| Metropolitan Hilarion Takes Part in the Consecration of Archangel Michael Church in Austria Source: DECR On 30 September 2018, 18 th Sunday after Pentecost, afterfeast of the Elevation of the Cross, commemoration day of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their Mother Sophia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, while in Austria upon the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and Archbishop Antony of Vienna and Budapest, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administration for Institutions Abroad, consecrated the Church of Archangel Michael in the town of Laa an der Thaya in Austria. The church was built at the burial place of the Soviet soldiers who had died there during World War II. The hierarchs celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church. Concelebrating with them were Archimandrite Agafor (Markevich) from the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius; Archpriest Vladimir Tyschiuk, rector of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Vienna; Hieromonk Ioann (Kopeykin), pro-rector for advancement of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies; and Archdeacon Viktor Shilovsky, a cleric of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Vienna. After the Liturgy Archbishop Antony of Vienna and Budapest cordially greeted Metropolitan Hilarion who had laid the foundation of the Church of Archangel Michael while serving as the ruling hierarch of the diocese of Vienna and Austria. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk expressed his joy over an opportunity to visit Austria and take part in the consecration of the church, saying in particular: “Today we have prayed for all those buried here, for our soldiers buried in this land. There are over 200 military graves in the Austrian land, and over 4 thousand in the neighbouring Germany. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers laid down their lives here so that we could have the peaceful skies above our heads. We believe that through their heroic deeds they gained the everlasting life, and pray for them as for heroes who laid down their lives for the sake of others, thus fulfilling the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| Metropolitan Serafim of Germany Says Today’s Diseases Are Consequences of Spiritual Disease Source: Basilica.ro Photo credit: The “Nativity of Our Lord” Romanian Orthodox Church in München His Eminence Serafim, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Germany, visited last weekend the Lord’s Resurrection Parish in Mannheim. He listened to people’s confessions, baptized three children, celebrated the Divine Liturgy, and ordained a deacon to the priesthood. He spoke to the faithful about prayer, honest confession of sins and forgiveness, and also about the “evil spirits who distort judgment” and make us spiritually ill. In his Sunday homily, the hierarch emphasized our need to renew perspective in our relationship with God: we should stop asking things from Him and start letting ourselves in His hands, as He knows best what we need. “Our fight is not with flesh and blood, as the Holy Apostle Paul said, but with the evil spirits who distort our judgment and lead us astray from God’s path”, the Metropolitan said. “Each sin is rooted in an evil thought coming from the devil and if we do not refuse the thought immediately, it will take hold of us.” “The world is laying ill under the power of the evil one. Today’s diseases are consequences of spiritual disease: lack of faith, love of money, fornication, the crime of abortion and contraception, the latter being also abortive”, the hierarch said. His Eminence Serafim said that refusing to give birth to children is in disobedience with God’s commandment given to man in the Garden of Eden: “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it“ (Genesis 1:28). Unlike the followers of other Abrahamic religions, Christians don’t obey this commandment anymore. The world belongs to those who conquer it by giving birth to children, added the Romanian hierarch, while “the Christian population is dwindling by the day and nobody can foresee a bright future for the Christian world. Only a radical return to God through temperance and repentance could save us, just as it saved the inhabitants of the ancient city of Nineveh”. |
| On the Sunday nearest October 11, Orthodox Christians celebrate the memory of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council. Sound boring? Better hold onto your seat, because this is a wild ride! Nearly four hundred years after the establishment of the Christian Byzantine Empire, a movement of rigorist puritanism began to develop in the Church that viewed icons with disgust and was suspicious that symbolic material objects used in church might be idolatrous, and that those who venerate icons and appreciated Orthodox art were returning to paganism. This mindset was very popular among members of the court, who preferred esoteric philosophizing over engaged worship, and the members of the military, who were zealous to put down heresy. Under the Emperor Leo III and his son Constantine V, a fifty-year period began wherein icons were destroyed, the interiors of churches were defaced, and those who defended or attempted to preserve icons were harshly oppressed, jailed, and tortured – most particularly the monastics. Iconoclasm had waned, but continued, under Leo IV, but at his death his wife, Empress Irene, boldly challenged the error of the previous three emperors and, against much opposition from the imperial court and army, defended icons and summoned an ecumenical council. Confirming the works of St. John of Damascus ( In Defense of the Holy Images ) and Patriarch Germanos, the council successfully returned the Church to its Orthodox faith, declaring: We define that the holy icons, whether in color, mosaic, or some other material, should be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on the sacred vessels and liturgical vestments, on the walls, furnishings, and in houses and along the roads… Whenever these representations are contemplated, they will cause those who look at them to commemorate and love their prototype… which is in effect transmitted to the prototype; he who venerates the icon, venerates in it the reality for which it stands. We define also that they should be kissed and that they are an object of veneration and honor, but not of worship, which is reserved for Him Who is the subject of our faith and of divine nature. |
| 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.” |
| Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos Encourages Students to Enlightenment “In Christ” True education is called to educate a person both spiritually and morally. Photo: jerusalem-patriarchate.info. Enlightenment in Christ exceeds the capabilities of one’s intellect and raises the mind of a person to comprehend the glory of God said His Holiness Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem during his visit to the Patriarchal School of St. Demetrius, which took place on November 8, 2021, on the commemoration day of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki, the Patron Saint of the educational institution, reports jerusalem-patriarchate.info . The Primate of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church emphasized that true education is called to educate a person both spiritually and morally. Patriarch Theophilus noted that the love of young Demetrius for the truth was not limited to the study of Greek philosophy alone, but extended mainly to the knowledge of Christ and the Gospel. “Knowledge leads to the enlightenment of the intellect, and the enlightenment of the intellect leads to scientific knowledge. But education in Christ goes beyond the human mind and raises the mind of a pious and righteous disciple of Christ to divine beauty and comprehension of the glory of God,” said His Holiness Patriarch Theophilos. He wished the students of the Patriarchal School success in their studies and perception of the truth. The Patriarchal School of St. Demetrius is located on the territory of the Monastery of Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helena in Jerusalem. The educational institution unites a six-grade elementary school, a gymnasium and a lyceum. Initially, the school was taught in Greek, now the educational process is adapted mainly for the Arabic-speaking flock of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. 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. |
| Photography courtesy of Marian Stoenic/“Church Life during the Pandemic” Photo Competition His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania has sent a message marking World Social Media Day 2021 highlighting responsible communication in the context of the challenges of today’s world. A good word enlightens communication: full text In the context of the pandemic, social networks proved to be a very useful missionary and pastoral means since, for a long time, the faithful could not physically participate in church services. Thus, the online streaming of services was a spiritual consolation, a source of peace and joy, especially since many people suffered from loneliness, anxiety, the uncertainty of tomorrow, fear of illness and death. We thank the dioceses, parishes and monasteries of the Romanian Patriarchate for responding promptly to our appeals and the spiritual needs of the faithful, ensuring the live broadcast of the Divine Liturgy and other services on social networks. By live-streaming church services, the period of solitude and uneasiness was transformed into one of hope and communion, the faithful waiting with great responsibility and trust in God for the moment of actual liturgical participation, which we enjoy today. World Social Media Day, marked on June 30 every year, is an opportunity to congratulate all those who use social platforms to promote people’s good words and deeds, not to generate conflicting and offensive conversations. In this sense, the Saviour Jesus Christ exhorts us with these words: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). Therefore, let us use social networks with discernment and responsibility in the spirit of solidarity, respect and love of fellow human beings, according to the words of the Holy Apostle Paul: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2: 3-4). |
| Primate of Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Liturgy at the Church of Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Havana On February 14, 2016, the 37th Sunday after Pentecost, the Forefeast of the Meeting of the Lord, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Russian Orthodox church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Havana. Concelebrating with His Holiness were: Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary, Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Secretariat; Bishop Kallistrat of Gorno-Altaysk and Chemal; Bishop Anthony of Bogorodsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administration for Institutions Abroad; Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), DECR vice-chairman; archpriest Andrey Milkin, head of the Patriarchal Protocol Service; and Rev. Alexander Volkov, head of the Patriarchal Press Service. Among those who attended the service were c lerics of the Church of St. Nicholas in Havana (Patriarchate of Constantinople) and Mr. Raúl Castro Ruz, President of Cuba’s Council of State and Council of Ministers. During the service, the Gospel, the Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer were read out in the Church Slavonic and Spanish languages. The Gospel reading was followed by a homily delivered by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. After the Liturgy, Archpriest Dimitry Orekhov, rector of the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, greeted the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and presented him with a Kazan icon of the Most Holy Theotokos with images of the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles and St. Cyril Equal-to-the-Apostles. In his primatial homily, Patriarch Kirill expressed his joy over an opportunity to celebrate the Liturgy at an Orthodox church in Havana: This time my visit to Cuba coincided with an event of great significance for the history of Christendom. I had a meeting, brotherly, open and full of love, with the bishop of Rome, Pope Francis. For all the still existing theological differences between the Orthodox Christians in the East and Catholic Christians in the West, we are well aware today of our shared responsibility for what is going on with people. |
| Saint Sava Church in Jackson, California, for the fourth time celebrated the feast day of its founder, Saint Sebastian of Jackson, an Apostle of America, in the 2018th year of the Lord, with great joy and love. Photo: Western American Diocese Although on a week day, Friday, the church was filled with the faithful from various Orthodox churches and from various places of California, who all desired an encounter with the great man in whom God is well-pleased. Like last year, priests from a few neighboring Serbian and other Orthodox parishes gathered together for Divine Liturgy, but a special joy this year was brought by two guests from afar. One of them was Presbyter Miroslav Andri from Kraljevo, a city near ia Monastery, where Saint Sava, the patron of Jackson’s church, was enthroned and where his archiepiscopal see was, and where Saint Sebastian, its founder, fell asleep in the Lord and reposed on its cemetery from 1940 until 2007. The other one was Deacon Simon Menya from Uganda, who is a student at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York and is getting prepared to be involved, like Saint Sava and Saint Sebastian, in the missionary activity in his homeland. As a true man of God, Saint Sebastian calls all and gathers all around the Lord, without any worldly partiality and discrimination, so that all His children may be one in Him. After only three years since his name was inserted into the diptychs of saints, his church has been visited and his holy relics venerated by the pilgrims from all over North America as well as all other continents of the globe. Only three years later, the family of Jackson’s deputy sheriff celebrated Saint Sebastian as their family patron saint or Slava for the second time and this time they were joined by the local photographer Lazar Larry Angier, who was baptized and christmated earlier this year and who enjoys high reputation not only in his native region but throughout the fullness of our Church for his dedicated art work and unselfish contribution to capturing and depicting glimpses of its heavenly and eternal beauty. Among the most joyful celebrants was a small Sebastian, who was brought to the church from Sacramento by his parents, Moldovan father and American mother, in order to celebrate his first Name Day together with his namesake and patron saint. At this occasion, the parish also commemorated the fourth anniversary of ordination of its deacon, Dragan Stojanovich. |
| Services for Canadian Thanksgiving, Saints New and Ancient in October Now Featured at the Online Liturgical Guide Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America St. Jacob of Hamatoura A national holiday, a newly revealed Lebanese saint, and Holy Fathers who defended icons once and for all fill celebrations in the Orthodox Church in October. The Liturgical Texts for this month, blessed by His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph, are now ready for clergy and laity to download from the Online Liturgical Guide . Each year, on the second Monday of October, Canada celebrates its Thanksgiving holiday as “a day of general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.” Its origin dates to 1578. For the holiday, the 18 Canadian churches of the Antiochian Archdiocese can offer Great Vespers on the night of October 10 and the Divine Liturgy on Thanksgiving morning, October 11, with special hymnography. On either day, parishes can offer “Glory to God for All Things: An Akathist of Thanksgiving.” Martyred for the love of Christ on October 13, 1450, and glorified by the Church in 2002, St. Jacob of Hamatoura is one of Lebanon’s most beloved Orthodox Christian saints. Over the centuries, faithful clergy and laity who flocked to his Monastery of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos of Hamatoura, Kousba, Lebanon would feel presence of this priest-monk and see visions of him there. This year, the Department of Liturgics has provided canons for St. Jacob at Orthros in English and Arabic. Every year, on the Sunday that falls from October 11-17, inclusive, the Orthodox Church celebrates the 350 Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, convened in Nicaea in 787. They refuted the Iconoclast heresy, whose camp believed that all depictions of Christ, His Mother and the saints should be destroyed. The council decreed that the veneration of icons was not idolatry because the honor shown to them is not directed to the wood, paint or paper, but passes to the prototype depicted therein. |
| There are few opportunities like Holy Week to gain empirical knowledge and partake in the Philokalic (love of beauty) Hellenic tradition that masterfully comes to life each year in Greek Orthodox churches and homes all over the world. The Orthodox Christian mentality is expressed in our persistent focus on the Resurrection. While various creeds follow the Passion, and even honor it, they view it within the narrow prism of “The satisfaction of God's divine anger,” and their churches remain silent after Good Friday. In the Orthodox Church, the Holy Passion is venerated, because it illuminates what is to come; because the faithful know that after the Cross comes the Resurrection! This was and will remain the good news that Orthodoxy preaches to the world. It’s this very “good news” that Greek tradition has sought to identify itself with. Since ancient times, Hellenism has stood out for its ability to “organically digest” new elements and incorporate them into its existence. It is no surprise that it lends its full passion and grace and abilities towards glorifying the greatest of all such elements: the voluntary self-sacrifice of the Incarnate God and His subsequent Resurrection, to save mortals from death. Famous Greek author Alexandros Papadiamantis (widely known as the Dostoevsky of Greece) – whose 100-year memorial anniversary is being widely commemorated this year – describes Holy Week most eloquently in so many of his short stories and articles: “… the incense drifts in blue fragrant wreaths and forms a fleeting surround for the girls, in their embroidered aprons and white sleeveless jackets, come bearing armfuls of roses and violets and sheaves of rosemary and proceed to heap mountains of flowers on the humble Epitaphios, which needs no further embellishment.” In her blog This Side of Glory, the author Grace discusses this beautiful short story (A Village Easter), noting, “Who doesn’t know what he means? The liturgical worship we have looks so serious to our Protestant friends that they never guess how very human it can be — laughter and tears and all the rest that are forever tinged in my memory with the most sacred and eternal aspects of worship.” |
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