| - In the course of the historic meeting in Cuba, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Pope Francis of Rome dealt with burning problems facing the world today. In your opinion, what steps have been made since the meeting towards rapprochement between the two Churches? What are the most important tasks still standing before us? - During the meeting in Havana last February, the Pope and the Patriarch dealt with the most burning problems both of the Orthodox-Catholic relations and the situation in the world today. Stating in the Joint Declaration that ‘Human civilization has entered into a period of epochal change’, the Primates of the two Churches emphasize the need to unite the efforts of the Orthodox and the Catholics in the areas in which it is possible and necessary: ‘Our Christian conscience and our pastoral responsibility compel us not to remain passive in the face of challenges requiring a shared response’ (Par 7). It is my conviction that after the Havana meeting much has been done in this area. As is known, the principal incentive for the meetings itself was the tragic situation in which Christians in the Middle East and several other regions found themselves as a result of armed conflicts and extremists’ actions. Among concrete steps for developing Orthodox-Catholic interaction in this area was the visit of a group of representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church to Lebanon and Syria in April 2016. The consultation held during the trip with local confessions should serve as a basis for developing further joint projects aimed to support our brothers and sisters in distress. Following the call voiced at the Havana meeting, in 2017 the Orthodox and the Catholics organized a number of joint events in defense of the Middle East Christians. Thus, in January 2017, the Fifth European Orthodox-Catholic Forum took place in Paris, devoted to the problem of terrorist threat directly involved in the situation in the Middle East and affecting everybody without exception today. |
| During the Synod’s meeting, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk presented a report on the participation of a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 11th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches that had taken place in Karlsruhe, Germany, on August 31 – September 8. The Assembly’s theme was “Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity.” Taking part in the conference were over five thousand people from various countries and continents. On September 1, a meeting was held between the leadership of the World Council of Churches and the delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate led by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. As was emphasized during that meeting, the WCC is to remain an open platform for dialogue between all Christians. On the same day, the DECR chairman met with His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch who had arrived in Karlsruhe to attend the Assembly as an honorary guest. The participants in the meeting discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest, as well as prospects of further cooperation between the Russian Church and the Church of Antioch. On the side-lines of the Assembly, the DECR chairman met with Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany and Bishop Job of Stuttgart; the head of the Church of England, Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury; a delegation of the Coptic Church led by Metropolitan Serapion of Los Angeles; the General Secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance, Bp. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher; Archbishop Urmas Viilma of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church; and others. On the side-lines of the Assembly, Metropolitan Sergy of Singapore, Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia, met with the General Secretary of the Global Christian Forum, Revd Dr Casely Essamuah; a delegation of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia led by Pastor Gomar Gultom; and the General Secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia, Jonathan Dgezudas. A meeting also took place between co-chairs of the Working Group for the Coordination of Bilateral Relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, and Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos of North America. During the Assembly, elections were held to the WCC Central and Executive Committees. |
| 4th Meeting of Commission for Dialogue between ROC and Assyrian Church held in India Source: DECR Photo: mospat.ru From November 13 to 18, 2019, the 4 th meeting of the Commission of Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Assyrian Church of the East took place in Thrissur, Kerala State, India. The Moscow Patriarchate delegation included Bishop Clement of Krasnoslobodsk and Temnikov, co-chairman of the Commission; Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), secretary for inter-Christian relations of the Department for External Church relations; and S. Alferov, DECR, secretary of the commission. Representing the Assyrian Church of the East were Bishop Mar Awa Royel of California, secretary of the Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East, co-chairman of the Commission; Cor-Bishop George Kanon Toma, cleric of St. Andrew’s Church in Glenview, Illinois, USA; Priest Ephraim Alkhas, secretary of the commission; and Deacon Roland Bidzhamov, cleric of the Assyrian diocese of Northern Iraq and the CIS. Metropolitan Mar Aprem Mooken of India, the oldest member of the Synod, and Bishop Eugene Kyriakos, vicar of the Metropolis of India, welcomed the participants in the meeting on behalf of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Gewargis III of the Assyrian Church of the East, who recalled with warmth his repeated visits to Russia, with the latest one made in late May-early June 2014, during the historic visit of the late Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV to the Russian Orthodox Church in June 2014. The commission discussed the implementation of agreements reached at the previous meeting in October 2018 in Sankt-Petersburg and defined the further cooperation program to be approved by the Supreme Church Authority. The meeting noted the successful development of inter-church contacts in the academic field, in particular, in students’ exchanges, as in autumn 2018, the first representative of the Assyrian Church of the East, Rev. Addai Daniel Nazlu, was enrolled in Moscow Theological Academy. It is planned to involve representatives of the Assyrian Church in academic conferences organized by the Moscow Patriarchate theological schools and to invite delegates of the Russian Orthodox Church to similar events held by the Assyrian Church’s educational institution, in particular, in the recently opened Nisibis Theological College in Sydney, Australia. In 2021, the 2 nd Summer Institute will be organized in Moscow for young Assyrian clergy and student. Its program will include visits to synodal establishments of the Russian Orthodox Church and introduction to ecclesiastical and historical-cultural sights in Russia. |
| The question is whether the suspicion and criticism from some representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church were justified? Only nine years later the Serbian public learned that the Church was right. The fact was that the change from a " socialist " to a democratic system did not mean a change in the entire state apparatus. Seven days after the beginning of the school year the fourth meeting of the Commission by the Government of Serbia to organize religious education was held in Novi Sad. The Ministry of Religious Affairs had announced that the theme of the meeting was the procedure for the returning of religious education to public schools. From the same press release one can find out that the meeting aimed at resolving “primarily organizational and technical tasks in the process of reintroducing of religious education, especially to those resulting from the fact that the school year has begun”. The representatives of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Religion Affairs and of all traditional churches and religious communities were present at the meeting. According to the media, an anonymous representative of one of the churches stated that the main topic of the meeting was the question of the status of two new subjects - if the courses would be mandatory for the students who opt for them, if there would be an option to select both at the same time, or neither. The final position of the Government was that religious education for first grade students in elementary and secondary schools is to begin on October 1, 2001, by which time the students and parents should opt for one of two courses offered. At the press conference, Minister of Education G. Knezevic said that under the law, at the time, students were able to attend religious or civic upbringing, both subjects together, or none. He explained that “in the appointments of the teachers for the religious education the voice of the church will be listened to”. Traditional churches and religious communities had their autonomy in choosing the teaching staff, but approval was also required by the Ministry of Education. |
| Nevertheless, the situation as it has developed today in the Middle East, in North and Central Africa and in some other regions, in which extremists are perpetrating a real genocide of the Christian population, has required urgent measures and closer cooperation between Christian Churches. In the present tragic situation, it is necessary to put aside internal disagreements and unite efforts for saving Christianity in the regions where it is subjected to the most severe persecution. The Sacred Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, which completed its work on February 3, in Moscow, called to make the year 2016 a year of special efforts to be taken in this respect, Therefore, despite the remaining obstacles of ecclesial nature, it has been decided that a meeting should be urgently held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and Pole Francis of Rome. The problem of the persecution against Christians will become central at this meeting. Throughout the recent years, numerous proposals have been coming in concerning the venue of such a meeting. However, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, from the very beginning, did not want it to take place in Europe, since it is with Europe that the grave history of divisions and conflicts between Christians is associated. The coincidence of the date of Patriarch Kirill’s visit to Latin American countries with that of the Pope of Rome’s visit to Mexico has become an opportunity for holding the meeting in the New World, and we hope that it will open a new page in the relations between the two Churches. Along with the main topic – the situation of Christians in the Middle East and other regions in which they are subjected to persecution, the talk will also involve the pressing problems of the bilateral relations and international policy. The meeting will be concluded with the signing of a joint statement. On February 14 and 15, His Holiness Kirill will visit the Republic of Paraguay at the invitation of President Horacio Manuel Cartes. The visit will become a historical memory tribute to the Russian émigrés who made a considerable contribution to Paraguay’s development in the 1920s-30s, by undertaking research expeditions to the regions difficult of access for studying the mode of life of local Indians and by teaching in local universities. |
| During the Synod’s meeting, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk presented a report on the participation of a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 11th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches http://mospat.ru/en/news/89614/ that had taken place in Karlsruhe, Germany, on August 31 – September 8. The Assembly’s theme was “Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity.” Taking part in the conference were over five thousand people from various countries and continents. On September 1, a meeting was held between the leadership of the World Council of Churches and the delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate led by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations http://mospat.ru/en/news/89585/ . As was emphasized during that meeting, the WCC is to remain an open platform for dialogue between all Christians. On the same day, the DECR chairman met with His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch http://mospat.ru/en/news/89584/ who had arrived in Karlsruhe to attend the Assembly as an honorary guest. The participants in the meeting discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest, as well as prospects of further cooperation between the Russian Church and the Church of Antioch. On the side-lines of the Assembly, the DECR chairman met with Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany and Bishop Job of Stuttgart http://mospat.ru/en/news/89602/ ; the head of the Church of England, Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury http://mospat.ru/en/news/89607/ ; a delegation of the Coptic Church led by Metropolitan Serapion of Los Angeles http://mospat.ru/en/news/89599/ ; the General Secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance, Bp. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher http://mospat.ru/en/news/89600/ ; Archbishop Urmas Viilma of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church http://mospat.ru/en/news/89606/ ; and others. On the side-lines of the Assembly, Metropolitan Sergy of Singapore, Patriarchal Exarch of South-East Asia, met with the General Secretary of the Global Christian Forum, Revd Dr Casely Essamuah; a delegation of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia led by Pastor Gomar Gultom; and the General Secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia, Jonathan Dgezudas http://mospat.ru/en/news/89605/ . A meeting also took place between co-chairs of the Working Group for the Coordination of Bilateral Relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, and Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos of North America http://mospat.ru/en/news/89586/ . During the Assembly, elections were held to the WCC Central and Executive Committees. |
| Rev. Alexander Volkov expressed opinion that the meeting would help positive development of bilateral relations and of dialogue on the issues raised in the joint declaration. Mr. Legoida added that the declaration will always be topical and that people will “read and study it.” It was noted during then press conference that one should not for direct connection between the document and concrete actions of certain people. Rev. Alexander Volkov explained that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was aware of the concern expressed by some believers of the Russian Orthodox Church over the meeting in Havana. It seems that these people have not grasped the event but have just heard certain things in the mass media. While answering questions, Archimandrite Philaret noted that different opinions on the meeting, including negative ones, were expressed. “There is nothing new in it, and often enough negative opinions are expressed by the same people. I believe that answers have been given to the most part of questions. The overwhelming majority of the believers of our Church have positive opinion on the meeting and its results, thus determining the development of events. People who really want the truth and seek it have this opportunity, while no arguments will help those who do not want to hear.’ The Church will continue to explain what really took place in Cuba and try to answer all questions of the believers, Archimandrite Philaret noted. Mr. Legoida added: “I declare with authority that the reaction of the overwhelming majority of the mass media, both the so called traditional and social networks and other ‘new’ mass media, was positive. Indeed, some people were at a loss and asked questions. They receive thorough and qualitative answers. The reactions of the domestic and foreign mass media to the meeting of Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis and to the Joint Declaration were 90% positive according to the monitoring, while some 7, 5% were neutral, and maximum 1,5% were critical. On February 21, the last day of the Patriarch’s visit to Brazil, many believers came to the Cathedral of Ss Peter and Paul in Sao Paolo to attend the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Philaret recounted. “Thousands of people gathered in the huge cathedral to express gratitude to the Russian Church for its actions done for the sake of Syria, Iraq and other countries of the Middle East. |
| Accept The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy His Holiness Patriarch Kirill takes part in the meeting of Primates and delegations of Local Orthodox Churches in Amman On 26 February 2020, Primates and delegations of Local Orthodox Churches met in the capital of Jordan, Amman. During his visit to Moscow, on 21 November 2019, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem put forward an initiative to hold a meeting for discussing the situation in the inter-church relations and the preservation of Orthodox unity. Participating in the meeting were His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, His Beatitude Metropolitan Rastislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, as well as delegations of the Romanian Orthodox Church led by Metropolitan Nifon of Targoviste, and of the Polish Orthodox Church led by His Eminence Archbishop Abel of Lublin and Chelm. The official delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church consisted of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR); Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR deputy chairman; Archimandrite Aleksandr (Yelisov) head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem; and Mr. Vladimir Legoida, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church’s Relations with Society and Mass Media. The meeting began with common prayer in several languages. The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem greeted the participants and said: We know that unity is a God’s gift and we are aware of our responsibility for the preservation of unity left to us by the apostles. We have gathered here in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our dialogue is based on Christian love which is the only way to reconciliation. Answers to all our questions must be found in dialogue and fraternal love. |
| The meeting of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill in Cuba on February 12 may turn out to be not only the most significant ecclesiastical event, but one of the most momentous political events in recent years. Since the schism of 1054 when the church separated into an Eastern and Western part, the differences have been irreconcilable and the two have not engaged in any dialogue. Leaders, political and military, know the strategy of divide and conquer. Although the Eastern Church, as well as its Western sister, has seen enormous development after the schism and has created cultural progress, the rule that division weakens an entity also applies to Christianity. The church in Russia was oppressed and weakened under the Communist regime, and the Western church has been engaged in a struggle against the tide of secularization and the religion of scientism since the Enlightenment. In recent times both parts of the church have been under pressure, culminating now in persecution of Christians on a massive scale. This trend is global, but is particularly severe in the Middle East, where ISIS commits horrible atrocities against Christians, as well as monasteries and churches. The persecution even threatens to remove Christianity from the lands whence the faith originated. The persecutions in the Middle East are the immediate cause of the meeting. According to the Pope’s spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi and Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the Department of External Church Relations and a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Moscow, the meeting has been considered for a number of years. Nonetheless, the announcement was a surprise when it was made, just one week before it was to take place. As recently as January this year, Hilarion denied that a meeting was being planned. Now it seems the political situation in the Middle East, the horrible persecution of Christians and the threat of destruction of the Christian community in the region have compelled the Pope and the Patriarch to agree to meet as soon as possible. |
| Behind the altar-table of the chapel is a large icon depicting angels opening the gates of the Dachau concentration camp and Christ Himself leading the prisoners to freedom. Today I would like to take the opportunity to ask you, Orthodox Christians all over the world, to pass on the names of fellow Orthodox who were imprisoned and died here in Dachau or in other Nazi concentration camps so that we can include them in our prayers. Should you ever come to Germany, be sure to visit our Russian Chapel on the site of the former concentration camp in Dachau and pray for all those who died “at this place, or at another place of torture”. Khristos voskrese! Christos anesti! Christ has risen! El Messieh Qahm! Learn more about the Dachau Concentration Camp . Like the article? Be sure to read Douglas Cramer’s Dachau 1945: The Souls of All Are Aflame . Code for blog Since you are here… …we do have a small request. More and more people visit Orthodoxy and the World website. However, resources for editorial are scarce. In comparison to some mass media, we do not make paid subscription. It is our deepest belief that preaching Christ for money is wrong. Having said that, Pravmir provides daily articles from an autonomous news service, weekly wall newspaper for churches, lectorium, photos, videos, hosting and servers. Editors and translators work together towards one goal: to make our four websites possible - Pravmir.ru, Neinvalid.ru, Matrony.ru and Pravmir.com. Therefore our request for help is understandable. For example, 5 euros a month is it a lot or little? A cup of coffee? It is not that much for a family budget, but it is a significant amount for Pravmir. If everyone reading Pravmir could donate 5 euros a month, they would contribute greatly to our ability to spread the word of Christ, Orthodoxy, life " s purpose, family and society. Related articles Major Nataliia Vladimirovna Malyshchev (1921-2012). She went to war as a third-year university student. Two weeks later… The " Immortal Regiment " Second World War commemoration event took place in the Swedish capital of Stockholm… Properly burying enemy soldiers is paramount, as victory is meaningless without the victor’s benevolence, Orthodox Priest… Today " s Articles Most viewed articles Functionality is temporarily unavailable. Most popular authors Functionality is temporarily unavailable. © 2008-2024 Pravmir.com |
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