| Summation of the Joint Work of the Commissions of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate Concluding the eighth joint meeting of the Commissions and summarizing its work, it is worth noting the path traveled, beginning with the meeting between His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, in Moscow in May 2004. It was then that the Commissions were charged with preparing the documents needed to reestablish canonical communion between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Church Abroad. The path towards dialog was opened by fundamental changes in the life of the Orthodox Church in Russia: ruined churches and monasteries are being rebuilt, parish life and spiritual education are returning to normal, more and more people are coming to the Orthodox faith. Orthodox Christians in Russia and abroad are children of one Mother Church, heirs of a great spiritual tradition, cognizant of the artificiality of continuing division. Meetings among clergymen and laypersons, joint conferences, contact on the diocesan and parish level have helped destroy old stereotypes and prejudices, steering mutual relations onto a constructive track and preparing the groundwork for dialog on the hierarchical level. The Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church of 2000, which glorified the host of New Martyrs of Russia and adopted a series of other important positions of principle, was an event that laid the foundation for the irreversible movement towards unity. The Acts of that Council evoked a positive response from the Council of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad held the following October. A series of practical measures were subsequently taken towards rapprochement. Finally, in the bright Paschal days of 2004, at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus visited Russia. |
| Archive Representative of Department for External Church Relations attends Chiara Lubich memorial evening 16 March 2020 year 19:10 On March 14, 2020, the Rudomino Library for Foreign Literature held a memorial evening devoted to the centenary birthday of Chiara Lubich (1920-2008), the founder of the Focolare Movement. Participating in the event were Mr. Guido De Sanctis, minister of the Italian Embassy in Russia; Mr. Alessandro Salacone, representative of the Community of Saint’Egidio in Moscow; Archpriest Vladimir Fedorov, associate professor at St. Petersburg Theological Academy; Hieromonk Ioann Guayta, a cleric of the Ss Cosmas and Damian church in Moscow; Father Alexy Dikarev, Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations; Mr. A. Yudin, associate professor, State University of the Humanities religious research center, and many others. Participants shared their memories of the outstanding religious worker of the 20th century, who initiated the first movement of lay people in the Catholic Church, and spoke about the influence the Focolare Movement made on their life. They were also shown a film about Chiara Lubich and the work of the movement she founded. Father Alexy Dikarev read out a message of greeting to the organizers and participants of the memorial evening from Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, which reads in particular: “I cordially greet all the participants in the memorial evening devoted to the centenary birthday of the founder of the Focolare Movement, Chiara Lubich. The centenary birthday of the outstanding daughter of the Roman Catholic Church marked this year throughout the world is a remarkable opportunity to pay tribute to the fragile but spiritually strong woman whose service has gonet beyond the boundaries of the Catholic Church. In 1943, in the midst of World War II, which brought innumerable miseries and sufferings to nations, an ordinary girl from Trento felt a call to a special mission to devote herself to the cause of peace, mutual understanding and unity between people of different faiths, beliefs and ethnic backgrounds. Amidst death and destruction caused by hatred, Chiara Lubich came to perceive with a special force the meaning of the word said by the Lord at the Last Supper: “May all be one” (Jn. 17:21). These words became the motto of all her further activity. |
| The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church noted that he had known Metropolitan Antonio of Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean for many years. “You have been our guest many times and you knew Patriarchs Alexy I, Pimen and Alexy II, as well as my spiritual counselor – Metropolitan Nikodim. You are an old friend of the Russian Orthodox Church and now you are an oldest and most respected bishop of the Patriarchate of Antioch,” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said. “You are a living manifestation of your Church’s tradition and wisdom, and – most important – you keep historical memory and good relations between our Churches as its essential part.” Metropolitan Antonio of Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean said that the 1025 th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia is the celebration for Russia and at the same time the revival of the eastern Orthodoxy. “We owe much to the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian people. In these hard years, we thank the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian government for their position and attitude to us,” the head of the Antiochian delegation said. Discussed at the meeting were the situation of Christians in Syria, ministry of the Patriarchate of Antioch for the benefit of the destitute and refugees who have suffered during the armed conflict, the assistance the Russian Orthodox Church renders to them, as well as inter-Orthodox and inter-Christian relations. After the meeting, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia presented the members of the delegation of the Patriarchate of Antioch with awards of the Russian Orthodox Church in consideration of their service for the benefit of the Holy Church and on the occasion of the 1025 th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia. Metropolitan Antonio, Archbishop Nifon and Bishop Constantine were awarded the Order of St Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles (2 nd class). Source: DECR 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. |
| Закрыть itemscope itemtype="" > Албанская миссия епископа Нестора (Сидорука) 14.07.2015 490 Время на чтение 13 минут В статье рассматривается малоизвестный эпизод из истории взаимоотношений Албанской и Русской Православных Церквей. В 1948 году в условиях гонений на Церковь со стороны режима Энвера Ходжи были арестованы трое из четырех архиереев Албанской Православной Церкви. Желая помочь православным Албании, Святейший Патриарх Московский и всея Руси Алексий I благословил отправиться в Тирану епископа Нестора (Сидорука), который принял участие в архиерейской хиротонии будущего Предстоятеля Албанской Церкви Паисия (Водицы). Ключевые слова: Албанская Православная Церковь, епископ Паисий (Водица), Томос, епископ Нестор (Сидорук), Патриарх Алексий I. AN ALBANIAN MISSION OF BISHOP NESTOR (SIDORUK) Fedoseev A.N. The article discusses a little known fact from the history of relations between Albanian and Russian Orthodox Churches. In 1948, in terms of the persecution of the Church by the regime of Enver Hodja, three of the four bishops of the Albanian Orthodox Church were arrested. Wishing to help the Orthodox of Albania his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy I with the blessing sent the Bishop Nestor (Sidoruk) to Tirana, where this hierarch took part in the ordination of Paisius (Vodica), the future Primate of the Albanian Church. Keywords: Albanian Orthodox Church, Bishop Paisius (Vodica), Tomos, Bishop Nestor (Sidoruk), Patriarch Alexy I. Православная Церковь на территории Албании известна с древнейших времен. Первое упоминание o ней относится ко II-III веку, а в качестве Архиепископии она упоминается с X века и с тех пор находилась в греческой юрисдикции. С начала XX века националистические и патриотические круги Албании добивались полной независимости для национальной Церкви. в 1926 году албанцам большими усилиями удалось добиться автономизации, то есть Церковь была признана автономной. Несмотря на это, большинство патриотических сил Албании не устраивало сложившееся положение вещей, борьба за церковную независимость продолжилась. И только 12 апреля 1937 года Томосом Константинопольского Патриарха Вениамина была признана автокефалия Албанской Православной Церкви. Русский перевод этого Томоса приводит профессор К.Е.Скурат в своей книге «История Поместных Православных Церквей»: |
| Archive 11th meeting of Joint Commission for Orthodoxy-Islam dialogue takes place in Tehran 10 May 2018 year 11:27 On 5-7 May 2018, the 11 th meeting of the Joint Commission for Orthodoxy-Islam Dialogue took place in the capital of Iran. This year its topic was Religion and Environment. The commission holds meetings once in two years alternately in Moscow and Tehran. In compliance with the decision of the Holy Synod of 7 March 2018, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church consisted of Metropolitan Feofan of Kazan and Tatarstan, head of the delegation; Archimandrite Alexander (Zarkeshev), rector of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Tehran; Archpriest Lev Semenov, head of the Chair of Theology of the Moscow State Linguistic University, head of the Religious and Educational Centre of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University of the Humanities; Rev. Dimitry Safonov, secretary for interreligious relations of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Rev. Alexy Sorokin, acting rector of the Church of the Blessed Xenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikovo, Moscow; Mr. Alexei Osipov, distinguished professor at the Moscow Theological Academy; Mr. Oleg Kalimullin, consultant at the Department for External Church Relations; and Ms. Yelena Dunayeva, senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Metropolitan Feofan was accompanied by the rector of the Church of the Holy Dormition in Kazan, Archpriest Alexy Krayevsky. On May 5, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church met with Dr. Abouzar Ibrahimi Torkaman, head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO). The participants in the meeting which took place at the ICRO Centre for Dialogue between Religions and Cultures in Tehran discussed various issues pertaining to the longstanding dialogue between the two religious communities and its prospects. Later that day the first session of the Commission for Orthodoxy-Islam Dialogue was held under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Feofan of Kazan of Tatarstan and Dr. Abouzar Ibrahimi Torkaman, head of the ICRO. Metropolitan Foefan read out a message of greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. In his address , the head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s delegation focused on the Orthodox understanding of the ecological crisis. “It is essential to cultivate cultural attitude to and care for the environment at all levels of society, from schoolchildren to businessmen and politicians. Such transformation of society would be impossible without the participation of traditional world religions, such as Orthodoxy and Islam,” Metropolitan Feofan said. |
| The Churches in Europe working group of the St. Petersburg Dialogue of civil societies in Russia and German meet in St. Petersburg Source: DECR On June 5, 2014, the Churches in Europe working group of the St. Petersburg Dialogue, a forum of civil societies in Russia and Germany, met in St. Petersburg to discuss the theme “Understanding of Religious Freedom in the Democratic Society”. The Russian Orthodox Church delegation included Archimandrite Philaret (Boulekov), a vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations and co-chairman of the Churches in Europe working group; Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for the far-abroad; Rev. Ilya Kosykh, head of the DECR communication service; V. Kipshidze, head of the Synodal information department’s analytical section; V. Kuznetsov of the DECR communication service; O. Mazur and S. Ochkanov, of the DECR secretariat for the far abroad. Participating in the meeting were also Archpriest Alexy Isaev, head of the St. Petersburg diocesan department for church-society relations, Rev. Alexy Volchkov, head of the St. Petersburg diocesan press service, A. Maler of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission, and V. Zavalny of the St. Petersburg diocesan protocol section. The German side was represented by Dr. J. Oldemann, director of the Johann Adam Möhler Ecumenical Institute and co-chairman of the Churches in Europe working group, Probst S. Kasparik, reformation and ecumenism officer in the Evangelical Church in Central Germany, Prof. Dr. E. Schockenhoff, Freiburg University; Dr. Ch. Rebenstorf, Social Sciences Institute of the Evangelical Church in Germany; and others. The meeting was co-chaired by V. Kipshidze and Dr. J. Oldemann. Papers were read by V. Kuznetsov on “Religious freedom in the Russian Federation’s constitutional legal doctrine, A. Maler on “The Christian foundations of the European identity”, Dr. Rebenstorf on “Religion and democracy: Expectations of democratic societies from the Church and religion”, Dr. Schockenhoff on “The right to a free and unimpeded search for the truth. Religious freedom and secular state”. |
| His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch On 25 January 2014, at the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in St Daniel’s Monastery, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, who is currently visiting the Russian Orthodox Church. The delegation accompanying His Beatitude Patriarch John X on his visit includes Metropolitan Basilyos of Akkar; Metropolitan Ephrem of Tripoli; Archbishop Niphon of Filippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; archimandrite Philip (Yazegi); archimandrite Parthenius (Allati); archdeacon Gerasimus (Kabbas); and a number of lay people. Representing the Russian Orthodox Church at the meeting were Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Secretariat; Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo-Zuyevo, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Ministry; archimandrite Alexy (Polikarpov), abbot of St Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow; archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR Secretary for Inter-Orthodox Relations; hegumen Arseniy (Sokolov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Great Antioch and All the East; and deacon Feodor Shulga, a DECR staff-member. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulated Patriarch John X on his election as the Primate of the Church of Antioch. As Patriarch Kirill noted, the relations between the Church of Antioch and the Russian Orthodox Church have a long history and the Primates of the Church of Antioch often visited the Holy Rus’. During the talk, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill mentioned the visit of Metropolitan Antonio of Mexico to the Russian Orthodox Church for the celebration of the 1025 th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia and the visit of Bishop Isaac of Apameia. Among the recent events mentioned by His Holiness was also the visit of Metropolitan Hilarion of Vokololamsk to Lebanon for the celebration of the 25 th anniversary of episcopal consecration of Archbishop Niphon of Philippopolis, the head of the Representation of the Patriarchate of Antioch to the Moscow Patriarchate. |
| The election of the 16th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia was held in an atmosphere of unprecedented openness. During the whole period between the death of Patriarch Alexy II and the election of Metropolitan Kirill to the Patriarchal See, the mass media held a lively discussion about candidates. The Bishops’ and Local Councils had shown that Metropolitan Kirill was the only hierarch capable of rallying an absolute majority of the episcopate, clergy, monastics and laity of the Russian Orthodox Church. On February 1, 2009, Metropolitan Kirill was solemnly installed to the See of Patriarchs of Moscow and All Russia in the Church of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. In his response to the speeches of greeting him as the newly elected Patriarch, he said: ‘It is with humbleness and full awareness of responsibility that I accept the lot of God through which I have been entrusted with the Patriarchal ministry. It is great. It involves great responsibility. However, in the center of this ministry is the Lord’s Cross, a Cross of so great dimensions as can be perceived and felt only by the one who carries it… The Primate of a Church bears [this cross], though it is above the strength of one person. Primates bear it because together with them it is borne by archpastors, pastors and the people of God. The very Church bears this Cross together with the Patriarch’. Patriarch His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: Patriarch of Constantinople is not a free man 07.01.2024 Christmas Message from Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Rus’ 06.01.2024 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill had phone conversation with Metropolitan Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol 02.01.2024 Patriarch Kirill met with the DECR Chairman and the Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe 09.04.2024 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates moleben in Donskoy Monastery at the shrine with St. Tikhon’s relics 07.04.2024 Patriarch Kirill celebrates at the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin on the Feast of the Annunciation 07.04.2024 |
| Archive Пн Patriarch Kirill leads ceremony of presenting Prize of International Foundation of the Unity of Orthodox Nations to Patriarch Theophilos 21 November 2019 year 20:44 On November 21, 2019, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia led the 19 th annual ceremony of presenting Patriarch Alexy II Prize of the International Public Foundation “For Outstanding Work for Strengthening the Unity of Orthodox Nations and for Asserting and Promoting Christian Values in the Life of Society”- 2018. The ceremony took place at the Cathedral Church of Christ the Savour Hall of Church Councils. The previous ceremony for 2017 took place last May. The 2018 prise went to His Beatitude Theophilos III of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine. Present at the ceremony were Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, patriarchal vicar of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldova; Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, head of the Metropolia of Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Varsonofy of Sankt-Petersburg and Ladoga; Metropolitan Pavel of Minsk and Zaslavsk, Patriarchate Exarch for all Belarus; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations; Metropolitan Dionisiy of Voskresensk, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; and hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church who had come to Moscow for the 50th anniversary of the tonsure and ordination of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. Present at the ceremony were also Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Bishop Irenaeus of Bac (Serbian Orthodox Church), Bishop Anthony of Moravici (Serbian Orthodox Church), Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky) (Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia); as well as political and public figures. The event began with the prayer “To the Heavenly King” and demonstration of a documentary on major landmarks and events in the history of the International Foundation of the Unity of Orthodox Nations. |
| The Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Theophilos III today received the Patriarch Alexy II Prize of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations. The prize was given in recognition of his tireless efforts to promote Christian unity around the globe. Patriarch Theophilos, who spoke to Premier in January about his strong desire to see greater unity between Christians across the nations, received the honour from the Patriarch of Moscow at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, in the Russian capital. He used his acceptance speech to invite senior leaders from the Orthodox Church to his home in Jordan, so that they can address the need for greater unity between Orthodox Churches together. As the leader of the Orthodox Christian community in the Holy Land, Patriarch Theophilos reminded a packed cathedral of Christ’s prayer for the Church in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father…I ask…that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Patriarch Theophilos called on Christians everywhere to practice unity, not only for the sake of the Church but also for our all too broken and divided world. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem has recently risen to international prominence, both because of the Patriarch’s increasing role in church unity, and because of the pressures faced by Christians within the Holy Land. Figures including the Archbishop of Canterbury, King Abdullah II, the Prince of Wales, and His Holiness the Pope have all expressed support for the work of Patriarch Theophilos and his fellow church leaders. The churches of the Holy Land have enjoyed much greater unity over the last three years however they face daily problems due to political challenges, economic difficulties and the ongoing religious tensions int the region. Patriarch Theophilos is the 141st person to hold this position. He closed his address, quoting his predecessor, the apostle James, who was the brother of Jesus and the first leader of the Church in the Holy Land. |
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