| Archive Consecration of restored Orthodox churches in Arbin and Az-Zabadani 23 January 2023 year 10:55 On January 22, 2023, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, took part in the Sunday Divine Liturgy at the Church of Great Martyr George the Conqueror in Arbin, Syria. This church was seriously damaged because of military actions near the Syrian capital during an active stage of clashes with militants. Recently the restoration work in it carried out at the expense of the Russian Federation and with the support of the Russian Orthodox Church has been completed. Before the Liturgy, the restored church was consecrated by His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Great Antioch and All the East and Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk. His Beatitude’s concelebrants included Metropolitan Anthony, hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Antioch - Metropolitan Ephraim of Aleppo and Alexandretta, Metropolitan Nicholas of Hama, Bishop Moses of Dara, Bishop John of Sergiopolis, Bishop Arsenios of Hierapolis, the clergy of the Patriarchate of Antioch, as well as Metropolitan Anthony’s retinue including Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, adviser to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR vice-chairman; and Archimandrite Philipp (Vasiltsev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. Worshipping in the sanctuary were Bishop Moses of Larissa and Bishop Roman of Seleucia. Among the worshipers in the church were Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Russia in Syria A. V. Yefimov; Commander of the Russian Federation Armed Forces Group in the Syrian Arab Republic Colonel-General A. N. Serdyukov, Executive Director of the Foundation for Support of Christian Culture and Heritage Ye. Skopenko, and representatives of local authorities. The service was held in Arabic and Church Slavonic. In his Primatial homily, His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch congratulated those present on the restoration and re-consecration of the Church of Great Martyr George the Conqueror in Arbin. ‘We know this city very well. Living in it are people of Christian and Moslem communities, and they all deserve to live a life in goodness and dignity and to meet their spiritual needs’ His Beatitude stressed, ‘Today we thank the Lord for the opportunity to see, after all that happened here, how many buildings were destroyed in Arbin, that we, both Christians and Muslims have assembled in this church where the first Liturgy after the restoration has been celebrated’. |
| His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Delivers Address at a Meeting of the Supreme Church Council Source: DECR On 26 December 2018, the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church held a regular session in the Hall of the Supreme Church Council of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. His Holiness delivered an opening address. Photo: Oleg Varov/foto.patriarchia.ru I greet all the members of the Supreme Church Council at this year’s last session. Of course, we will discuss the results of the year, but first of all, I would like to cordially greet all of you. And I have to say a few words about the year gone by, which, as we all feel, was very difficult. The situation of our Church in Ukraine is still a source of great tension, a factor affecting the well-being of Orthodox Christians, their spiritual welfare. You are well informed, you know what is going on, what developments – radical, extremely dangerous for the integrity of the Ukrainian people, and not only for our Church – have recently taken place in Kiev following the decision of the Ukrainian parliament requiring to change the name of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. These changes will be followed by repressions, and it is completely obvious that an ultimatum has been presented: if the Church does not change its name, its registration will be cancelled. And if the Church changes its name, then, naturally, an enormous pressure will be exerted on the Ukrainian people, on the public. There is no doubt that acts of violence will be committed to take away church buildings. People in Ukraine are believers, they are Orthodox Christians, firm in faith and emotional, hence there is a risk that the situation concerning the church buildings can escalate into bloody conflicts. Therefore, I ask you to pray even more zealously for peace in the brotherly Ukrainian land and for the preservation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. As is widely known, what triggered persecutions of the Ukrainian Orthodoxy was the unprecedented decision of Constantinople, going beyond the bounds of any canonical order and therefore criminal, to encroach on the canonical territory of the Ukrainian Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, on the territory of our Church. This encroachment resulted in and was followed by the devastating developments, first of all, the interference of the governmental authorities, also unprecedented. And it occurred in the country which declares its commitment to the European values, one of which is the separation of the Church, of religion, from the state! In violation of this fundamental European value the state in the person of president directly interferes in church administration, one may say, presides at what is called “unification church council” and participates in negotiations with Constantinople on the so-called “tomos,” doing all this in front of TV cameras, in plain view of the whole world. |
| Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk: Metropolitan Vladimir’s Image Has Become an Esceptionally Positive Part of Ukrainian History Source: DECR In an interview with Interfax-Religion the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk spoke of the coming election of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, of the steps necessary to resolve the serious political situation in south-east Ukraine, and commented on the decision by the General Synod of the Church of England to ordain women as bishops. – Your Eminence, you represented His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the funeral of Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine. At the beginning of May at passport control in Dnepropetrovsk you were told that you had been denied entry into Ukrainian territory. Did you go through this time without any problems? – This time I crossed the Ukrainian border without obstacles. Petr Alexeyevich Poroshenko saw to this personally. – Could you please share your impressions of your visit to Kiev? – The funeral of His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir, for which practically all of the episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church had gathered, took place in a very solemn atmosphere in the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev. Together with the Liturgy it lasted almost seven hours. A great number of people filled the monastery courtyard, everything took place in the open air. This made a majestic impression, which was completely befitting the importance of the man we were accompanying on his final journey. His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir was a historical person, an outstanding man. He became head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at a very difficult turning point for her when within the bosom of the Church a schism had arisen and when the former metropolitan of Kiev Philaret Denisenko attempted to tear the Ukrainian Church from the bosom of the Moscow Patriarchate. The bishops of the Ukrainian Church grouped together and did not allow this to happen. Here we should note merit of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Nikodim of Kharkov who convoked a Council in Kharkov but himself had no claims to become the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Council then elected Vladyka Vladimir metropolitan of Kiev, who at that time was carrying out his ministry beyond the Ukraine as metropolitan of Rostov. He viewed this ministry not as an honour but as a cross, and he bore it with dignity for more than twenty years. |
| “The voice of many millions of Orthodox believers should be heard and taken into account” Source: DECR Address by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk to the 1st Inter-parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy. On June 26, the opening of the 21st Inter-parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy took place in the State Duma under the theme “Parliamentary Democracy – Orthodoxy: Values and Meanings”. Below is the address to the Assembly by the Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’ department for external church relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk. Photo: mospat.ru Esteemed Participants and Guests of the Assembly, I am glad to greet the parliament members from various countries of the world and numerous guests united by participation in the 21 st General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy. For the years of its existence, the Assembly has turned into an authoritative body of international parliamentary cooperation, assembling under its aegis representatives of national parliaments bound up by common values of Orthodox Christianity. It has become possible thanks to the laborious efforts of those who stood at the foundation of the Assembly. I cannot but note the contribution made by Russian parliament members – Victor Zorkaltsev, who was IAO president at the dawn of its formation and later, Sergey Popov, present long-standing president of the organization, as well as their colleagues from Greece and other countries who took an active part in the work of the Assembly. The Inter-parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy was established with the aim to unite parliament members from various parts of the world. Unfortunately, secular norms of international cooperation continue to prevail in the European continent, seeking to exclude religion from the public sphere. It is my conviction that this state of affairs is imposed on most citizens in European countries and other regions of the world, who wish to see agents of values stemming from religion in the global space. |
| Archive Пн His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus discusses defense of the rights of Christians with President of the Interparliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy 10 April 2019 year 11:01 Mr. Sergei Gavrilov, President of the Interparliamentary Assembly of Orthodox and chairman of the State Duma Committee on civil society and issues of public and religious organizations, met with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. Discussed at the meeting that took place at Limassol were burning problems of the violation of the rights of Christians in the world in general and at the Middle East in particular. Also discussed was the inadequate condition of many Orthodox churches and monasteries in the territory of Northern Cyprus. Pressure being by political leaders of certain countries brought on bishops, clerics and laypeople was noted in particular. “We know that the Church of Cyprus stands for inter-Orthodox dialogue on the situation in Ukraine where civil authorities are interfering in church affairs. We are grateful for the support,” Mr. Gavrilov said. He called the upholding of human rights and protection of Christians against discrimination a major direction of activities in the current context. He added that the Russian Orthodox Church was engaged in actions of defending human right to free profession of their faith and the keeping of spiritual and moral values by supporting disabled persons, orphans and elderly people. The Russian Church conducts educational and peace activities which is aimed at the countering of attempts to instigate extremism under the guise of ethnical or religious slogans. His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos I of New Justiniana and All Cyprus appreciated this kind of activity. The importance of developing pilgrimage to the holy sites of the Orthodox Churches of Russia and Cyprus was underscored. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 18 апреля 2024 г. (5 апреля ст.ст.) четверг Четверток Великого канона. Мчч. Агафопода диакона, Феодула чтеца и иже с ними (ок. 303). Перенесение мощей свт. Иова, патриарха Московского и всея России (1652). |
| Archive Пн ‘OCU’ supporters have captured a church of the canonical Church in Lvov 5 April 2023 year 20:46 On April 5, 2023, supporters of the schismatic structure ‘Orthodox Church of Ukraine’ disrupted the divine service at the St. George Cathedral of the city of Lvov, reports the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Information-Education Department. A group of people pretended to hold a meeting of the cathedral’s religious community with the aim to capture this church. The Lvov diocesan administration reported that at 9 am unknown people (about 50 of then) entered the cathedral territory and blocked the entrance to the territory and to the church. Led by Yuriy Kholod, vice-chairman of the Lvov Regional Council, they held a ‘parish meeting’ on the ‘transfer’ of the church community to the ‘OCU’. The gathering was also attended by a ‘priest’ of the ‘diocese’ of Lvov headed by ‘Metropolitan’ Makariy. The ‘OCU’ representatives had already held their ‘thanksgiving’ in the church. The instigators cried out pseudo-patriotic slogans in the cathedral and tried to provoke a violent confrontation. The cameraman who livestreamed the event was led out of the church by the police. The event in the church was also joined by radical rogues. At the diocesan administration, Metropolitan Philaret of Lvov and Galicia met with persons who demanded “to be transferred to the ‘OCU’ or to hand all the property to it”. The capture of the St. George Cathedral in Lvov was commented by Bishop Jacob of Drogobych. His Grace related that the Diocese of Lvov of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church would appeal to court over all that happened around the St. George Cathedral on April 5, 2023. ‘We stand for the settlement of any problem only legally. We are against raids and any violent captures. We are against any settlement of problems by force’, the hierarch stressed. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 18 апреля 2024 г. (5 апреля ст.ст.) четверг Четверток Великого канона. Мчч. Агафопода диакона, Феодула чтеца и иже с ними (ок. 303). Перенесение мощей свт. Иова, патриарха Московского и всея России (1652). |
| 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 The DECR Chairman took part in the international Muslim forum DECR Communication service, 12.12.2023 On the 12 of December 2023, the XIX International Muslim Forum " The Role of Religious Leaders in Protecting Spiritual and Moral Values and Strengthening Peace and Security " was held at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. The forum was organised by the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of the Russian Federation with the participation of the Council of Muftis of Russia, the Moscow Islamic Institute, the Foundation for the Support of Islamic Science, Culture and Education. Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, took part in the event as a guest of honour. The Archpastor was accompanied by Deacon Ilia Kashitsyn, DECR Secretary for Interreligious Relations, and Deacon Nikolai Vasin, Assistant to the Chairman of the Department. At the opening ceremony of the conference, moderated by First Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of the Russian Federation Damir Mukhetdinov, greetings were delivered by Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation M.M. Magomedov and Deputy Chairman of the Government of Russia M.S. Khusnullin. The welcome address of the Chairman of the Federation Council V.I. Matvienko was read by the Deputy Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group " Russia - Islamic World " F.M. Mukhametshin. Next, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia and the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of the Russian Federation, spoke, among other things, about the jubilee meeting of the Interreligious Council of Russia, headed by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus " , which was held on the 7nd of December 2023. The Mufti emphasised the importance of developing Orthodox-Muslim interaction and joint defence of traditional spiritual and moral values. |
| 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 DECR chairman meets with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch DECR Communication Service, 30/01/2024 On 29 th January 2024, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, while on a visit to Syria with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, met with His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East. Taking part in the meeting held at the Patriarchal residence in Damascus were also Mr Alexander Yefimov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Syrian Arab Republic; Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR deputy chairman; Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ to the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East; Priest Alexander Yershov, assistant to the DECR chairman; and representatives of the Patriarchate of Antioch – Bishop Romanos of Seleucia, chief secretary of the Holy Synod; Bishop Moussa of Darayya; Bishop John of Sergiopolis; and Prof Hassan Risheh, former Syrian Ambassador to Russia. His Beatitude Patriarch John X of the Great Antioch and All the East greeted the Moscow Patriarchate’s delegation noting that to Syria and the whole world, the current visit to Damascus serves as a powerful sign of Russia’s and the Russian Orthodox Church’s support for Orthodox Christians in the Middle East. He thanked the DECR chairman and in his person the plenitude of the Russian Orthodox Church for the help given to the Orthodox Church of Antioch in Syria and Lebanon. In his turn, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk wholeheartedly thanked His Beatitude Patriarch John for the warm hospitality extended to the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church during its visit to Syria. The DECR chairman also expressed his high regard for the steadfast principled stance of the Patriarchate of Antioch in defending canonical foundations of the Church and unity of the worldwide Orthodoxy, as well as in strengthening bonds of friendship with the Russian Orthodox Church and supporting persecuted Orthodox Christians in Ukraine. |
| Photo: mospat.ru On September 12, 2020, after the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Trinity in St. Daniel Stauropegial Monastery, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. At the entrance, His Holiness was met by DECR chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and DECR vice-chairmen Archbishop Leonid of Vladikavkaz and Alania, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov and Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov). The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church saw the memorial corner devoted to the late Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad and Novgorod, the second chairman of the department. Then His Holiness proceeded to the DECR chairman’s office for a meeting with Metropolitan Hilarion. The Primate congratulated His Eminence on the 25 th anniversary of his work at this synodal department responsible for the external relations of the Russian Orthodox Church and wished him God’s help in his further work. After that, His Holiness had a meeting at the department’s lesser hall with the senior personnel. The meeting was attended by DECR chairman Metropolitan Hilarion, DECR vice-chairmen Archbishop Leonid, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov and Archimandrite Philaret, as well as DECR secretaries Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, inter-Orthodox relations; Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, diaspora affairs; Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov), inter-Christian relations; and Rev. Dimitry Safonov, interreligious relations. Opening the meeting, the DECR chairman noted that as the present pandemic situation made it impossible to assemble all the members of the department, it was decided to limit the assembly to its senior members. Greeting those present, His Holiness said, ‘Brothers, I am very glad to meet with you especially in these walls which I hold so dear’. His Holiness noted that he crossed the threshold of the department with a very special feeling because he had worked in it as its chairman for almost twenty years. Patriarch Kirill also shared his memories of the time when he had worked at the department to which he related since 1968. He recalled that he had been the youngest participant in the major international inter-Christian congress – the 4 th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, which took place in 1968 in Uppsala, Sweden. |
| 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 DECR chairman visits Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon DECR Communication Service, 10/03/2024 On 9 th March 2024, while in Lebanon with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, visited the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Beirut. Metropolitan Anthony was accompanied by Metropolitan Silouan of Byblos, Botris and Dependencies (Mount Lebanon); Metropolitan Nifon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’; Mr Alexander Rudakov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Lebanon; Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ to the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East; Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), rector of the Moscow Metochion of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR deputy chairman; Deacon Nikolai Vasin, secretary to the DECR chairman; and Mr Yegor Skopenko, executive director of the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage. That same day later the DECR chairman visited the Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon and had a meeting with its ruling hierarch, Metropolitan Silouan of Byblos, Botris and Dependencies (Mount Lebanon). They were joined by Metropolitan Nifon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’; Mr Alexander Rudakov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Lebanon; Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ to the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East; Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), rector of the Moscow Metochion of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR deputy chairman; Deacon Nikolai Vasin, secretary to the DECR chairman; and Mr Yegor Skopenko, executive director of the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage. |
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