| On this (Julian Calender) St. Patrick’s day, historical for its first official ecclesiastical commemoration by churches of the Moscow Patriachate, with the poetic “ode to Celtic saints” by Monk Nicodemos. Icon of All Saints who shone forth in the lands of Britain and Ireland. Photo: Pravoslavie.ru 1. How Did Orthodoxy Reach Ireland? How did Orthodox Christianity come to this small green island off the shores of the European continent in the uttermost West? Unknown to many, Christianity in Ireland does have an Apostolic foundation , through the Apostles James and John, although the Apostles themselves never actually visited there. The Irish people were the westernmost extension of the vast Celtic civilization—whose people called themselves the Gauls —which stretched from southern Russia through Europe and eventually into the British Isles. The vastness of Celtic/Gallic civilization is evident in the names used to designate countries within its entire territory: the land of Galatia in Asia Minor, Gaul (France), Galicia (northwest Spain), and the land of the Gaels (Ireland). The Celtic peoples (like the Jews) kept in very close contact with their kinfolk across the Eurasian continent. When Christianity was first being spread by the Apostles , those Celts who heard their preaching and accepted it (seeing it as the completion of the best parts of their ancient traditions and beliefs) immediately told their relatives, traveling by sea and land along routes their ancestors had followed since before 1000 b.c. Saint John, evangelist portrait from the Book of Mulling, Irish, late 8th century The two Apostles whose teachings had the greatest influence upon the Celtic peoples were the brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee. After Pentecost, James first preached the Gospel to the dispersed Israelites in Sardinia (an island in the Mediterranean Sea off the east coast of Spain, which was used as a penal colony). From there he went on to the Spanish mainland and traveled throughout the northern part of Spain along the river Ebro, where his message was eagerly heard by the Celtic/Iberian peoples, especially those in Galicia. This area continued to be a portal to Ireland for many centuries, especially for the transmission of the Good News. |
| Tweet Jesus " Words Backed by Archaeology: The Stones Are Crying Out February 7, 2015 A few years ago, people exploring caves outside Jerusalem came across the find of a lifetime: an ancient burial cave containing the remains of a crucified man. This find is only one in a series of finds that overturns a century-old scholarly consensus. That consensus held that the Gospels are almost entirely proclamation and contain little, if any, real history. The remains belonged to a man who had been executed in the first century A.D., that is, from the time of Jesus. As Jeffrey Sheler writes in his book Is the Bible True? the skeleton confirms what the evangelists wrote about Jesus' death and burial in several important ways. First, location—scholars had long doubted the biblical account of Jesus' burial. They believed that crucified criminals were tossed in a mass grave and then devoured by wild animals. But this man, a near contemporary of Jesus, was buried in the same way the Bible says Jesus was buried. Then there's the physical evidence from the skeleton. The man's shinbones appeared to have been broken. This confirms what John wrote about the practice of Roman executioners. They would break the legs of the crucified to hasten death, something from which Jesus, already dead, was spared. This point is particularly noteworthy, since scholars have long dismissed the details of John's Passion narrative as theologically motivated embellishments. Another part of John's Gospel that archaeology has recently corroborated is the story of Jesus healing the lame man in John 5. John describes a five-sided pool just inside the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem where the sick came to be healed. Since no other document of antiquity—including the rest of the Bible—mentions such a place, skeptics have long argued that John simply invented the place. But as Sheler points out, when archaeologists decided to dig where John said that the pool had been located, they found a five-sided pool. What's more, the pool contained shrines to the Greek gods of healing. |
| Archive Interreligious delegation from Russia holds meetings with Syrian state leaders 8 February 2018 year 12:21 February 6, 2018 – the delegation of the interreligious working group of the Russian Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations, who are in Syria on a humanitarian mission, held several meetings with Syrian state high officials. With a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and by the decision of the head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, the delegation is led by DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations Hieromonk Stephen (Igumnov). It includes Mr. S Melnikov, executive secretary of the Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations, Ildar Ziganshin, member of the Presidium of the Central Muslim Board in Russia; Mufti Albir Krganov, chairman of the Muslim Assembly of Russia; Ahmad Kakhaev, first vice-chairman of the Central Muslim Board in the Republic of Dagestan; Rev. S. Ryakhovsky, Presiding Bishop of the Russian Union of Christian of the Evangelical Faith; Archimandrite Pogos Vardanian, vicar of the head of the diocese of Russia and Novo-Nakhichevan of the Armenian Apostolic Church; Hieromonk Yermogen (Korchukov), executive director of the Interreligious Foundation for Joint Humanitarian Projects; Mr. S. Baidakov, chairman of the Moscow branch of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society; Ms. N. Kuskova, co-chair of the Committee for Solidarity with the People of Libya and Syria; Mr. M. Mirsayapov, head of the international department of the Muslim Assembly in Russia; Mr. A. Tashtimirov, member of the Central Muslim Board in Russia; Mr. O. Fomin, co-chairman of the Committee for Solidarity with the People of Libya and Syria; and Mr. Kh. Nasralla, chairman of the Arab Diaspora, as well as representatives of Russian TV channels and news agencies. In the morning, the delegation visited the historic Umayyad Mosque in downtown Damascus. They venerated the honourable head of the holy prophet John the Precursor and Baptist of the Lord. They also visited the nearby burial place of Sultan Salah ad-Din with the adjacent grave of Sheikh Tawfiq Ramadan Al-Bouti, an outstanding Islamic theologian and spiritual leader of the Muslims, the peacemaker who was assassinated a few years ago by terrorists during his preaching at one of the mosques in Damascus. The leaders of the Umayyad Mosque compound presented the Russian delegation with a special commemorative medal for honorary guests. It was noted that it was done in recognition of the large scale of the humanitarian action carried out in previous days. |
| Photo: : southamerica.cerkov.ru On October 9, in the city of Campina das Misoins, the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), without exaggeration, a grandiose event took place, which was awaited with great joy. The solemn opening and consecration of the Orthodox chapel in honor of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equal to the Apostles, took place. It is noteworthy that in the year of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Argentine and South American Diocese and the 75th birthday of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the city of Campina das Misoins was awarded the title of “Center of Russian Culture” in Brazil (Berco da cultura Russa em Brasil). This became the starting point in the implementation of promising projects to strengthen constructive and friendly relations between Russia and Brazil, acquaintance with Russian culture and traditions in Brazil. Photo: southamerica.cerkov.ru The chapel was designed by an architect from Belgorod, Nadezhda Kirgeeva, based on the idea of the former rector of the parish, Hegumen Innokenty (Denshchikov), together with the president of the Russian cultural association in Campina das Misoins (Brazil), Jacinto Anatoly Zabolotsky. In a short time, a location was selected, all the necessary documents and permits were obtained, and construction began. According to eyewitnesses, few then would have thought that in such a short time it would become possible to build a chapel, to arrange a park that transformed the appearance of the city center. Photo: southamerica.cerkov.ru The opening ceremony was preceded by a solemn Divine Liturgy, which was led by the Dean of the Brazilian Church District, the rector of the church in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Porto Alegre, Archpriest Anatoly Topala, in concelebration of the priests of the Brazilian deanery who arrived at the celebrations. It is significant that the consecration of the chapel was planned precisely on October 9, when the Holy Church honors the memory of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian. This day is the feast day of the Orthodox parish in Campina das Misoins. At the end of the festive Divine Liturgy, Archpriest Anatoly Topala, Dean of the Brazilian Church District, on behalf of the Governor of the Argentine and South American Diocese, Bishop Leonid, handed over bishop’s letters and letters of thanks to all those who worked especially hard on the foundation and construction of the chapel. |
| World evangelical group head meets Ecumenical Patriarch on Syria, Iraq Source: Ecumenical News Natalya Mihailova 29 November 2014 Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, secretary general of the World Evangelical Alliance has recently met with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, in Istanbul, Turkey. Together they discussed the current crisis and the plight of Christians in Syria, Iraq and the Middle East region. “This was an important meeting where we able discuss areas of common concern,” said Tunnicliffe. “We spent a considerable amount of time discussing the current crisis in the Iraq and Syria where thousands of Christians as well as other minorities are at great risk. “We agreed this was an important moment for the global church to stand united with our brothers and sisters who are facing great hardship.” A specific emphasis of the conversation was on the importance of responding to the increasing number of refugees, ensuring their protection in the short-term and creating ways for them to later return to their homeland. The meeting was built on a long-term relationship between the WEA’s Theological Commission and the Patriarch, who is often seen as the first among equal representing some 300 million Orthodox Christians in the world. The Ecumenical Patriarchate belongs to the World Council of Churches. In recent years, the WEA and its International Institute for Religious Freedom have also been active in defending the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarch and Orthodox Churches in places where they faced persecution. Tunnicliffe was accompanied by members of the WEA’s Theological Commission, Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher and Dr. John Baxter-Brown. Together with leading theologians of the Patriarchate, they started talks on formalizing the dialogue into an in-depth long-term working group that will establish what evangelicals and Orthodox Christians have in common, and where they disagree. “The meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch resulted in a similar achievement as the meeting with Pope Francis only a few weeks earlier,” Tunnicliffe noted. |
| Archive Heads and high-ranking representatives of religious communities in Syria and Russia meet in Damascus for conference 19 November 2018 year 10:11 On November 17, 2018, a conference of the heads and high-ranking representatives of traditional religious communities in Syria and the interreligious delegation from Russia, headed by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), took place at the main hall of the Patriarchate of Antioch at the Cathedral of the Dormition in Damascus. The event was initiated by the Russian Orthodox Church and was timed to the DECR chairman’s visit to Damascus. The aim of the meeting was to discuss further cooperation between Christians and Muslims in Russia and Syria in the area of aid to the suffering Syrian people. From the Syrian side, the conference was attended by His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East; His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church; Sheikh Muhammed Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed, Syria’s Minister of Aqwafs; Cardinal Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio in Syria; and other prominent representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church diocese of Damascus and Evangelical Church in Damascus; as well as Sheikh Bashir Eid al-Bari, Supreme Mufti of Damascus; Islamic leaders and scholars, high-ranking state officials and parliament members; representatives of Islamic youth, bishops and clergy of the Orthodox Church of Antioch, Syriac Orthodox Church, Melkite, Maronite, Syriac Catholic and Armenian Catholic Churches. Participating in the conference from the Russian side were S. Melnikov, executive secretary of the Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations; M. Rakhimov, chairman of the executive committee of the North Caucasus Muslim Coordinating Center; I. Ziganshin, imam-mukhtasiv of the Tyumen Region; I. Ziganshin, member of the Presidium of the Central Muslim Board; S. Ryakhovsky, presiding bishop of the Russian Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith; M. Dzhelalettdinov, imam-muhtasaib of the Nizhni Kamsk region, Tatarstan; as well as DECR staff members responsible of inter-Christian and interreligious relations and humanitarian aid to Syria; and representatives of public organizations. |
| Image: pravoslavie.ru In the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom celebrated in the Orthodox Church, the priest repeats the following prayer a number of times: Let us commit ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God . The ecclesiastical year, which begins on September 1st (14th), has been divinely developed by the Church Fathers with feasts and fasts to aid our life in the God-Man Christ. The longest and strictest fast, Great Lent, paves the way for Pascha (Easter), the Feast of Feasts. In addition to Lent, there are three other periods of prescribed fasting: that of the Apostles in June; the Dormition; and, that of Christmas in November-December. The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church observes the Holy Dormition Fast; this period, which lasts two weeks from the 1st/14th to the 14th/27th of August, culminates on the 15th/28th with the celebration of the Falling Asleep (Dormition) of the Mother of God (Gr. Theotokos ). Before this, though, on August 6th/19th, Orthodoxy celebrates another one of the Twelve Great Feasts, that is, the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ , and allows for a break in the fast through the consumption of fish. The holiness of these two weeks gives fuel for the faithful to energize their spiritual struggle; this is one reason why the Dormition period is affectionately known as the Summer Pascha ( το Πασχα του Καλοκαιριου , in Greek). Let us then briefly examine the theological and spiritual significance of these two feasts through the homilies of Saint Gregory Palamas (1296-1359), who represents Christian theology at its most sublime. Unlike some who deny the truth, St. Gregory demonstrates clearly that the Light of the Transfiguration is uncreated. “While pretending to concern themselves with the literal sense of the passage, they reject its godly meaning,” Palamas writes. In Matthew’s Gospel (see 17:1-9; see also Luke 9:28-36), the Evangelist recounts the manifestation of Christ’s divinity through a display of His divine energy on Mount Tabor: “And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Mt 17:2). |
| Archive His Holiness Patriarch Kirill attends commemoration meeting marking the 40th anniversary of the death of Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) 4 September 2018 year 22:31 On 4 September 2018, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia arrived in St. Petersburg to lead the commemorative events timed to the 40 th anniversary of the death of his teacher and spiritual guide, Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad and Novgorod (15 October 1929 – 5 September 1978). Upon his arrival the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church proceeded to the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. Vladyka Nikodim had been the one who had greatly contributed to the revival of theology as science and theological education in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and helped save the Academy from closure in the period of Khrushchev’s persecutions. Meeting His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the main entrance to the academy were Metropolitan Varsonofy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate, and Bishop Serafim of Petergof, rector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. After visiting the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian His Holiness proceeded to the assembly hall to attend the commemoration meeting marking the 40 th anniversary of the death of Metropolitan Nikodim. Taking part in the meeting was an assembly of hierarchs and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the faculty and students of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. Metropolitan Varsonofy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga presented an address on the life and ministry of Metropolitan Nikodim, saying in particular: “Metropolitan Nikodim’s heritage is in his disciples and in those who continued his principle mission – to help the Russian Orthodox Church bring the light of the Truth of Christ to people. There are such persons in the history of our Church, in whose names the entire epochs are called. Undoubtedly, His Eminence Metropolitan Nikodim was such man. He was not just a man of his time, but by devoting all his energies for the good of the Church of Christ he looked toward the future. ‘I must fight, and history will be my judge,’ he would say. |
| Metropolitan Council concludes spring session Despite travel delays due to the heavy snowfall affecting much of the US, members of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America gathered for their spring session at the Chancery here February 4-6, 2014. In his address to Council members, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon spoke on the vision of the Holy Synod of Bishops for the coming year with regard to the ongoing work of the Church, noting that three areas of focus—missions and evangelism, clergy health, and training and seminaries—were singled out as priorities. He reported that in the months ahead, the members of the Holy Synod will be exploring and addressing these issues through meetings, focus groups, and acquiring a common understanding on the challenges that will lead to concrete action for the future. Archpriest John Jillions, Chancellor, outlined the work of the Chancery. He specifically spoke on the annual meeting of the diocesan chancellors and treasurers and the focus group slated to meet February 12 to consider prospects for expanding the Church’s evangelistic efforts. Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, Treasurer, spoke about recent developments in the areas of human resources, operations, communications and related matters. He offered an in depth presentation on progress made in establishing plans for the 18th All-American Council , slated to be held in Atlanta, GA July 20-24, 2015. He highlighted the work of the Preconciliar Commission and the local committee, adding that a team to oversee youth activities had been formed. He reported that the theme of the Council will be based on that of the First All-American Sobor held in Mayfield, PA in 1907—“How to Expand the Mission.” Alexis Liberovsky, Archivist, offered an overview of the work of the Archives Advisory Committee and reviewed various policies and procedures. Dr. Albert Rossi, reported on the work of SMPAC, while Cindy Davis reported on the work of ORSMA. Highlighted were the posting and implementation of the new PSPs and webpage . |
| Romanian Patriarch Daniel receives SVOTS President Source: OCA Natalya Mihailova 25 June 2017 The President of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary [SVOTS], Archpriest Chad Hatfield, recently returned from a visit to Romania June 9–21, 2017, during which he met with key figures instrumental in renewing collaborative efforts between educational institutions of the Romanian Orthodox Church and SVOTS. Fr. Chad Hatfield receiving the St. John Chrysostom Cross and Award from Patriarch Daniel. Photo: basilica.ro/ Cooperative ventures began in 2013, when SVOTS and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at the University of Bucharest signed a formal agreement allowing for student and faculty exchanges, dialogue, and co-publications. Of particular importance was the reception of Father Chad by His Beatitude, Patriarch Daniel at the Patriarchal Residence on June 12, a meeting that centered on the topic of mission and evangelism. “The Romanian Church has a strong interest in missionary outreach, and is particularly interested in the dynamism of American evangelism and how it might be ‘translated’ into catechetical work in Romania,” reported Father Chad, who teaches Pastoral Theology and Missiology courses at Saint Vladimir’s. “I have greatly admired the theological, pastoral, and missionary spirit of Patriarch Daniel, and so I sought His Beatitude’s blessing and counsel as we reconnect in our mutual efforts in these areas, both on the American continent and in Romania.” Patriarch Daniel in turn thanked Father Chad for supporting young Romanian Orthodox theologians studying at Saint Vladimir’s, and as an expression of gratitude, he presented Father Chad with the “Saint John Chrysostom Cross and Award for Theological Education,” the Romanian Patriarchate’s highest honor in that field. During his time abroad, Father Chad also offered the homily for All Saints Sunday in Bucharest’s Church of Saint Paraskeva, pastored by Father Michael Tita, who also is personal counselor to Patriarch Daniel regarding Foreign Affairs and Inter-Church Relations. He visited the construction site for the new cathedral scheduled to be built and named after the Apostle Andrew, which will be the seat of the Patriarch’s throne. He also visited several renowned monasteries, as well as an orphanage that has been supported by members of the seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel for the past nine years. Finally, he formally renewed the 2013 agreement between Saint Vladimir’s Seminary and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest, headed by Archpriest Stefan Buchiu, Dean, and visited the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Sibiu. |
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