| 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. |
| About Pages Проекты «Правмира» Raising Orthodox Children to Orthodox Adulthood The Daily Website on How to be an Orthodox Christian Today Twitter Telegram Parler RSS Donate Navigation Young Believers in Search for Their Place in Church admin 19 March 2011 “Is there a place in Church for the young”? – was the title of the speech given by Metropolitan Hilarion to the young people from Moscow. Tweet Donate Share Code for blog Young Believers in Search for Their Place in Church admin " Is there a place in Church for the young " ? - was the title of the speech given by Metropolitan Hilarion to the young people from Moscow. 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. Having said that, Pravmir provides daily articles from an autonomous news service, weekly wall newspaper for churches, lectorium, photos, videos, hosting and servers. Editors and translators work together towards one goal: to make our four websites possible - Pravmir.ru, Neinvalid.ru, Matrony.ru and Pravmir.com. Therefore our request for help is understandable. For example, 5 euros a month is it a lot or little? A cup of coffee? It is not that much for a family budget, but it is a significant amount for Pravmir. If everyone reading Pravmir could donate 5 euros a month, they would contribute greatly to our ability to spread the word of Christ, Orthodoxy, life " s purpose, family and society. Donate Related articles Metropolitan Hilarion’s Interview to Japanese Kyodo… Natalya Mihailova – In August 2017 Cardinal Pietro Parolin visited Russia. Along what line have the relations between… The Church Catholic Abbot Tryphon When a priest makes a concerted effort to relate to his young parishioners by demonstrating a… Metropolitan Hilarion: I Would Not Change… Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) – Your Eminence, on August 19 it will be the 30th anniversary of your episcopal consecration. Tell us… |
| Photo: oca.org His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, offered welcoming remarks at the opening session of “Martyrs for Christ,” the World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians that opened here on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. “This Summit takes place during the season of the resurrection of Christ, in which we celebrate the victory of the Life-giver over death and the destruction of corruption by the Divine Physician,” said Metropolitan Tikhon. “As Christians, we participate in this victory and this destruction not by the external imposition of force and violence upon others, but rather through our struggle to attain the love of Christ in the Holy Spirit, which is accomplished through humility and patience.” The complete text of Metropolitan Tikhon’s remarks may be found below. The Summit is being sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association [BGEA], which recently noted that, according to the US Department of State, Christians in over 60 countries face persecution from their governments or surrounding neighbors simply because of their belief in Jesus Christ. This abuse can include beatings, physical torture, imprisonment, severe punishment, isolation, rape and even death. These types of attacks on such a large scale are unprecedented in modern history, as reported by Franklin Graham, BGEA President and CEO and the international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse. The gathering, which runs through Saturday, May 13, brings together representatives, many of them Orthodox Christians, from 130 countries. Among them is His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion [Alfeyev] of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, who will deliver the keynote address, “Defying Divisions,” at Plenary Session III on Thursday, May 11. Metropolitan Hilarion also will concelebrate the Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Tikhon; His Grace, Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA; and His Grace, Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa at Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC on Sunday, May 14. He will deliver the homily at the Liturgy. |
| Met. Hilarion calls for adopting rather than resorting to IVF Moscow, May 22, 2017 Photo: userscontent2.emaze.com The head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) has spoken out against artificial insemination and surrogacy on a recent TV interview, encouraging instead to adopt children from orphanages, reports Interfax-Religion . “We should not resort to these experiments. Bear your children, and if you cannot have your own, then adopt a son or daughter,” the metropolitan said on the program “The Church and the World” on the Russia-24 channel. He noted that the Church does not accept surrogate motherhood, because it is “an artificial incursion into that sphere which is sacred.” “If for some reason a couple cannot have children, then the Church knows only one means of solving this problem—to adopt children; very many couples have found their happiness in adopting children,” the prelate said, noting several cases known to him of couples who had difficulty conceiving, who adopted children and subsequently were able to conceive. The Church forbids non-traditional forms of conception, the metropolitan explained, not to place limitations upon people, but “that people would not end up in some disastrous state that they have created for themselves.” Met. Hilarion reminded the audience that there can be very many side-effects from the IVF process: “It is unknown how the child will be born—healthy or sick; is it necessary to destroy other embryos for this sake of this one child?” This issue presents a whole series of ethical problems that cannot be solved by medical intervention, the metropolitan believes. Fr. Paul Gumerov, who has offered numerous books on marriage and family life, speaks to the destruction of embryos in IVF, explaining what happens when several fertilized eggs are implanted in a woman at one time: And now let us imagine that all the embryos transferred to the uterus begin to develop. Several of them were implanted so that at least a part of them might develop. What happens if all begin to develop? The “extra”, or “undesirable” embryos are “reduced”, that is, they are removed surgically—in other words, an abortion is performed. Thus IVF involves destroying fertilized embryos that are already living babies with souls. In the end a person who resorts to IVF resorts to an abortion! |
| The Pan-Orthodox Council, Ukraine Crisis and Christian Unity An interview with Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev of Volokolamsk, the chairman of the Russian Orthodox Department of External Church Relations. Source: National Catholic Register By Edward Pentin Where does the Russian Orthodox Church stand on the crisis in Ukraine? And why is a Pan-Orthodox Council planned for 2016? To find out answers to these and other questions, the Register interviewed Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev of Volokolamsk, the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church and a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Moscow. A noted theologian, Church historian and composer, Metropolitan Hilarion also shared in this April 2 email interview his thoughts on the current status of Catholic-Orthodox relations. How important for the Orthodox Church is the Pan-Orthodox Council planned for 2016? Is it to be seen as something similar to Vatican II in the history of the Catholic Church? The Pan-Orthodox Council is important in that, after the era of ecumenical councils, it will be the first council representing all the Orthodox Churches recognized today. For the last 12 centuries, there were councils of various levels attended by representatives of various Churches, but this one will be the first Pan-Orthodox Council to be convened in this period. This council is a fruit of long work carried out by local Orthodox Churches for over 50 years. It is hardly appropriate to compare it with Vatican II, because their agendas are utterly different. Besides, we do not expect it to introduce any reforms making a substantial impact on the life of Orthodoxy. Patriarch Kirill said that the Pan-Orthodox Council should deal with such issues as the expulsion of Christians from the Middle East and North Africa, the cult of consumerism, the destruction of the moral foundations and the family, cloning and surrogate motherhood. How important are these issues for you, and would you also like other themes, such as unity with the Catholic Church, included in the council’s agenda? |
| Head of Old Believers doesn’t believe in possibility of healing schism with patriarchate Moscow, August 7, 2017 Photo: rusreality.com The primate of the Russian Orthodox Old Rite Church Metropolitan Cornelius believes it is impossible for the Old Believers and the Moscow Patriarchate to reunite, although he noted that relations between the two Churches are currently peaceful, reports Interfax-Religion . “The wounds of schism are too deep. We are very different in essence, in rites, in spirit. We will never be able to accept their rites, and it’s unlikely that they will want to return to the old faith in the near future,” the primate said in a recent interview. For his part, while Met. Hilarion (Alfeyev), Chairman of the Commission on Old Believer parishes and cooperation with the Old Believer community, believes the healing of the schism is still a long way off, at a June book presentation he took a slightly more optimistic stance, Healing of Old Believer schism still far in the future—Met. Hilarion It is necessary to overcome the 17th century Old Believer schism in the Russian Orthodox Church, although it will not happen anytime soon, believes Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), head of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations. " > saying , “The Church has always said that the split which occurred in the 17th century is not something we should reconcile ourselves to, but that we should endeavor to overcome this split.” In addition to good relations between the Old Believers and the Moscow Patriarchate, the metropolitan thanked the state government for equal treatment of both Churches. “I am a member of the President’s Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations. That means the government recognizes the Old Believers as equal to other traditional confessions. Although the authorities know that we are smaller statistically, all the same, they show us the same respect as the other confessions, inasmuch as we are truly the traditional Orthodox Church,” he noted. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Christmas Greetings of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion to Heads of Non-Orthodox Churches His Holiness Patriarch Kirill , Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) December 24, 2015 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulated the heads of the non-Orthodox Churches on the feast of the Nativity of Christ. Among the addressees are Pope Francis, Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chairman of the EKD Council, and heads of other non-Orthodox Churches. The text of the message is given below: Please accept my cordial greetings with the feast of the Nativity of Christ. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Lk 2:14). These wondrous words, sang by the host of angels and addressed to the infant Christ born in Bethlehem verily contain the greatest mystery of the Incarnation which took place for the salvation of the world. Over two thousand years separate us from that radiant night. Yet, to this day Christ is being born in the hearts of people, sanctified by grace, comforting them with His love. I wish you spiritual joy over the Savior Who has come into this world, and His bountiful help in your primatial ministry. With love in the Lord, +KIRILL PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent Christmas greetings to Pope Francis, Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chairman of the EKD Council, and heads of other non-Orthodox Churches . The text of the message is given below: I send you my heartfelt greetings on the great feast of the Nativity of Christ. Today with hope we listen to the words of the greeting of the angels: Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Lk. 2:10-11). In our day as iniquity abounds (Mt. 24:12), when there appear with particular force in the world enmity, intolerance and falsehood, it is important to remember that the Savior, Who has come into the world, bestows grace to every human person who opens his heart to God. |
| Metropolitan Hilarion takes part in the opening of choral part of the 13th Moscow Easter Festival Source: DECR The choral programme of the 13th Moscow Easter Festival began at the Hall of Church Council of the Church of Christ the Saviour on April 21, 2014. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, addressed the organizers, participants and guests. He greeted them on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and said that the audience has gathered to listen to church music and share spiritual and musical culture which has made the life of the Holy Orthodox Church richer over centuries. He continued to say: ‘For two thousand years and in different parts of the world the Christian Church has glorified the Risen Christ at Divine services, through liturgical art that includes church singing. We do not celebrate without singing. Even in a small village church someone, even two or three old women who lost voice, sing at the Liturgy, Matins and Vespers. ‘The Orthodox praise God not only by saying prayers, but also by singing them. The word “Orthodoxy” originally meant the true teaching about God and was translated into Slavonic as correct glorification of God. During Easter-tide our hearts are filled with praise to the Lord, and our prayers to God, who was risen for the sake of opening our way to salvation, has taken shape in the sounds of church music. ‘During the festival the listeners will hear various pieces of church music, both Russian and foreign which have glorified the Risen Saviour over centuries. I wish that the music of Orthodox divine services, in which we all participate these days as I hope, will arose kind feelings in our hearts and we will bring Easter joy to our near and dear and feel this joy throughput the next year and through all our life. Christ is risen!’ Performing at the concert were the Moscow Synodal Choir conducted by Alexei Puzakov, Athos Fessalonikis Imnodi choir from Greece conducted by Ioannis Liakos, and Choir of the Mariinsky Theatre of St. Petersburg conducted by Pavel Petrenko. They sang Easter liturgical hymns by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), Dmitry Bortnyansky, Sergei Rachmaninov, Pavel Chesnokov, Georgy Sviridov, Petr Tchaikovsky, Nikolai Golovanov, and Sergei Degtyarev. |
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