moscow Patriarchate spokesman Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin told Interfax-Religion. It was reported earlier that the Roman Catholic Church will be represented at Patriarch Alexy II's funeral by Walter Cardinal Kasper and Roger Cardinal Etchegaray. A number of other Catholic hierarchs are also expected to attend the ceremony, Chaplin said.
The Armenian Apostolic Church will be represented at a high level, the Church of England will be represented by Bishop Richard Chartres of London, and the Evangelical Church of Germany by Bishop Martin Schindehuette, he said. U.S. Rabbi Arthur Schneier, the head of The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, Iranian Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Department Allahshukur Pasha-zade, and other religious leaders will also come to Moscow, he said.
Commission appointed to organize Patriarch Alexy's Funeral
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Moscow, December 6, Interfax - The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on Saturday set up a commission to organize the funeral of Patriarch Alexy II who headed the Church and died on Friday.
The chairman of the commission is Kirill, metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, whom the Synod elected on Saturday as the interim head of the Church.
The commission includes Kliment, metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk and property manager of the Moscow Patriarchate; Arseny, archbishop of Istra; Mark, bishop of Yegoryevsk; Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, sacristan of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior; Archpriest Alexander Abramov, chief of protocol of the Moscow Patriarchate; priest Vladimir Vigilyansky, head of the press service of the patriarchate; Senior Deacon Vladimir Nazarkin, chief of patriarchal protocol; Yevgeny Parkhayev, director of the Sofrino arts enterprise; and Nikolay Kapchuk, chairman of the parochial council of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Epiphany.
Holy Synod Of The Serbian Orthodox Church Sends Condolences To The Russian Orthodox Church
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"With regard to thesudden and early death of His HolinessPatriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, we ask you, along with allhierarchs, priesthood, religious clergy and the faithful, to accept our sinceresympathies. We pray to the Lord for repose of his generous soul, and to grantyou all comfortin your pain for the greathierarch of the Church of Jesus."
Memorial Service For Patriarch Alexy II Of Blessed Repose
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On Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 12 in all churches of the Archbishopric of Belgrade-Karlovac, a memorial service has been served for Patriarch Alexy II of Russia of blessed repose.
With the blessing and on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia, at the Catedral Church at noon the memorial service for Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia od blessed repose has been served by His Grace Bishop Atanasije of Hvosno, a vicar of His Holiness with the concelebration of priesthood and deacons of the Cathedral church. On this occasion, they all chanted along with lots of people unanimously Memory Eternal!
On sunday, Bishop of Hvosno will serve Holy Liturgy at the St. Marko`s church, and after that at 12 will be served memorial service for Patriarch Alexy II of blessed repose at the Russian church of Holy Trinity, which is located next to St. Marko`s church in Belgrade.
Patriarch Alexy II to be buried at Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow
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Alexy II himself wished to be buried at the Epiphany Cathedral, where he had conducted services for years and where the relics of St. Alexy, the deceased patriarch's patron saint, are stored, he said. One of Alexy II's predecessors, Patriarch Sergius I of Moscow and All Russia, is also buried at the Epiphany Cathedral, Metropolitan Kirill said.
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Holy Synod to set date for new Patriarch election soon after Alexy II funeral
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Moscow, December 6, Interfax - The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church will set the date for the Church Council session, at which the 16th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia is to be elected, soon after Patriarch Alexy II's funeral, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, the head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, said in a television program on Saturday. Alexy II will be buried on Tuesday, December 9.
The church's ruling body, the Holy Synod, will convene Saturday in Moscow to choose an interim patriarch, the Moscow Patriarchate said in a statement Friday, just hours after the death of Patriarch Alexy II. Church insiders and experts said there are two frontrunners to succeed Alexy: the often outspoken and independent-minded Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad; and Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, believed to be the Kremlin's preferred successor. According to the Russian Orthodox Church's charter, the 12-member Holy Synod must elect a Locum Tenens, or interim head, from among its members.
The Local Council, comprised of all bishops and elected representatives of clergy and laity, must then be called within six months to elect a new patriarch in a closed session. The procedure for the election is not spelled out in the charter and is defined by the council itself before the vote. Alexy, who was elected by secret ballot in 1990, never publicly christened a preferred successor, leaving church observers little choice but to read tea leaves and scour for signs of how the balance of power is shifting between leading bishops.
During President Dmitry Medvedev's inauguration in May, Metropolitan Kliment sat in the front row next to Alexy, while Metropolitan Kirill was relegated to the back of the Kremlin's Anreyevsky Hall, noted one religious scholar. Kliment's front-row seat at the event could indicate that he has the Kremlin's blessing, the scholar said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The fact that then-President Vladimir Putin appointed Kliment to the Public Chamber in 2005 could also mean he is favored by the Kremlin, said Alexander Soldatov, a Russian Orthodox Church researcher who runs the web site Credo.ru.
Kliment, 59, chairs the chamber's commission on cultural and spiritual heritage and is head of the Moscow Patriarchate's administration. Should Kliment prevail, the church is likely to tightly follow the Kremlin line, a trend that became increasingly strong during Putin's eight years in office, church researchers said. Metropolitan Kirill, meanwhile, is one of the church's most prominent clergyman and is known for his often controversial public statements. In April 2006, Kirill announced that the Western concept of human rights contradicts Orthodox teachings and unveiled a church-sponsored human rights platform proclaiming the primacy of religious tradition over individual freedoms. "He is a more passionate leader who will try to thrust his own views onto the Kremlin," Soldatov of Credo.ru said.
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URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PATRIARCHAL PARISHES IN THE USA!
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Dear Fathers, Brothers and Sisters: This morning, December 5th 2008, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II fell asleep in the Lord. At 7pm, at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral, His Grace Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, will serve a solemn memorial service (panikhida) in memory of the newly departed Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.
We also extend our invitation to be with us on this day to all the State officials, representatives of the Churches, and officers of all the cecular and religious organizations receiving this announcement. To inform us of you coming, please, kindly use the aforementioned telephone numbers.
Sincerely,VRev. Igumen Joseph (Kryukov),Secretary to the Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA. |
Archbishop Demetrios Expresses Condolences to the Russian Church
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NEW YORK – This morning, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America received the sad news of the passing of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. Archbishop Demetrios, who has known the late Patriarch for many years, had been with him in Moscow last May, and recently at the Synaxis of the Heads of the Autocephalous Churches in the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, said in his letter of condolence to the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church:
On behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod and the Clergy and Lay Faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, I am offering our profound condolences on the falling asleep in the Lord of the most blessed Father of the Russian Orthodox Church, the deeply beloved and respected late Patriarch Alexy II. The passing of the Patriarch is a deeply felt wound not only for the pious Russian People, but for all Orthodox Christians who have admired his wise and pastoral stewardship of the Russian Orthodox Church during this most significant period of Her rebirth, after decades of very harsh times for Her.
Having learned that only yesterday the Patriarch served the Divine Liturgy for the Entrance of the Virgin Mary into the Temple, we take a measure of comfort from the knowledge that he is now within the Holy of Holies not-made-by-hands, and in the presence of the Theotokos and her Lord and Son.
Your Eminences and dearly beloved and respected brothers in the Lord, as you reflect on this incalculable loss, prepare to bid farewell to the beloved Patriarch Alexy II, and face the extraordinary task of electing his successor, please be assured of our prayers for you and all the pious Russian People. As we remember you in this time of national grief and mourning, we shall also offer our fervent supplications to God for him, that he may find the reward of “the faithful and wise steward” that he most surely was, and that he may rest in the blessed hope of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. May his memory, the memory of this exceptional leader of the Church, be eternal.
Archbishop Demetrios will attend a Memorial Service this evening at the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Moscow Patriarchate in New York City.
SCOBA Mourns the Passing Of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia
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The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2008
SCOBA Mourns the Passing Of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia
New York, NY - The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, notes with great sorrow the falling asleep in the Lord of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.
Earlier today, in a letter to his fellow SCOBA Member, the Moscow Patriarchal Vicar in the United States Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk, Archbishop Demetrios said:
Please accept my deepest sympathies on the falling asleep in the Lord of the deeply beloved and respected late Patriarch Alexy II. I am sure that his passing is a profound loss to the Russian Church and People, and a deep personal loss for you.... I know that you are returning this evening from [Moscow], only to return tomorrow for the funeral preparations. I will be joining you this evening at the St. Nicholas Cathedral to pray with you for the repose of his blessed soul, and to share both your grief and gratitude for the extraordinary arch-pastoral ministry of this blessed man of God and beloved son of the Russian People.
In addition to Archbishop Demetrios, many SCOBA Primates are expected to attend the Panikhida (Memorial Service) at 7:00 this evening, to be held at the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Moscow Patriarchate in New York City.
Metropolitan PHILIP writes to the U.S. Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the U.S.:
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Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North AmericaBeloved Brother in Christ:
I greet you in the name of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life of all who repose in him.
It is with great sadness that I awoke this morning to the shocking news of the passing into eternal life of His Holiness ALEXY II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. The loss of this great man is not only a loss for the Church of Russia, but for the entire Orthodox world. I recall with great fondness the two occasions I had to be in his presence, once on his visit to the United States in the early 1990s when we hosted him at our Archdiocese Chancery and the second when I accepted his kind invitation to visit Russia in 1997. It was during this trip in 1997 that I came to realize the greatness of his leadership and vision for the Church of Russia and the Orthodox world at large. Having met with him at the Danielov Monastery and having served with him in the historic Dormition Cathedral in the Kremlin and again at the dedication of the awe-inspiring Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow (that he was instrumental in rebuilding as a symbol of the resurrection of the Russian Orthodox Church after more than 70 years of oppression), I felt assured that the Church would continue to thrive under his leadership.
Patriarch ALEXY lived in two worlds, one under the Soviet oppression of the Church and the other whereby he led the Church from glory to glory after the fall of Soviet rule. I have no doubt that this will be his legacy. The courage he showed by leading the nation through a difficult time that could have led to civil war when he addressed the country in the midst of the night, in the midst of darkness at 1:42 a.m. on August 21st, 1991 will stand out as one of the greatest addresses of the 20th Century. Out of this darkness, his address to the nation became a new light of hope for a new nation.
Like the captain of a great ship, he guided the Russian Orthodox Church through troubled waters, rejecting those who would take the Church backwards to pre-revolutionary monarchist times, and at the same time rejecting those who would liberalize the Church and make it something other than it had always been. At the same time, he capably oversaw the rebuilding and restoration of thousands of churches and monasteries, the reeducation of the faithful and the clergy and the reestablishment of the Church as a great force in the Russian Federation. His untiring work which led to the reunification of ROCOR and the Russian Orthodox Church is yet another example of his bold leadership.
Personally, I had the greatest respect for him on the level of international Orthodox relations. He adhered to and respected the canonical norms for territorial boundaries of sister churches and dealt pastorally with the uncanonical situation that we have here in North America and other places. While he often faced resistance, he led with integrity and love. As the leader of more than 100 million Orthodox believers, in my eyes, he was the true leader of the Orthodox world.
On behalf of our Local Synod and all the clergy and faithful of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, please accept our sincere condolences. We ask that you extend our prayers and sympathies to His Eminence Metropolitan KIRILL and the Department of External Church Relations and the entire Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, praying that in the midst of this sad time, another great leader will arise from the depths of your sorrow and lead this great and venerable church to new heights.
Your brother in Christ,
+ Metropolitan Phillip
Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America
Belarus President condoles over demise of Patriarch Alexy II
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“This grievous loss of the Orthodox world has filled our hearts with acute sorrow”.
Alexy II’s entire life was dedicated to the service to the God and people. Patriarch Alexy II is an outstanding historical figure, a man of genuine belief and prayer, a particularly esteemed head of the church for millions of Orthodox believers. He has won universal respect of the clergy and lay people for his selfless labour, power of spirit, responsiveness and beneficence.
His Holiness treated Belarus with a fatherly attention. He was a spiritual guide and a genuine friend for us. The huge loss the Russian Orthodox Church has incurred is shared by the entire Belarusian nation.
I recollect many years of our friendly relations and the last meeting in Minsk a month ago with warmth and hearty appreciation. Alexy II’s pastoral words, his aid and prayers have always supported me.
In people’s memory Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II will remain a wise pastor, a man of immense kindness and limitless dedication to the church. May his soul rest in the kingdom of heaven,” reads the condolence.
The Belarusian head of state has also extended condolence to Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev and all Russia citizens.
“Belarus enjoyed peculiar pastoral attention of Alexy II, whose blessing saw the start of many charitable deeds in our land. We lost a genuine friend, who has made an invaluable contribution to the enhancement of the Belarusian-Russian unity.
In these sorrowful and mournful days the bitter taste of the grievous loss unites our hearts. The Belarusians will always keep cherished memories of Alexy II,” reads the condolence.
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Belarusian Orthodox Church mourns Patriarch Alexy II’s demise
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79-year-old Alexy II died in his residence in Peredelkino outside Moscow. The day before during the celebration of the Candlemas Day the Patriarch performed a Divine Liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The same day Alexy II performed a prayer service at the phylactery with hallows of Sanctifier Tikhon, Patriarch of all Russia, in the Grand Cathedral of the Don Monastery.
On December 6 an extraordinary session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church will take place to elect a locum tenens for the patriarchal see out of permanent members of the Synod. The person will guide the church till a new patriarch is elected. The Synod is also supposed to choose the time and place for Alexy II’s burial service. The next Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia is supposed to be elected by the church council within half a year after the predecessor’s demise.
Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch for All Belarus Filaret will participate in the session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church and the mourning procedures.
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Metropolitan Hilarion Performs a Pannikhida for His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II at his Synodal Residence
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His Holiness departed from this life early this morning. His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion said that the Russian Church Abroad, along with all other Orthodox Christians, are mourning the death of the patriarch, who only survived His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory, the late Primate of the Church Abroad, by seven and a half months.
His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus signed the historic Act of Canonical Communion in May, 2007, a document which ended the almost century-old division between Russian Orthodox Christians in the Fatherland and the diaspora.
"It is noteworthy that Metropolitan Laurus and Patriarch Alexy both reposed this year, having already achieved the main task of their lives," said the leader of the Russian Church Abroad. Many parishioners who gathered at the Manhattan church this morning heard the news of the death of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia only when they arrived.
Metropolitan Hilarion on the Demise of Patriacrh Alexi II
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It was with heartfelt pain that I learned of the repose of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, and on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, I express our condolences to the Holy Synod, my brother archpastors, reverend fathers, brethren, sisters and children of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In truth, as St Symeon the New Theologian, says, “The beginning of life is the end, the end, the beginning, and I know not whence I come, where I am, I know not where I will go tomorrow.” Such is the lot of each mortal. And now, in our common funereal prayers, we see the bright image of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy, who was truly a kind and selfless podvizhnik, working for the rebirth of the Russian Orthodox Church, which arose from ruin after so many years of godless persecutions. The newly-reposed Patriarch was a preacher of repentance and the return of the Russian nation to its historic roots, its Holy Russian ideals.
I call upon my brother archpastors, clergymen and flock of the Russian Church Abroad to pray for the soul of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy.
Moscow, December 5, Interfax - It has been decided preliminarily that the funeral of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia should take place on Tuesday, December 9, Patriarchate spokesman Priest Vladimir Vigilyansky told Interfax-Religion.
"The burial service for the head of the Russian Orthodox Church should take place at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. No final decision has yet been made about the burial site. It is only known that the Patriarch's body will be committed to earth in Moscow," Fr. Vladimir said.
On Friday night, Alexy's body will be transported to the chapel of the Icon of the Mother of God Quick to Hearken in the patriarchal residence in Peredelkino outside Moscow, where priests from Moscow churches would read prayers all night, he said. On Saturday, the Patriarch's body will be brought to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior for a public farewell ceremony.
Yeltsin's widow praises Orthodox Church Leader who has Died
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"He has done such a lot. It is his work that spirituality has been revived and is being revived here in Russia - thousands of churches, monasteries, the Church of Christ the Savior. He instilled this spirituality in the heart of every Russian, those who worship God and even those do don't believe; he has instilled faith," Naina Yeltsina told Russia's Vesti television.
"There was amazing understanding" between her husband and Alexy, and "they saw each other quite often," she said.
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Russian Catholics mourn death of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II
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"Russian Catholics jointly with their Orthodox brethren are sorry about the enormous loss befalling them and pray for eternal peace for Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II and hope that Christ will lay at rest the soul of His servant of many years in eternal light of His Kingdom," Joseph Werth, the chairman of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Russia, said. Alexy II wisely cared for many millions of Russian Orthodox Church believers in this fateful and complicated period of changes for the Church, the State and the whole of the Russian people and then worked unceasingly to reconstruct the ecclesiastical unity damaged in the period of civil and church unrest, he said.
The Patriarch has always been ready for the Orthodox-Catholic dialog which he revealed even in the most difficult years of mutual misunderstanding and separation, he said. Catholic Archbishop for Moscow Paolo Pezzi said the memory of faithful Catholics will maintain the firmness of his Holiness in the readiness for the Orthodox-Catholic dialog which was never interrupted even in the most difficult times of mutual misunderstanding and separation.
Jointly with the Catholic community of Russia, I hope that God will lay to rest the soul of His faithful servant Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II in His Kingdom, Pezzi said. Moscow, December 5, Interfax - Russian Catholics pray for the soul of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II.
"Russian Catholics jointly with their Orthodox brethren are sorry about the enormous loss befalling them and pray for eternal peace for Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II and hope that Christ will lay at rest the soul of His servant of many years in eternal light of His Kingdom," Joseph Werth, the chairman of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Russia, said. Alexy II wisely cared for many millions of Russian Orthodox Church believers in this fateful and complicated period of changes for the Church, the State and the whole of the Russian people and then worked unceasingly to reconstruct the ecclesiastical unity damaged in the period of civil and church unrest, he said.
The Patriarch has always been ready for the Orthodox-Catholic dialog which he revealed even in the most difficult years of mutual misunderstanding and separation, he said.
Catholic Archbishop for Moscow Paolo Pezzi said the memory of faithful Catholics will maintain the firmness of his Holiness in the readiness for the Orthodox-Catholic dialog which was never interrupted even in the most difficult times of mutual misunderstanding and separation. Jointly with the Catholic community of Russia, I hope that God will lay to rest the soul of His faithful servant Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II in His Kingdom, Pezzi said.
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There is no word on the cause of his death at his residence outside Moscow, but he had been sick for some time. No date has been set yet for the funeral.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called his death a "great loss".
Alexiy II was credited with helping restore the moral authority of the Russian Orthodox Church after decades of repression under communism.
Favoured by the KGB as he rose through the Church's ranks, he then oversaw its post-communist revival.
The Russian Orthodox Church counts nearly 70% of Russia's population - about 100 million people - among its members.
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says Alexiy II was a hugely revered figure.
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said he was shocked by the death. "I respected him deeply," he said.
A spokesman for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he would return to Russia from India on Friday, cancelling a planned trip to Italy.
Unswerving obedience
Born Alexei Rediger to a Russian Orthodox family living in Estonia in 1929, the future patriarch rose swiftly through the ranks of the Church after studying theology in St Petersburg.
By the age of 32 he was a bishop, by 35 an archbishop.
In the second post, he attracted criticism for what many thought was his unswerving obedience to the dictates of Soviet foreign policy.
Supporters argued that he was merely doing his best to win concessions for his persecuted church.
Alexiy II became the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1990, shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union.
In the new era of restored freedom and influence the church found itself with a prominent role rebuilding national self-esteem and morality in the post-Soviet period, our correspondent says.
He insisted on his Church's right to be the sole national Church of Russia, bringing the scattered branches of the Russian Orthodox Church back under the control of the Moscow Patriarchate.
He also moved the Orthodox Church closer to political circles, often visiting the Kremlin and aligning himself with its foreign policy stances.
Churches restored
One reason for his differences with the Catholic Church was a dispute over land taken by the Greek Catholic Church from the Orthodox Church in Ukraine in the early 1990s.
Relations improved after the 2005 election of Pope Benedict, correspondents say. The Pope said he was "profoundly saddened" by the patriarch's death.
Last year, Alexiy II presided over a union with a branch of the Russian Orthodox Church whose members fled abroad to escape the Bolshevik Revolution.
The ending of the 80-year schism with the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad was seen as a significant achievement for the patriarch.
Alexiy II also oversaw a major programme to restore and re-open hundreds of Russia's churches.
Michael Bordeaux, founder of the Keston College religious research centre, said he had been a "very strong patriarch".
"The bishops appointed under Patriarch Alexiy are very much of his mindset - he's been ruthless in suppressing alternative views in the Orthodox church."
Azerbaijan, Baku, 5 Dec. / Trend News / Cause of the death of Alexi II, the Patriarch of All-Russia, has not yet been divulged, Moscow Patriarchate said to Trend News.
“It is too early to speak about the place of burial,” Moscow Patriarchate said to Trend News in a telephone conversation.
Patriarch has been suffering health problems since autumn 2002, when he was hospitalized to the Central Clinical Hospital and had to break his visit to Astrakhan. Later in 2004, Patriarch was hospitalized to a Moscow clinic with the diagnosis of heart arrhythmia. Media several times reported him dead, but none of the reports was confirmed, RBK said.
Alexi II, born in 1929, elected in 1990 to be patriarch (or head bishop) of the Russian Orthodox Church. The church is part of the Orthodox Church , which carries on religious traditions from early Christianity. Alexi (his birth name is Alexei Mikhailovich Ridiger) became a priest in Estonia, which was then part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). He was made bishop of Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, in 1961. Rising through church ranks, he became an archbishop, then a metropolitan (head of a province) in Estonia. In 1986, he became metropolitan of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg). Alexi is active in the World Council of Churches, and became chairman of the Conference of European Churches in 1987.
Public farewell ceremony for Patriarch Alexy II to start Saturday Evening
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"Before the evening service, the patriarch's body will be transported to the main church of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and all those wishing will have the chance to bid farewell to the deceased Patriarch following the service," patriarchy spokesman Mikhail Moiseyev told Interfax. Access to the Patriarch's body will be free round-the clock, Moiseyev said. The Gospel will be read and mourning services served at the church during the ceremony.
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His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel Expresses His Condolences to the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church
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