| " Knights Templar " hope for warming of relations with Bulgarian Orthodox Church Nesebar, May 21, 2013 The " Knights Templar " in Bulgaria hope for a warming of relations with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and intend to build an Orthodox Church on the bank of the Jordan river, report Bulgarian MEDIA. On May 18-19, in the Bulgarian resort of Nesebar an international meeting of " Templar knights " took place during which the head of Bulgarian " Templars " and high degree mason Rumen Ralchev expressed his hope that under the new Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte, relations between the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the order will improve. " It is necessary for the Church to accept our help! " said Ralchev who also expressed his hope (though it is not clear what is his hope based on) that soon the clergy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church would no longer refuse to bless churches built on funds raised by " Templars " . Regarding the ideology of the organization headed by him, Ralchev has informed that the order is not a Masonic lodge: not only Masons but members of other similar organizations can become its members and the order itself " is not in rivalry with the Church. " " Templars " consider themselves to be " Christian knights " and actively use religious themes. The order is planning to build an Orthodox Bulgarian paraklis on the bank of the Jordan and it has given 25,000 euros for purchasing the land and construction. It is also going to promote holding “young knight” programs in Bulgarian schools, and within the framework of this program the " Templars " are intending to teach children " major religious practices, history and Christianity. " The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has not formulated its official position regarding existence and activities of Masonic and " Templar " organizations yet; it just sent out a message that forbids its clergy wearing Church vestments to participate in ceremonies of such organizations. Nevertheless, the traditional position of the Orthodox Church is the following: Christians cannot be members of Masonic or quasi-Masonic societies even if they advertise themselves as " Orthodox " , explains Sedmitza.ru . 22 мая 2013 г. ... Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Catholic, Orthodox Churches to try to overcome millennium-long disagreement/Православие.Ru Catholic, Orthodox Churches to try to overcome millennium-long disagreement Moscow, September 22, 2010 - Interfax A joint international commission on dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, which began in Vienna on Tuesday, will discuss the Pope " s primacy in the first millennium. " This is the most complicated subject in the dialogue between the Orthodox and the Catholics, because the attitude toward the bishop of Rome " s ministering is key for the modern Catholic Church, " Hegumen Philipp (Ryabykh) representing the Russian Orthodox Church at the session told Interfax. The presumption that the Pope has ecumenical jurisdiction goes against Orthodox ecclesiology, which teaches that, while the Orthodox Church preserves unity of faith and church governance, it still consists of several local churches, Father Philipp said, who is a deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations. The Vienna session continues the discussion that was started in Cyprus in 2009. " A draft document was drawn up for the commission " s session last year, and the commission started to consider it but did not finish this process, as the Orthodox had a lot of objections to this text. We expect that the discussion in Vienna on the text of this document will also be quite intensive, " he said. " Our delegation " s goal is to make sure that this document reflects the Orthodox position and rules out any ambiguities, compromises and wrong interpretations of the patristic views on the bishop of Rome " s ministering, " the priest said. While it is difficult to reach a consensus on this issue, " this theme should be discussed, " because " this is what separates the Catholics and the Orthodox above all, " he said. " It needs to be said that the Catholics did not agree to discuss this issue with the Orthodox [Church] for a long time, knowing how radical differences in its interpretation are. The fact that the late Pope John Paul II and then Pope Benedict XVI agreed that this issue be discussed by the commission is quite a benevolent step on the part of the Catholics toward the Orthodox [Church], " he said. |
| International Orthodox Chaplains’ Association supports chaplains of canonical Ukrainian Church Moscow, March 9, 2017 Photo: http://news.church.ua The statement of the Third International Conference of Orthodox Military Chaplains, held October 17-21, 2016 by the Orthodox Ordinariate of the Polish army in Warsaw, was published on March 8 on the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s Synodal Department for Relations with the Armed Forces. The statement expressed approval and support for the decision to introduce military chaplains in Ukraine, reminding that the international Orthodox community recognizes only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, reports the Information Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The self-styled and nationalistic “Kiev Patriarchate” and “Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church” are schismatic, in communion with no one. “Knowing about the difficult situation of religious life in Ukraine, in particular about the painful and tragic schism of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, we consider it our duty to remind those involved in the organization of military chaplaincy service that thus far all Orthodox military chaplains, regardless of nationality and citizenship, providing care and spiritual aid to soldiers in the army (in peacekeeping operations and other activities), were and are mutually recognized and interchangeable as clerics of canonical Local Orthodox Churches,” the document reads. Thus, the document continues, the conference hopes that in all future peacekeeping missions involving Ukrainian troops, spiritual nourishment will come from canonical chaplains of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Chaplaincy service from schismatic priests will most likely in the future create situations in which soldiers of another country will be cut off from access to spiritual help, and will have no liturgical services to attend, as Orthodox Christians do not participate in the worship of schismatics and heretics. The gathering of chaplains expressed hope for understanding and support from Ukrainian authorities. The statement was drafted on behalf of representatives of Orthodox chaplaincy services in Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Finland. 9 марта 2017 г. Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Ukrainian nationalists attack Moscow Patriarchate " s church in Sumy/Православие.Ru Ukrainian nationalists attack Moscow Patriarchate " s church in Sumy Moscow, March 2, 2015 A group of nationalists started problems on the grounds of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration belonging to Moscow Patriarchate " s Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in the Ukrainian town of Sumy. The incident occurred last Sunday, the day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy. During the church service, a representative of the Freedom movement, who was holding a placard with offensive content, " first started an argument and then assaulted the church " s security guard and caused him bodily injuries, " a UOC spokesperson said. A group of approximately 20 people in masks and camouflage bearing the emblems of the Right Sector , an extremist organization banned in Russia, gathered outside the church. They blocked the entrance, threatening the ruling archpriest, the clergy and the flock. When Archbishop Yevglogy of Sumy and Okhtyrka, having finished the prayer service, went on the stairs of the cathedral " the masked young men tried to approach him, shouting various dirty profane words and threats of physical extermination, " the spokesperson said. " Some of the assailants seemed to be intoxicated, judging by their odd behavior. The crowd of assailants was pushed away from the archpriest, " the UOC spokesperson said. A few hours later several assailants came back to the cathedral, demanding an urgent meeting with the archpriest. They started arguing with him and demanded that he open the door of the diocese administration. Archbishop Yevlogy is going to ask Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko to protect Orthodox believers. 3 марта 2015 г. Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также Extremists leaning on altar table heckle priest at Orthodox church near Kiev (+video) Extremists leaning on altar table heckle priest at Orthodox church near Kiev (+video) The hooligans leaned on the altar, touching it with their hands, insulted the priest and threatened him. A church in Ternopol region in the Ukraine seized by “Right Sector” A church in Ternopol region in the Ukraine seized by “Right Sector” On October 5, the parishioners of the Church of Holy Archangel Michael in Butin village of the Zbarazh Deanery of the Ternopol (Ternopil) Diocese (the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate – UOC MP) could not celebrate the Liturgy at their church because of a violent occupation by the “Kyiv Patriarchate” schismatics and representatives of the “Right Sector”. Russian Church calls for protection for its churches in Ukraine Russian Church calls for protection for its churches in Ukraine The Moscow Patriarchate has called for an end to attacks on Orthodox churches in Ukraine. Комментарии © 1999-2015 Православие.Ru |
| Hellenic Orthodox Church plans expansion to Lancaster/Православие.Ru Hellenic Orthodox Church plans expansion to Lancaster BY: Jay Tokasz As they celebrate 100 years in Western New York, members of the area " s Greek Orthodox community also are undertaking a new initiative to ensure their beloved church will be around at least 100 more years. The Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation is moving ahead with plans to build a Family Life Center on 30 acres of church property in Lancaster. The church invited Archbishop Demetrios Trakatellis, archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, to visit the site on Genesee Street on Friday and bless the land, as part of a three-day centennial celebration that also included a gala at Statler City on Saturday and a special liturgy featuring 13 clergy members today. The new building doesn " t mean the congregation will leave its longtime location at West Utica Street and Delaware Avenue, which many Western New Yorkers know as the home of the annual Greek Festival. " This is a second site for us, " said the Rev. Christos B. Christakis, presiding priest of the Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. " Eventually, this will become another location for us, but in many phases. " The congregation, which has a membership of about 800 families, envisions using the new center for social, recreational and education activities during the week while maintaining the landmark church in Buffalo for worship on weekends. Work on the foundation of the million parish center is likely to begin within a few weeks or months and be completed by 2015. Other developments likely will follow, including a chapel and classrooms, said Christakis. The first Greeks arrived in Buffalo in 1871, according to church historical records. In 1912, the area " s first Greek Orthodox Church opened at 361 Oak St. in downtown Buffalo. The current home of the Hellenic Orthodox church was purchased in 1952 from North Presbyterian Church, a congregation now located in Amherst. |
| Archive DECR chairman meets with Bishop Lukijan of Budimlije 7 September 2021 year 11:27 On September 6, 2021, when on a visit to Hungary, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, visited the church of St. George’s church of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Budapest. At the entrance to the church, Vladyka Hilarion was met by the Administrator of the Budimlije diocese, Bishop Lukijan. After a short moleben service the hierarch of the Serbian Church extended warm greetings to the DECR chairman. Mentioning his long-time acquaintance with Metropolitan Hilarion that had lasted since his ministry in Hungary, Vladyka Lukijan expressed his joy with His Eminence’s coming to Budapest and with visiting the local Serbian parish. As Bishop Lukijan said, that visit had become another evident manifestation of the closeness of the Russian and Serbian Churches. The Bishop expressed hope that this closeness would further promote the service of the two Churches in the conditions of today that often happened to be difficult. The Administrator of the Budimlije diocese touched upon the situation of the Orthodox Church in Montenegro in particular. He said that he had just returned fr om Cetinje, wh ere he had participated in the ceremony of the enthronement of Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and Littoral. He was happy to mention the presence of a delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate there, and asked for a prayerful support for the Orthodox of Montenegro who were preserving their faithfulness to the canonical Church. Bishop Lukijan conveyed greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church to Metropolitan Hilarion and presented him with an icon of St. Peter of Cetinje for prayerful memory. The DECR chairman expressed heartfelt gratitude to the representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church for a welcome extended to him and said that he had warm relationship with the local diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church during the years of his ministry in Hungary, adding that this tradition has survived, bringing good fruits. Metropolitan Hilarion noted the Russian Orthodox Church’s unwavering support of the unity of the Serbian Orthodox Church and added that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia had congratulated Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral on his enthronement. The DECR chairman wished Bishop Lukijan God’s aid in his archpastoral care for the faithful of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Hungary and presented him with some of his books published in the Hungarian language. Fraternal repast followed. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| Metropolitan Onuphry of Chernovtsy and Bukovina elected as new head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kiev, August 13, 2014 On August 13 the results of elections of the new Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine have been announced, reports the website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. By decision of the Council of Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Locum Tenens of the Metropolitanate of Kiev Metropolitan Onuphry of Chernovtsy and Bukovina has been elected as the new primate of UOC (the Moscow Patriarchate). 48 bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church voted in favor of him. The elections have been held in two rounds. After the first round, the leaders’ collected votes tallied: Metropolitan Onuphry of Chernovtsy and Bukovina – 36, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary – 24, Metropolitan Simeon of Vinnitsa and Mogilev-Podolsky – 9. Metropolitan Onuphry was born on November 5, 1944 in Chernovtsy Region in the family of a clergyman. He took monastic vows in 1971 and in 1988 graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a degree in theology. In 1988 he was appointed Father-Superior of the Dormition Pochayev Lavra where he served until November 1990. On December 9, 1990, he was consecrated Bishop of Chernovtsy and Bukovina. In 1994 he was raised to the rank of archbishop, and in 2000, to the rank of metropolitan. The Russian Orthodox Church has welcomed the election of Metropolitan Onuphry and is expecting him to perform his peacekeeping mission successfully, reports Interfax-Religion. " We welcome the election of the new leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, " Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, the secretary for the inter-Orthodox relations at the Synodal Department for External Church Relations, told Interfax-Religion. " The Bishops Council has demonstrated unity, which is particularly important amidst what is happening in Ukraine, " said Father Igor. He also stressed that Metropolitan Onuphry " is well known for his spiritual qualities—he is a man of fervent prayer and a true monk. " " We hope that under his leadership, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will successfully perform its peacekeeping mission aimed at resolving the situation in the country, " the priest said. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill has confirmed the decision of the Council of Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and has given Metropolitan Onuphry his patriarchal blessing to assume the office of primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reports the press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. 13 августа 2014 г. Смотри также Комментарии Francisco Hernandez Gamboa 14 августа 2014, 05:00 Me permito felicitar a la nueva cabeza de la Iglesia Ortodoxa en Ucrania,que Dios nuestro secor lo siga guiando en este muy dificil momento por el que pasa ese Pais,Dios lo bendiga. Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| IOCC, Orthodox Church in Japan, provide aid to coastal communities Baltimore, MD, March 28, 2011 With financial support from an emergency grant of from the National Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society and contributions by private donors, International Orthodox Christian Charities [IOCC] will provide humanitarian assistance such as medicines, food and other essential items to communities in the earthquake and tsunami-damaged Pacific coastal districts of Japan in the prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima and Ibaragi. The assistance is being distributed by the Orthodox Church in Japan in cooperation with regional authorities. All of the aid to be distributed is expected to be obtained locally in Japan. Initial efforts by IOCC and the Orthodox Church in Japan will focus on an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people who have been displaced from coastal communities by the earthquake and tsunami. The Church is also working to assess the needs of people displaced from the cities of Ishinomaki, Yamada and Kesennuma that remain largely inaccessible because of the damage and lack of fuel. As the search and rescue operations wind down and recovery efforts begin, the full extent of the needs in coastal communities of East Japan are beginning to emerge. " It is definitely true that the suffering and hardship of the victims in these ruined areas is indescribably serious and severe now, " wrote Father Demitrios Tanaka of the Orthodox Church in Japan. " But the aftershocks of this complex disaster will remain upon us for a long time. We anticipate that the really critical situation will turn up two or three months from now. " The Orthodox Church in Japan anticipates that additional assistance will also be required to aid people threatened by the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. As the Orthodox Church in Japan focused its efforts on providing assistance to people in need, it also found reason to give thanks. An Orthodox priest previously reported missing in Tohoku, Japan was found alive and safe with his wife. All of the Orthodox clergy from the East Japan Diocese of the Orthodox Church have now been accounted for and are safe. IOCC, established in the early 1990s as the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy. Visit IOCC " s web site at www.iocc.org for additional information and to make donations. 30 марта 2011 г. ... Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Local Orthodox Churches " Representatives Express Concern For Persecution of Canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine/Православие.Ru Local Orthodox Churches " Representatives Express Concern For Persecution of Canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine Source: DECR Communication Service September 23, 2015 On September 20, the 8th meeting of the Inter-Orthodox Network of Centers for Study of Modern Religions and Destructive Movements completed its work in Slovenia. Among the attendees was a delegation led by Bishop Jonah of Obukhov, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s youth department. There were also Archbishop Irenaios of Crete (Patriarchate of Constantinople), Archbishop Makarios of Qatar (Patriarchate of Jerusalem), Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana and Bishop David of Krusevo (Patriarchate of Serbia), Metropolitan Seraphim of Nevrokop ( Patriarchate of Bulgaria ), Bishop Christophoros of Carpathia ( Church of Cyprus ) and other representatives of Local Orthodox Churches. They made a special statement expressing concern for the persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church: “The participants in the 8th meeting of the Inter-Orthodox Network for Study of Religions and Destructive Cults take with a heavy heart the tragic events going on in the east of Ukraine. We, representatives of Local Orthodox Churches, pray that the fratricidal war that has already taken thousands of lives may be stopped as soon as possible. At the same time, we are concerned for the persecution to which the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church is subjected. We believe it unacceptable and inadmissible that the Ukrainian mass media should disseminate provocative stories about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, aimed at discrimination on religious grounds, which results in cases of violence against the UOC clergy and laity, as well as acts of vandalism towards holy places. Thus, the tension in Ukrainian society is growing even higher. The participants in the conference resolutely condemn the capture of Orthodox churches perpetrated by followers of the schismatic group the ‘Kiev Patriarchate’. |
| Archive Two communities, victims of OCU raids, celebrate Pascha in new churches 4 May 2021 year 11:31 Pascha 2021 has become special for two communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who have been deprived of their churches seized by the ‘OCU’. After a raiding attack made by schismatics, who captured on 21 February 2019 the church of the Nativity of St John the Baptist at the Bronitsa village, Kamen-Kashirskiy district, Volyn region, the canonical Church’s community driven away from their church, had to assemble for divine services at an adjusted facility, but this time they celebrated the feast of the Radiant Resurrection of Christ in a new church erected for very few months. The office of the foundation laying was accomplished by Bishop Afanasiy of Kamen-Kashirskyi, vicar of the diocese of Volyn, on November 8, 2020, and already on March 27, 2021, the cupola crosses were blessed and installed on the church dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God ‘Swift to Hearken " and built by the community instead of the captured one. The photos of the first Paschal Liturgy were published in Facebook by the rector of the community, Rev. Nazary Priymak. The parishioners of the St. Michael community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the Nesvich village, Lutsk district, Volyn region, also celebrated Pascha in a new church build instead of the church taken away by the ‘OCU’. The photos of the Paschal service were published in Facebook by the rector of the community, Archpriest Nikolay Kovalchuk. It is still necessary to carry out a great deal of construction work but the parishioners already assemble in it for divine services. As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported on its website, because of the raiding actions of the ‘OCU activists, the local St. Michael community of the canonical Church has lost access to their own church since March 4, 2019. Already on March 18, by an order of the head of the Volyn regional state administration, the parish was re-registered in favour of schismatic and later by another order the church, which is an architectural monument, was transferred for use to a newly formed community of the ‘OCU’. At first, the aggrieved community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church assembled at the church house near the church but the people were pushed from it as well. For a long time, the parishioners, who remained faithful to the canonical church, assembled for worship in a tent installed near the church but when colds came, the fellow-villagers were let in her home by one of the parishioners. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
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