| Archive Delegation of abbots and abbesses of the Coptic Church visits holy sites of Niznhy Novgorod metropolia 20 September 2019 year 20:29 On 16 th – 19 th September 2019, while in Russia on a pilgrimage, a delegation of abbots, abbesses and nuns from the monasteries and convents of the Coptic Church visited a number of churches, monasteries and historical sites in the territory of the Niznhy Novgorod metropolia. On 16 th September, the delegation arrived in the Convent of the Holy Trinity and St. Seraphim in Diveyevo and venerated its shrines: the wonderworking “Eleousa” Icon of the Mother of God and the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov and of the venerable and blessed women of Diveyevo. The guests from Egypt also walked in a prayerful procession along the Holy Canal of the Theotokos and visited St. Seraphim’s spring not far from the convent. In the evening they met with Hegumenness Sergiya (Konkova), abbess of the Diveyeo abode, and the sisters. On 17 th September, while in the Diveyevo convent, the delegation members attended the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. After the service and repast, Hegumenness Sergiya told the guests about the present-day life of the abode and the obediences of the Diveyevo nuns. That same day the delegation members visited the convent’s Skete of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus. On 18 th September the representatives of the Coptic Church arrived in the city of Arzamas. There they visited the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection and the Convent of St. Nicholas, where they were warmly greeted by its abbess, Hegumenness Filareta (Shevchenko). That same day the delegation arrived in Nizhny Novgorod, where they visited the ancient kremlin and the Church of Archangel Michael – the oldest church in the city, as well as the Ascension Monastery of the Caves. The pilgrims also visited the Cathedral of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky and the residence of Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, where they met with the head of the Nizhny Novgorod metropolia. The archpastor asked the guests to convey his greetings and warm wishes to the Primate of the Coptic Church and expressed his hope for further successful and fruitful development of the bilateral relations between the two Churches, and between representatives of the Russian and Coptic monasticism in particular. |
| Metropolitan Stephanos suggests uniting Church in Estonia under his authority Metropolitan Stephanos of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Constantinople has suggested that the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate unite with his Church under his authority. Metropolitan Stephanos told the Postimees newspaper that he bases himself on the decisions of the Pan-Orthodox Council that was held in June this year in Crete according to which the existence of two Orthodox Churches in the same state is unacceptable, reports Interfax . According to the hierarch, he has a plan for uniting the Churches: “Yes, I am prepared. I have a plan which would equally respect both communities and both languages. It is a very human plan – the Russian culture and language cannot be cut off.” The metropolitan has acknowledged that Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia should discuss the question of the Churches’ union with each other. Presently there are two active Orthodox jurisdictions in Estonia: the Estonian Orthodox Church (EOC) of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church (EAOC) of the Patriarchate of Constantinople (the latter was established early in the 1990s). Both Churches themselves claim to be autonomous though they do not recognize the autonomous status of each other. After the collapse of the Soviet Union the EAOC obtained nearly all Church properties that had been confiscated during the Soviet era. Meanwhile, the EOC-MP has to rent those churches belonging to the state at which it has held services for many years. Today the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has thirty-one parishes, divided into the two dioceses of Tallin and Narva. The latter mainly includes predominantly Russian-language districts in the east of the country. In 1992, before the schism, the Estonian Church had eighty parishes. The head of the EOC-MP is ninety-two-year-old Metropolitan Cornelius (Jakobs) who serves at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallin. |
| Patriarch Kirill: Changing One’s Outlook Will Help One Defeat the Passion of Alcoholism Photo: Oleg Varov/foto.patriarchia.ru On September 11, 2020, the feast day of the Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia officiated the Divine Liturgy at St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Moscow, reports the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church. On this day, the Russian Orthodox Church prays for those suffering from the ailment of wine drinking or drug addiction. The celebration of the Day of Sobriety on August 29 (September 11) on the day of the Beheading of St John the Baptist was established by the Russian Holy Synod in 1913. Its celebration was interrupted in Soviet times, but reestablished by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on July 25, 2014 During the Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill offered prayers for the healing of those suffering from the pernicious passion of wine drinking and drug addiction. At the end of the service, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church delivered the following sermon : On the feast day of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, the Church prescribes strict fasting so that, as the typikon says, “we would not become accomplices to Herod’s gluttony.” After all, had King Herod abstained from winebibbing, which inflamed his pride and other passions, then perhaps he would have come to his senses and not given the order to behead St. John, whom he himself revered as a righteous man. Unfortunately, people often commit irreparable sinful acts under the influence of alcohol; in a state of intoxication, they do things they would never allow themselves to do when sober. Sometimes, such acts destroy not only their lives, but the lives of those around them. Discussing this, St. Tikhon of Zadonsk warns: “A drunken man is capable of all kinds of evil; gives in to all kinds of temptations” (Homily on the feast of the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple). |
| Patriarch Kirill Urges Believers to Fight New Idolatry in Their Own Lives Photo (fragment): Oleg Varov/foto.patriarchia.ru Our ancestors abandoned man-made idols during the Baptism of Rus, but today many believers worship new idols said His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russian. “With the Baptism of Rus, idols disappeared, and people began to worship the one true God The most important thing was probably that our ancestors abandoned idols – false gods,” said the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church on the feast of the Baptism of Rus on July 28 after the Divine Liturgy in St. Alexander Nevsky Skete near Peredelkino. However, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill continued, if you think about what is happening in society today, analogies with ancient idolatry arise. “The ancients worshiped man-made gods, but what do people worship today? First of all those who are deprived of faith in God, faith in Christ, but not only them, because many Christians worship new idols,” said Patriarch Kirill. His Holiness noted that “today the mass media impose certain tastes, a style of behavior, so that we are taught to worship idols again,” and added that, for example, “a certain image of a person is being formed, the main value of which is not in love, not in spiritual joy, not in purity of thoughts and life, but in strength; and many other factors affect consciousness today, forcing the worship of false gods, idols.” “Idolatry has not gone anywhere, and therefore the fight against idols remains relevant,” the Patriarch emphasized, inviting every believer to ask themselves a question: do they worship “some idols and pagan gods, attention to which pushes the genuine saving faith in One True God and Jesus Christ sent by Him to the periphery?” “And this question, directed to oneself, to one’s conscience, should help us understand: are we idolaters, even if we formally belong to the heirs of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir?” added Patriarch Kirill. The Primate of the Russian Church wished that the recollection of the “epochal historical event” – the Baptism of Rus’ – would help people to think about “whether we are truly the heirs of Holy Rus or whether we fell into idolatry, so powerful in ancient times and no less influential today.” |
| Photo: Fr. Daniel Naberejny/Diocèse de Chersonèse/flickr.com On July 23, 2022, the remains of Archbishop Feofan (Bystrov) of Poltava and Pereyaslavl’ arrived in St Petersburg from Paris for reburial. The bishop’s relics were greeted at Pulkovo Airport by representatives of the organization “Lestvitsa” and distant relatives of the late hierarch. The coffin was then taken to St Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where Archbishop Feofan was met by Orthodox faithful, many of whom venerated it. It was then interred in a crypt at Holy Trinity Cathedral, where Metropolitan Antony (Melnikov) and Metropolitan (Vorontsov) are also laid to rest. A funerary litiya was performed for the hierarch from abroad by Hieromonk Alexy (Stepanov). One of the organizers of the return of the remains of Vladyka Feofan, Pavel Dubrov, called the event historic, and not yet properly appreciated. “For many years I have produced the series ‘Lavra Meetings’ on Soyuz TV,” said Priest Anatoly Pershin. “Once a family from Latvia came to our studio, an Andrei Kurasin and Irina Izvekova, who lead a youth group called ‘Lestvitsa.’ They told me the story of Vladyka Feofan, ‘the New Recluse,’ the spiritual father of the Royal Family. They were the initiators of the project to return the hierarch’s remains to the Russian land. We broadcast this plan throughout the world. There were many difficulties in bringing his remains home, despite the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and His Eminence Metropolitan Varsonofy. The last minute there were some irregularities in the paperwork, and customs held up the move We prayed here to the Royal Passion-bearers, and the matter was resolved. This was a miracle which occurred before our very eyes.” Egor Kurasim, the son of Irina and Andrei, said that some time ago he moved to Moscow and helped his parents obtain the necessary documentation. “Lestvitsa” works with Russian children and youth in the Baltics. Its directors, having met Pavel Dubrov, a long-time admirer of Vladyka Feofan, decided to help move his remains back to Russia. They found his grave, which was in a terrible state, participated in his exhumation in person and spent eight years working on the formalities. “I am happy that the spiritual father of the Royal Family returned to his historic homeland. This should help unite society,” said Mr Kurasin. |
| Piece of Saint Seraphim of Sarov’s relics now sheltered at Bulgaria’s Patriarchal Cathedral Source: Focus Information Agency Sofia. On January 2, when the Church commemorated one of the most beloved hermits - Saint Seraphim of Sarov, a piece of Saint’s relics was taken from the Russian Church of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker in the capital city Sofia to the Patriarchal Cathedral, where at the decision of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church the relics will remain for the future and will be lying in state, the press office of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church announced. The relics are a gift from the Russian Orthodox Church, provided at the request of Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow during his peaceful visit to Moscow in 2014. A solemn service was held at the Russian Church on Saturday morning. During the service the relics were lying in state. With a following special procession the relics were taken to the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The procession was headed by a brass band and the National Guards Unit of Bulgaria. Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria welcomed the relics at the Cathedral and symbolically received them from the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church to Bulgaria – Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev). Patriarch Neophyte then held a prayer service before the relics. Icons of Saint Seraphim of Sarov were given as presents to the Christians attending the service. Saint Seraphim of Sarov (born Prokhor Moshnin) was born in the city of Kursk, Russia, in 1754. He was raised in a respected family of traders. His father was building temples, while his mother was taking care of her three children, as Prokhor was the youngest. He wanted to become a monk since his early childhood. Saint Seraphim’s contemporaries say that the saintly healer was helping people not as much as with his kind words as with the love and joy he shared. He was addressing everyone with the words “My joy!”. Saint Seraphim died on January 15, 1833. |
| Russian Orthodox Believers Celebrate Christmas (PHOTOS) Russian President Vladimir Putin attended Christmas service at the Holy Face of Christ the Savior Church close to the venues for the Sochi Winter Olympics. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev attended the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior along with his wife Svetlana. The service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was attended by several thousand believers. As the service began, Patriarch Kirill placed inside the church a shrine containing sacred relics brought from Mount Athos in Greece, believed to be the gifts of gold, Frankincense and myrrh presented by the Magi, or Three Wise Men to the Baby Jesus. Christmas services will continue until Tuesday evening, and Church leaders will deliver their congratulations after the Great Vespers, to begin at 16:00 Moscow time. The Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian and Georgian Orthodox churches, Athos monasteries, some Catholics and some Protestants celebrate Christmas on January 7 in line with the Julian calendar, while Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans and some Orthodox churches celebrate the feast on December 25. Believers during the Christmas Service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Boy at the Christmas service at the St.Andrew Church in Vladivostok. Christmas Service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Christmas service at the Holy Face of Christ the Savior Church in Sochi. Vladimir Putin during the Christmas service at the Holy Face of Christ the Savior Church close to the venues for the Sochi Winter Olympics. Choir of the Alexander Nevsky Convent in Yekaterinburg. Girl during the the Christmas service at the Church of St. Peter and Paul in Kazan. The Church of St. Peter and Paul in Kazan. Christmas Service at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Kazan. 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. |
| St. Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr Commemorated on February 28 Saint Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr (in the world Michael Ivanovich Leontovich), was born November 6, 1784 in the village of Stara Stanzhara in the Poltava district. In 1808 Michael Leontovich successfully completed the Ekaterinoslav Seminary. As the best student, he was sent by Archbishop Platon of Ekaterinoslav to Peterburg, to the Saint Alexander Nevsky Spiritual Academy [in Russia, “spiritual academy” is higher level of religious training beyond seminary]. Finishing the spiritual academy in 1814 with the degree of “magister” [“teacher”], he was appointed adjunct-professor of Greek. On March 11, 1817 Michael Leontovich was appointed to the office of secretary of the Academy Building committee. On July 30, 1817 they transferred him to the Kiev Seminary, to serve as inspector and professor of Church History and Greek. When the Kiev Spiritual Academy opened on September 28, 1819, Michael Leontovich became its first inspector. On February 11, 1820, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Meletius of Antioch, in the cathedral church of the Kiev-Bratsk monastery, he was tonsured into monasticism with the name Meletius. The tonsure was done by Metropolitan Eugene (Bolkhovitnikov) of Kiev. On February 22, 1820 Saint Meletius was ordained deacon by Metropolitan Eugene, and to the priesthood on February 25. On August 9, 1821 Hieromonk Meletius was appointed rector of the Mogilev Seminary and head of the Kutein Orshansk monastery with the rank of archimandrite. In August 1823 he was made rector of the Pskov Seminary, and on January 24, 1824 Archimandrite Meletius was appointed rector of the Kiev Spiritual Academy. In October 1826 the Holy Synod decided to appoint Archimandrite Meletius as Bishop of Chigirinsk, a vicar of the Kiev diocese and head of the Zlatoverkh Michaelov monastery. He was elected as bishop on October 19, 1826, and was consecrated on October 21, 1826 at Kiev’s cathedral of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) . |
| Voluntary Blood Donation Takes Place in Churches in Serbia His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije once again donated blood for the needs of hospitals. On September 25, 2022, an event of voluntary blood donation was held in the Orthodox churches of Serbia. His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, clergymen and the faithful donated their blood for the needs of hospitals, reports rts.rs . According to the message, seven visiting teams of the Blood Transfusion Institute worked in five churches in Belgrade, Obrenovac and in the Kaon Monastery in the name of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel of the Šabac diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church. “The Orthodox Church is one of the most important institutions in our country, and cooperation with churches throughout Serbia has been going on for many years,” said Ivana Rodic from the Blood Transfusion Institute. The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church donated blood in the parish house of St. Sava Church in Vracar. Among blood donors were Patriarch Porfirije, Bishop Stefan of Remesian, and numerous parishioners of the capital’s churches of St. Sava, the Holy Martyr John Vladimir, the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky and St. Nicholas Church in Zemun. “It is not the first time that our Church organizes and supports such charitable events. We, Christians, live in the Church, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, and are called to love each other and the whole world with the love of Christ. And with this event of voluntary blood donation we help those who need blood, support them in their struggle for life. Such undertakings in the Church form people of love, such solidarity is one of the fundamental values of a humane society,” Patriarch Porfirije said and encouraged “everyone who is able to take part in such events to help their neighbors in this way.” According to Dragan Karan, Associate Professor at the Orthodox Theology Department at the University of Belgrade, blood donation is an expression of true Christianity, love, life and coexistence. |
| The shooting down of an anti-terrorist Russian aeroplane by Turkey’s anti-Kurdish, NATO-run forces has implications far beyond the obvious one – that it was preventing IS from selling cheap oil to Turkey’s corrupt businessmen-politicians and therefore had to be destroyed. First of all, it reminds us that Western secularism has always allied itself with militant Islam against Holy Rus. It was thus in the thirteenth century when St Alexander Nevsky fought simultaneously against the Teutonic Knights, who stabbed Christian Russia in the back while it was already fighting the Mongol Tartars from the East. It was thus in the nineteenth century when Imperial Britain fought against the liberation of the Balkan Christians by Russia, and allied itself with the Muslim Ottoman oppressors. It was thus in 1915 when German’s ally, Turkey, massacred a million Armenians, who had been protected by Russia alone. It was thus in the 1970s when the US and the UK allowed Turkey to invade and occupy northern Cyprus, wrecking its Christian shrines. It was thus in the 1980s when the CIA created, funded, trained and armed Al-Qaida in Afghanistan and in the 1990s when its Western-funded and protected offshoots fought Serbia in the Balkans and Russia in the Caucasus. It is thus today in Libya and Syria. Western secularism and Islamic fundamentalism are simply the two sides of the selfsame coin. Secondly, it reminds us of the prophecies of the saints, of St Cosmas of Aitolia and, more recently, of St Paisius the Athonite (+ 1994), who foresaw war between Russia and Turkey, the Russian liberation of Constantinople from its physical enemies and also from internal enemies who, though Orthodox in name, are in fact apostates from the Faith, being rather paid agents of the Washington-Vatican axis. These prophecies speak of bloodshed, of a third of Turks converted to Orthodoxy, a third being driven away to Mesopotamia and a third dying. Thirdly, it reminds us that Eden, Paradise, was ‘in the east’, somewhere in Mesopotamia, and that anti-Eden, anti-Paradise, is also in the east, in today’s blood-drenched Iraqi Mesopotamia. It reminds us that the war that is going on in western Syria, created by the West, is dangerously close to the place in occupied Palestine called Armageddon and that the war that is continuing there is a war against those who hate Christ and His teachings, including those who are planning to rebuild the Temple on Zion, ready for the enthronement of their master Antichrist. |
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