| Preparation of celebrations marking the millennium of the Russian presence on Mount Athos is discussed in Moscow Source: DECR A meeting, at which the preparation of the celebrations to mark the millennium of the Russian presence on Mount Athos was discussed, took place in Moscow on 20 April 2016. Photo: http://mospat.ru/ Among its participants were Mr. Alexander Beglov, head of the Presidential working group on the preparation of celebrations marking the millennium of the Russian presence on Mount Athos, Plenipotentiary Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation to the Central Federal District; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolmask, chair of the Organizing Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church on the preparation of the celebrations marking the millennium of Russian monasticism on Mount Athos, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Archbishop Feognost of Seriev Posad, chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism; archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; Hegumenness Juliania (Kaleda), deputy head of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism; Mr. Alexander Zhuravsky, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Culture; as well as members of the Presidential working group and the Organizing Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church; and the invitees. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk told all those present about the programme of the celebrations and its implementation. For instance, the photo exhibition entitled “Under the Omophorion of the Most Holy Theotokos: The Life of the Athonite Monasteries,” held at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour from March 16 to April 17, had a success and will later open in other Russian cities. The information about all the events will be available on the Russky Afon (Russian Athos) web portal. Metropolitan Hilarion outlined the major events, including the final stage of the All-Russian school olympiad on the foundations of the Orthodox culture and the preparation of commemorative events to be held in honour of St Silouan the Athonite. |
| Hieromartyr Seraphim (Chichagov) Late in 1927 he left the convent to take part in the work of the Temporary Patriarchal Holy Synod. On February 23, 1928, St. Seraphim was elevated to the position of Metropolitan of Leningrad. The metropolitan tried to gradually solve the main problem of the time of his ministry in that diocese—the healing of the schism associated with Metropolitan Joseph. In his sermons the saint explained the danger of the split for the canonical unity of the persecuted Russian Orthodox Church and himself entered into negotiations with leading representatives of the clergy among the followers of Metropolitan Joseph. On April 1, 1928, St. Seraphim blessed to offer up special prayers in all the city’s churches for reconciliation inside the Church. In 1933 the seventy-seven-year-old metropolitan had to retire. He spent the final years of his life in two rooms of a country house at Udelnaya train station near St. Petersburg, writing his theological and ascetical works, devoting much time to prayer and preparing himself to meet his Christ. In November 1937 the holy hierarch (who by that time was gravely ill) was carried out in a stretcher from his home and delivered to Taganks prison. On December 11, 1937, the saint was executed by a firing squad at Butovo firing range. Hieromartyr Seraphim (Chichagov) was canonized at the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church on February 18-23, 1997. Hieromartyr Seraphim (Zvezdinsky), Bishop of Dmitrov (Commemorated: August 13/26). Hieromartyr Seraphim (Zvezdinsky) St. Seraphim (secular name: Nikolai Ivanovich Zvezdinsky) was born on April 7, 1883, to a family of Unified Faith Old Ritualists [a movement of Old Ritualists who recognized the hierarchy of the ROC]. In 1902 he developed an incurable illness but was miraculously healed due to prayers before an icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov, who was not yet canonized. This icon accompanied the future saint throughout his life. On September 26, 1908, he was tonsured a monk with the name Seraphim after St. Seraphim of Sarov. On graduating from the Moscow Theological Academy he worked at some theological seminaries near Moscow. Then he was appointed abbot of Chudov Monastery. |
| His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Paschal prayer service in the Chernobyl Zone April 28, 2011 On 26 April 2011, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine arrived in St. Elijah’s church in Chernobyl, the only working church in the Zone of Alienation of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. At the entrance they were met by the Russian and Ukrainian Presidents, Dmitry Medvedev and Viktor Yanukovich. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated Pashcla prayer service and addressed those gathered in the church, ‘bearing the stamp of the Chernobyl disaster, in which the strength of spirit, courage and intensity of faith were displayed so vividly,” His Holiness said and added, “This church has been preserved by intensity of faith and has become a symbol of victory over terrible disaster.” In remembrance of his visit to Chernobyl His Holiness presented rector of the church, archpriest Nikolai Yakushin, with an icon of the Saviour-Not-Made-by-Hand, saying, “May this icon remind you of this day in history, and may your flock, while praying before it, long with faith to the Lord, as the Lord always gives one what he asks with longing of his heart.” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill greeted the Russian and Ukrainian Presidents, whom he was “so glad to see together in the church,” and the archpastors who have arrived in Chernobyl from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus to mark the anniversary of the nuclear disaster. The Primate of the Russian Church blessed the bells brought to St. Elijah’s church as a gift with his blessing. Russian and Ukrainian Presidents, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir rang the largest bell. Addressing those gathered from the steps of the church, His Holiness said he was confident that the Chernobyl tragedy should urge the people of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus to unity. “May this wonderful example of people’s solidarity remain in our memory and encourage us to maintain our brotherly relations. May the frontiers between our states never divide fraternal nations of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. We believe that the Lord will be gracious to us and help us arrange our life in peace and prosperity. May the Lord keep Ukraine, Russian Federation and Belarus and the people living in them and protect them from sorrows and trials that could demand human sacrifice. We shall faithfully remember all those who had laid down their lives to save this land from the terrible deadly danger.” |
| Tweet Нравится Holy Hieromartyr Seraphim (Zvezdinsky) Saint Seraphim (Nikolai Zvezdinsky) was born on April 7, 1883. Many years later he would often remember the words out of the Lenten Triodion read in church on the day he was born, My Son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways (Proverbs 23:26-27). In these words he saw foresaw his future monastic life. The following words Saint Seraphim related to his service to God as a Clergyman: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit (Isaiah 65:13-14). “A Clergyman cannot die of starvation,” Saint Seraphim would say during the years of his persecution. “If we do not weaken and will continue fulfilling our service to God, we will have everything we require to live.” Bishop Seraphim’s grandfather, Gabriel Bonefatiev, was a dedicated and fierce activist for the Old Believer Church. However, his father, Ivan Gavrilovich, left his family home at a young age in search of spiritual enlightenment and the true Faith. Leaving behind his family, he embarked on a journey to Petrograd barefoot. It was here in an “Edinoverets” Church (an Old Believer Church which is part of the canonical Russian Church) that he found the true Church and acquired peace in his soul. After joining the Orthodox Church he was given the last name Zvezdinsky by order of the Emperor, and was soon ordained a priest. For the quarter century he was a clergyman, Archpriest John Zvezdinsky brought many people out of the Old Believer schism into Orthodoxy. Fr John’s service to God brought God’s mercy upon his family. They received spiritual attention and guidance from the not yet canonized elder Seraphim of Sarov. Amongst the Sarov Saint Seraphim’s relatives there had also been old believers who joined the Orthodox Church. Fr John Zvezdinsky’s labours were apparently very dear, close, and solicitous to Saint Seraphim of Sarov, and thus he became the family’s heavenly protector. In 1903, whilst Father John was writing a service in honour of St. Seraphim, the elder appeared to him and foretold the fate of his children. At one point his youngest son, Nicholas Zvezdinsky (Future Bishop Seraphim), was suffering from a life-threatening disease. Father John Zvezdinsky healed his son Nicholas from this disease by opening up his heart to Christ. Within the walls of the Moscow Theological Academy, Nikolai Zvezdinsky was tonsured Seraphim in memory of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, who guided him, helping him to overcome the suffering and anguish he experienced during his lifetime. |
| Murders and Assaults on Priests in Russia in 1990-2010: A Reference Archpriest Alexander Men was murdered on the morning on September 9, 1990, on the path to the Semkhoz railway station. An unidentified person struck him on the head with a heavy object (probably an axe). Archpriest Alexander Men was murdered on the morning on September 9, 1990, on the path to the Semkhoz railway station. An unidentified person struck him on the head with a heavy object (probably an axe). The priest walked to his home, near which he died from loss of blood. The suspect for the murder, a criminal and drunkard, allegedly mistook Fr. Alexander for another person, the more so because the priest was dressed in civilian clothes. Archpriest Alexander Men Igumen Lazar (Solnyshko), secretary of Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, was killed on December 26, 1990, in Moscow. The circumstances of the murder were puzzling, although law-enforcement authorities managed to arrest a co-worker of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Mikhail Potemkin (who later became a bishop in one of the branches of the Russian True-Orthodox Church under the name of Manuil (Platov)). At the time he spent almost two years in an investigatory isolation ward at Butyrka. The investigation failed to result in a trial. The rector of the Nativity Church in Putinki, Igumen Seraphim (Sergey Shlykov). The clergyman’s corpse was found on February 2, 1991, in a flat on Krasnoselksaya Street. Money, radio, and video equipment had been stolen. Three monks of the Optina Hermitage – Hieromonk Vasily, Monk Trofim, and Monk Ferapont were murdered on April 18, 1993, on Christ’s Radiant Resurrection, in the Optina Hermitage. The accused criminal, Nikolai Averin, proved to be a devil-worshipper and told the investigation that he had received an order from the devil. Hieromonk Vasily, Monk Ferapont, Monk Trofim The rector of the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in the village of Zharki, Yurievets district , Hieromonk Nestor (secular name, Nikolai Ivanovich Savchuk) was atrociously murdered on the night of December 30-31, 1993, in a cell of the rector’s home. Hieromonk Nestor was found lying face down in a pool of blood, spread below the cross of Jesus Christ and showing no signs of life. His body was totally exsanguinated. After the murder, a large sum of money was found missing from the priest’s briefcase, donated to him that day by businessmen for construction and repair work on the church. The district court of Yurievets sentenced the murder convict to four years of imprisonment. The court decided that the murderer was not entirely competent. |
| Archive Пн Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia completes his visit to Moscow 5 February 2019 year 09:10 On 4 February 2019, His Beatitude Rostislav, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, completed his visit to the Russian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Rostislav had attended the celebrations marking the 10 th anniversary of the primatial ministry of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Accompanying His Beatitude were Archbishop George of Michalovce and Koshice, Archbishop Michail of Prague, Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), rector of the metochion of the Orthodox Church of the Czezh Lands and Slovakia in Moscow, Archpriest Nikolai Lischenyuk, rector of the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Karlovy Vary, Hieromonk Aleksandr (Galushko), secretary of the metochion of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia in Moscow, and archdeacon Maksim (Durila), a cleric of the diocese of Prešov. At Sheremetyevo Airport, the guests were seen off by Bishop Paramon of Bronnitsy; Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), rector of the metochion of the Orthodox Church of the Czezh Lands and Slovakia in Moscow; Heguman Feofan (Lukianov), head of the Protocol Section of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR); Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; and Archpriest Nikolai Lischenyuk, rector of the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Karlovy Vary. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 20 апреля 2024 г. (7 апреля ст.ст.) суббота Похвала Пресвятой Богородицы (Суббота Акафиста). Прп. Георгия исп., митр. Митиленского (после 820). Прп. Даниила Переяславского (1540). Мч. Каллиопия (304). Мчч. Руфина диакона, Акилины и с ними 200 воинов (ок. 310). Прп. Серапиона монаха. Сщмч. Аркадия Добронравова пресвитера (1933); прмц. Евдокии Павловой (1939). Литургия св. Иоанна Златоуста. Евр., 322 зач., IX, 24–28 . Мк., 35 зач., VIII, 27–31 . Богородицы: Евр., 320 зач., IX, 1–7 . Лк., 54 зач., X, 38–42 ; XI, 27–28 . Служба по Триоди. На утрене по 1-й и 2-й кафизмах и по 3-й и 6-й песнях канона поется Акафист Пресвятой Богородице. (Порядок пения Акафиста указан в Триоди.) Поется великое славословие. 7 April 2024 year Share with friends |
| His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with His Holiness Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria and members of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Sofia, April 28, 2012 On 27 April 2012, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met and talked with His Holiness Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria and with members of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Church. Taking part in the meeting, which took place at the Synodal residence, were Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR); Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Secretariat; Mr. Vladimir Legoida, chairman of the Synodal Information Department; archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR deputy chairman; archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; and hegumen Filipp (Vasiltsev), rector of the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia. The Bulgarian Patriarchate was represented by Metropolitan Dometian of Vidin, Metropolitan Joannikij of Sliven; Metropolitan Neofit of Ruse; Metropolitan Grigorij of Veliko Trnovo; Metropolitan Galaktion of Stara Zagora; Metropolitan Kyrill of Varna and Veliki Preslav; Metropolitan Ignatij of Pleven; Metropolitan Amvrosij of Dorostol; Metropolitan Gavriil of Love; and Metropolitan Nikolaj of Plovdiv. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and His Holiness Patriarch Maxim discussed prospects of cooperation between the two Churches, for instance, in theological education and pilgrimage. The Primates exchanged opinions on the basic principles of inter-Orthodox cooperation, in the context of preparation for the Pan-Orthodox Council in particular. After the talk, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was awarded the Order of the Holy and Right-Believing King Boris, the highest church award of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. While presenting the ward, His Holiness Patriarch Maxim said: “We knew Your Holiness as a young clergyman of the Moscow Patriarchate and remember how You were growing in the blessed field of bilateral and inter-Orthodox relations being guided by experienced teachers and zealously carrying out all missions with which You were charged by Russian church authorities. We were privileged to meet You as archimandrite, bishop, archbishop and metropolitan… The news of Your election as Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church has filled my heart with great joy and hope for the future of our sister Churches and of Orthodoxy as a whole. |
| In Ingushetia, newly established monastery gives spiritual guidance to military units stationed in the republic Ordzhonikidzevskaya, April 8, 2014 Archpriest Peter Sukhonosov The newly founded Monastery " of New Sinai " was established at the parish Church of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God of the Ordzhornikidzevskaya stanitsa (a stanitsa is a Cossack village. Its former name is Sleptsovskaya) in the Ingush Republic in March 2014. The Ordzhonikidzevskaya stanitsa became famous owing to Archpriest Peter Sukhonosov, who served here for many years. He was kidnapped by bandits on March 28, 1999, and was martyred by them. The church where Fr. Peter had served fell into decay and was torn down, and a new church has been built on its site. There are not many monks in the monastery so far, but the monastic life has already been arranged here today, and the spiritual-educational work is carried on. The newly established monastery gives spiritual guidance not only to a small number of Orthodox residents of neighbouring stanitsas and towns of Ingushetia, but also to military men from the units, stationed in the republic, as well as Ministry of Foreign Affairs subdivisions and frontier posts. Novice Nikolai Kizimov, who is in charge of coordination with media and military structures, has reported to a correspondent of Military and Naval Clergy " s Bulletin , that the monastery " s brethren are frequent guests at the outposts, situated in the mountainous Jeirakh district and at the frontier directorate of Federal Security Service in the Ingush Republic, on whose territory a chapel is erected. There is a cooperation agreement with headquarters of the units of Defense Ministry and Interior Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, stationed in the republic. A treaty was concluded with the republic " s Ministry of Internal Affairs concerning a spiritual guidance to the detached law-enforcement officers on the territory of Ingushetia, sent from central regions of Russia. Thanks to the support of Yunus-bek Yevkurov, head of the republic, the monastery " s abbot delivers a pastoral speech once a week on local television to Ingush residents. This is met with a keen interest and response not only among Orthodox, but even among Muslims. The abbot plans to hold regular meetings with the republic " s school and university students within the framework of study of the fundamentals of religions. 10 апреля 2014 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| On 1 May 2016, the Feast of the Radiant Resurrection of Christ, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with pilgrims from China, descendents of the Albazinians. Photo: http://mospat.ru As is widely known, the history of Orthodoxy in China dates back some 330 years. It began when the captive Cossacks, including a priest, defenders of the Albazin Fort on the border with China, were brought to Peking. From April 29 to May 9, the group of the Orthodox Albazinians is visiting Russia as guests of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Among the pilgrims are descendants of the first head of the Chinese Autonomous Orthodox Church, Bishop Vasily of Beijing, as well as relatives of the clerics of the Chinese Church – of archpriest Vladimir Dubinin, archpriest Vasily Dubinin, archpriest Mikhail Romanov, archpriest Daniil Khabarov, priest Vasily Romanov and priest Pinna Dubinin, as well as young Chinese Orthodox faithful from Beijing and Harbin. Photo: http://mospat.ru The trip was organized by the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations with the assistance of Mr. Ivan Polyakov, Director General of the Interstate Corporation for Development, and the Russian-Chinese Business Council. The pilgrims from China will visit Moscow, Tver, Novgorod and St. Petersburg, as well as the Valday region, will take part in Easter services and celebrations and visit some Orthodox churches and monasteries. Among those who took part in the meeting with the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour were also archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman, and Mr. Dmitry Petrovsky, DECR staff member. Greeting the pilgrims, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said in particular, “You are bearers of historical memory about Orthodoxy in China, and by God’s mercy we have lived to see the time when people in China can not only preserve the memory, but also live in accordance with their religious beliefs.” As His Holiness noted, he recalls with satisfaction his visit to China in 2013, during which he met with Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China. “As a result of that meeting, some very positive changes took place,” the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said, “As you know, we had an opportunity to ordain a Chinese young man. Now we can say that the priesthood in China has been restored. The new priest is celebrating services in Harbin. I hope that more Chinese young men will be ordained priests and that church activities in China will gradually develop.” |
| Michael Prokurat, Alexander Golitzin, Michael D. Peterson Скачать epub pdf RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH. We focus our attention on the Russian Church in the 19th and 20th c. since the medieval and early imperial history can be found under Kievan Rus’, Novgorodian Tradition, Muscovite Tradition, Unia, and the Spiritual Regulation (qq.v.). The difficulties caused by the Spiritual Regulation of Peter the Great in the 18th c. continued into the 19th c. and developed further: The government interfered increasingly in the intellectual and administrative life of the Church; not only was there no patriarch, but the Holy Synod was controlled by the government; and the social status and economic situation of the clergy continued to deteriorate. The ober-procurator’s power, influencing the Holy Synod and leading it, grew until the office became an official Ministry of State. Under Tsar Alexander I the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs and Education was formed, but had a brief existence (1817–1824). This so alarmed the hierarchy that it complained of persecution of the Church. Nevertheless, Count Nikolai Protasov (1799–1855) became ober-procurator of the Holy Synod from 1836 to 1855 and continued the trend of strengthening the office. During his tenure he successfully transformed the Russian Church into an organ of the state, “The Department of the Orthodox Confession.” His political methodology may be described as attempting to reduce the Russian Church and clergy to civil religion in the worst sense-bureaucratic functionaries of the state’s “confession.” With this goal, true higher education and ecclesiastical freedom became irrelevant. All that was needed was supplied by the tsar, who was “the supreme defender and guardian of the dogmas of the ruling faith, and observer of orthodoxy and all good order in the Holy Church. In this sense the Emperor, in the law of succession to the throne (5 April 1797), is called the Head of the Church” (Fundamental Laws, articles 42, 43, 1832 edition). Under Protasov, church finances and clergy employment became the sole domain of the ober-procurator. Of those who opposed him, Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, renowned for his work on the Russian Bible (q.v.) translation project, distinguished himself by attempting to keep Protasov in check. |
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