| Will Francis go to Moscow? Russian Orthodox size up new pope Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and head of the Russian Orthodox Church " s Department of External Relations, says the Argentine pontiff " s decision to honor Saint Francis of Assisi puts " service to the poor” at the top of the new pope " s agenda. According to Hilarion, such service is a good starting point for the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches to find new ways to work together. “We see a large area of possibilities for partnership with the Roman Catholic Church,” he said. “We hope that our relationship as partners will grow under the leadership of this new pontiff.” “We hope that Francis will give a push to the development of good relations between our churches, continuing a process started by his predecessor,” explained Dimitry Sizonenko, Secretary of the Department of Inter-Christian relations in the Russian Orthodox Church. “Pope Francis has said before that he likes Dostoevsky, and we would like to think that he might also like the spiritual tradition of the Russian Orthodox church.” People who know the new pope say that the hoped-for warming in the two churches’ relationship is entirely possible. “As the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio regularly visited Russian Orthodox Churches on Christmas Eve,” said Orthodox Bishop John, the Bishop for South America whose headquarters is located in the Argentinian capital. He concludes that: “the new pope has a good relationship with Russian Orthodoxy and with Russian Orthodox believers.” Russian Catholics are also betting that under Pope Francis there will be progress in Catholic-Orthodox relations. Igor Kovalevski, the general secretary of the Russian Conference of Bishops, noted that the newly-elected pope is well-versed in Byzantine Christian traditions since he also led Argentina " s community of Greek Catholics, who are in full communion with the pope but have a liturgical tradition that is distinct from Roman Catholics. |
| Analyzing the transformation of Church-State Relations in Russia from 1987 to 2008 Ryan Hunter The quarter century that has passed since the fall of the USSR has seen the resurgence of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) as a major force in Russian public and political life. Given that the Church is the only ancient public institution which survived Soviet rule, and that it serves to tie Russians to their pre-revolutionary national culture and history, understanding how it came to revitalize and resurrect its cultural influence and political power in the wake of the Soviet collapse is crucial to understanding Russia today. Russian church-state relations beginning with Gorbachev in the mid-1980s were marked by an end to the Soviet policy of marginalization and repression of the MP and growing state toleration of Church influence. The seeds for much of the Church’s rapid rise in political prominence, influence, and power under Yeltsin and especially Putin may be found, ironically, in Gorbachev’s personal attitudes and official changes in state policy toward the Church during his tenure at the helm of a USSR where, ironically, Marxist-Leninism and atheism remained official state ideologies until the 1991 collapse. Patriarch Aleksey II proved crucial to developing, along with Gorbachev and later Yeltsin, many aspects of this new church-state relationship which marked a complete departure from Soviet leaders’ entrenched anti-Church attitudes, laws, and policies before 1985. By the fall of the USSR, the Church’s resurgence and revitalization had already begun, and would only deepen and grow stronger in the following years. Gorbachev and the Church’s new-found freedom: mid-1980s to 1991 M. Gorbachev As Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) observed in a January 2008 lecture one year prior to then-DECR chairman Metropolitan Kirill’s election as Patriarch and Hilarion’s own appointment as Kirill’s replacement, the case for a genuine religious reawakening in Russia can be made from as far back as the period of perestroika and glasnost under Gorbachev in the mid-to-late 1980s when Russia remained an officially atheistic communist republic. |
| Tweet Нравится Russian Orthodox Church will actively participate in restoring Syrian churches Moscow, January 17, 2017 Photo: http://www.aina.org/images/20150528170408.jpg “Of course we will take part in the restoration of churches, but first of all we must restore peace in the country,” Met. Hilarion (Alfeyev) said on Tuesday in a meeting with students of the Moscow State Linguistic University, reports Interfax-Religion . “It’s hard to begin restoring churches when this or that territory is constantly changing hands,” he continued, assuring the students of the Russian Orthodox Church’s continuing support for war-torn Syria. In his view, the top priority is “to restore civil peace in the country, and once and for all drive out the terrorists and then to begin to think about a program for restoring not only churches, but the entire infrastructure.” The metropolitan also pointed out that the Russian Church has continually sent and implemented humanitarian aid in Syria. 17 января 2017 г. Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также Orthodox volunteers bring more than 1,000 Christmas gifts to Syria Orthodox volunteers bring more than 1,000 Christmas gifts to Syria The cargo of medicine, grains, sugar, salt, pasta, canned foods, candy, stationery, and children’s toys was delivered by participants from the “Forty Times Forty” public organization, the Apostle Paul Foundation, and the Orthodox social network “Elitsy.” Russia to send archaeological expedition to Syria Russia to send archaeological expedition to Syria Scientists will examine UNESCO World Heritage sites in conflict areas. IOCC Still Responding to Syrian Families in Aleppo IOCC Still Responding to Syrian Families in Aleppo IOCC maintains one of the largest established networks in Syria delivering life-saving humanitarian aid. IOCC’s reach extends to large parts of Syria through programs that provide emergency relief with health, education, water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, crisis counseling and economic recovery assistance. Since 2012, IOCC has provided humanitarian relief to four million Syrian people displaced in their own country, or living as refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Armenia, Greece and Serbia. Russia " s Palmyra Concert Reveals What the West Lacks Russia " s Palmyra Concert Reveals What the West Lacks In the war on ISIS, only Russia is acting as if there’s something worth fighting for. Church-state delegation visits Syria Church-state delegation visits Syria During their stay in Syria, the delegation visited the camp for displaced people in ash-Sham suburb of Damascus and the boarding school for children whose parents were killed defending their homeland from terrorists. " Moscow gives us hope " , says Syrian Catholic patriarch " Moscow gives us hope " , says Syrian Catholic patriarch " We will thank anyone who helps us stay in our country " Комментарии © 1999-2016 Православие.Ru |
| Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) Relieved From the Post of the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations The hierarch was appointed the head of the Budapest-Hungarian diocese. Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) has been relieved of his duties as Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate and has been appointed Head of the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese. This decision was made by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church during their meeting, which took place at the Patriarchal and Synodal residence in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow on June 7, 2022. After discussing the issue of governing the Budapest-Hungarian diocese, the Synod released Metropolitan Mark of Budapest and Hungary from the administration of the diocese with gratitude for the work he had done. “His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk, to be appointed as Administrator of the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese, Metropolitan of Budapest and Hungary, with his release from the duties of Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, Permanent Member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church and Rector of the General Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies named after Equal-to-the-Apostles Saints Cyril and Methodius”, the Synod decided . Metropolitan Anthony of Korsun has been appointed Chairman of the DECR and Permanent Member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, with the title Metropolitan of Volokolamsk. The hierarch was released from the management of the Korsun diocese, he temporarily retained the management of the Exarchate of Western Europe and the position of Head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Office for Institutions Abroad. The temporary administration of the Korsun diocese was entrusted to Archbishop Nestor of Madrid and Lisbon. Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, was appointed Rector of the General Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies named after Saints Cyril and Methodius, retaining his previous positions. |
| Metropolitan Hilarion: Preaching Christ and the Gospel Is What I Have Dedicated My Life To Source: DECR Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, composer and author of a large number of books, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk, who was awarded the State Prize in the area of literature and art of 2020, told RIA News Agency that he had devoted his life to preaching Christ and the spiritual and moral ideals of Christianity “by all means available”. “Preaching Christ and the Gospel, bearing witness to the lofty spiritual and moral ideals of Christianity – this is what I have dedicated my life to. I carry this out by all means available: from the ambo of a church, through the books, articles, documentaries, music, videos on the Internet, through the educational work” – Metropolitan Hilarion told the news agency, commenting on the State Prize award. Responding to a question which of his literary works he considers the main ones, Metropolitan Hilarion spoke of the six-volume book called Jesus Christ: His Life and Teaching, which he had worked on for five years. “Then I made an abridged, one-volume version for The Lives of Distinguished People series” – said the DECR Chairman. “I wanted to show Jesus Christ, first of all, as a living person who had experienced a whole range of human feelings and emotions – sorrow, joy, anger, fatigue, surprise. At the same time, He is God incarnate, and every single one of His human words and actions was permeated with the Divine presence. In fact, His entire life on Earth makes sense only in the light of the belief that He was not an ordinary person, but God incarnate” – Metropolitan Hilarion emphasized. The most famous of the Metropolitan’s musical compositions is the St. Matthew Passion oratorio. “It has been performed over 150 times in Russia and abroad. In it, I also talk about Christ, but rather with the help of music, than with words. There is something that cannot be conveyed with words at all, and music is the universal language that is available to everyone. It is not only thoughts that it conveys, but also feelings and experiences” – Metropolitan Hilarion explained. |
| Metropolitan Hilarion Comments on the Final Communique of the Amman Meeting Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk. Photo: pravoslavie.md Metropolitan Hilarion, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, commented on the final Communique of the meeting of Primates in Amman on February 27, reports TASS . According to Metropolitan Hilarion, “the main result of the meeting was the agreement of the Churches to continue their consultations and interaction with one another. A wish was expressed that Patriarch Bartholomew would take part in the next such meeting”. Explaining the wording of the Communiqué regarding pan-Orthodox consensus on the granting of autocephaly, the metropolitan noted that “historically autocephaly was granted in very different ways, and there is no single, generally accepted procedure in the Orthodox Church”. He said that “when there was preparation for the Pan-Orthodox Council, this topic was discussed, it was on the agenda. And it was agreed that in the future all autocephalies will be given, first of all, at the initiative of the Mother Church, that is, the Church, which includes a specific Church that asks for autocephaly, and with pan-Orthodox consent”. Metropolitan Hilarion recalled that a fundamental agreement was reached between the Churches on this issue, but it was not ratified. Then the topic of autocephaly was removed from the agenda of the Council, and as a result, no decision was made. The hierarch said that “after the Crete Council was held, Patriarch Bartholomew in fact declared all these agreements void and began to unilaterally grant autocephaly”. The hierarch is sure that even if Patriarch Bartholomew again refuses to take part in meetings in the Amman format, “consultations will carry on anyway”, and in the “communique it is written that it is desirable to meet before the end of this year”. He emphasized that Patriarch Theophilus invited the Local Orthodox Churches for discussion and prayer in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem, “to pray for peace, for the unity of Orthodoxy, for all Christians”. |
| Metropolitan Tikhon Presides at the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Russian Cathedral in New York City Source: OCA Photo: oca.org On Sunday, July 11, 2021, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the Divine Liturgy at New York City’s Saint Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in conjunction with the visit of His Eminence Hilarion (Alfeyev) Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. Concelebrating with the two hierarchs were clergy of the Cathedral and Priest Alessandro Margheritino, Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America. After the Divine Liturgy, the two hierarchs exchanged warm greetings, expressing joy at the opportunity to again enjoy communion and fellowship together after a hiatus due to the worldwide pandemic. His Eminence Hilarion shared the brotherly greetings of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, and presented His Beatitude with a gift from His Holiness. His Eminence pointed out that among the many events and celebrations affected by the pandemic was the 50th anniversary of the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in America. Metropolitan Hilarion noted how the Church in America is the fruit of missionary work of the Russian Orthodox Church, and in 1970 went from being a daughter Church to a beloved sister. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon thanked His Eminence for the warm hospitality and remarked how joyful it was to be at this historic Church built by Saint Tikhon, a beloved saint of both Churches. His Beatitude also noted that the saints of the day, the venerable Sergius and Herman, Wonderworkers of Valaam, are also beloved common saints. From the monastery in Valaam came Saint Herman of Alaska and his companions to plant seeds in America laying the foundations of what later grew into the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America. The hierarchs were then hosted for lunch at the cathedral. At this time, they had fruitful discussions regarding various matters of mutual interest and concern. |
| If problems on way to Pan-Orthodox Council are not resolved, it is better postponed – Metropolitan Hilarion Source: Interfax-religion Moscow, June 7, Interfax - There is no sense in holding the Pan-Orthodox Council without taking into account the opinions of all of the local churches, the Moscow Patriarchate believes. Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) “We proposed that the Patriarch of Constantinople hold a conference before the Council to tackle all the issues due to which Churches are now refusing to participate one after another. If these issues are resolved, then the Council will take place. If they are not, then it’s probably best to postpone it,” head of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion said in an interview with Russia-24 channel. He said it is important for the Russian Church that the Council that is due to be held on Crete, in the middle of June, “would become a factor of unity and like-mindedness, so that there would be no unpleasant surprises for the Orthodox Christian Churches at the Council.” “Decisions at the Council should be made by a consensus that is unanimous. What does that mean for us? It means not simply the agreement of everyone present in the hall to some one statement or another, some one document or another. For us it means that all Churches should express agreement with it,” the hierarch said. A few days ago the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate suggested holding an emergency Pan-Orthodox conference before the Council on June 10 at the latest. It pointed out that the non-participation of at least one local Church in it makes the Council impossible. It also said that several Churches and monasteries of Athos proposed amendments to the draft documents of the Council that are in tone with the proposals of the Russian Church, and “require fundamental consideration with the purpose of finding Pan-Orthodox consensus.” Meanwhile, the Patriarchate of Constantinople that is responsible for coordinating preparations for the Council on Monday declined the proposal on the discussion of problems obstructing the convocation of the Council. |
| Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk: “Freedom of expression and press should not violate the rights of believers to defend their religious feelings” Source: DECR Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent a message of greeting to the participants in the 21st International Conference ‘Human Dignity, Freedom and Rights: Christian Dimension’, which takes place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 9-12 February 2015. The text of the message is given below. Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) Esteemed Organizers, Participants and Guests of the Conference, I greet you as you have gathered in the capital of Slovenia for the International Conference ‘Human Dignity, Freedom and Rights: Christian Dimension’. The topic chosen for discussion by the annual conference held by the Foundation of the Unity of Orthodox Nations appears to be especially relevant against the background of growing political tension in the world, a real threat of erosion of the Christian tradition, and violations of the rights and freedoms of believers. The modern European society has encountered challenges to freedom of thought, expression and self-expression. These threats stem from the fact that human freedom has been increasingly understood as all-permissiveness that extends right up to the insult to believers’ religious feelings. Joining millions of people of diverse worldviews, the Russian Orthodox Church entirely condemns the methods of terrorism used by some extremists to defend pseudo-religious feelings. But at the same time, we cannot support those who believe blasphemy and outrage upon the customs and traditions held sacred by believing people to be a norm. The Russian Orthodox Church invariably testifies that freedom of expression and press should not violate the rights of believers to defend their religious feelings. Together with other religious communities in Europe and throughout the world, we call public institutions and, first of all, the mass media to be considerate of the religious experiences of people, thus promoting the assertion of civic peace and accord in society. |
| Metropolitan Tikhon discusses persecution of Christians with Billy Graham Association representative Source: OCA His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon welcomed the Rev. Viktor Hamm, Executive Assistant of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, at the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America on Thursday, November 10, 2016. Photo: http://oca.org During the course of the meeting, the Rev. Hamm extended an invitation to Metropolitan Tikhon to attend and address the World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians, slated to convene in Washington, DC May 11-13, 2017. The Summit will bring together hundreds of Orthodox Christian, Evangelical and Catholic leaders and advocates and victims of persecution from around the world to address the growing legal, social and political problems associated with the persecution of Christians in today’s world. His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion [Alfeyev] of Volokolamsk, who chairs the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, will be among those addressing the Summit’s plenary session. The Rev. Hamm explained that the Summit’s goals including raising global awareness of the ongoing persecution of Christians; demonstrating solidarity with all who are suffering because of their faith in Jesus Christ; exploring ways of reducing the discrimination, marginalization, harm and death perpetrated against Christians; communicating a Biblical understanding of Christian living in a hostile world; and celebrating faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Discussions focused on raising awareness of the suffering of Christians, particularly in the Middle East and other challenging regions, and mutual cooperation in addressing this and related areas of concern. Also participating in the meeting were Archpriest John Jillions, OCA Chancellor; Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, Secretary; and Protopresbyter Leonid Kishkovsky, Director of External Affairs . 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. |
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