| The Ukraine needs its “own” Church, Petro Poroshenko says Kiev, July 29, 2015 The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko believes that a “Local Orthodox Church” should be established on the territory of the Ukraine and relies upon the support of the Ecumenical Patriarch in this respect. P. Poroshenko with the pseudo-Patriarch Philaret Denisenko at the St. Vladimir’s Cathedral: photo by Podrobnosti.ua “Today we thank the Hierarchy of the mother Church of Constantinople for its assistance in the establishment of the Ukrainian Local Orthodox Church in our country, we rely on the prayers and hope for the support of the Ecumenical Patriarch,” said Poroshenko on Tuesday at a meeting of the state leaders with members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches, reports RIA-Novosti . “Nearly every independent Orthodox state has its own independent Autocephalous Church … Why should the Ukraine be different? Why should we be an exception to this rule? As the President and head of the state, I assure that the state will not resort to any kind of violence or pressure – we must cherish the interfaith peace as the apple of one’s eye,” he added. In June this year Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All the Ukraine appealed to Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, asking for an explanation: why were his hierarchs involved in activities (without the UOC MP’s authorization) in the Ukraine – “the canonical territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, without consent of the Church Hierarchy of UOC MP?” Furthermore, it has been reported that Petro Poroshenko attended a church of the so-called “Kyiv Patriarchate” on the Day of Baptism of Russia. None of the representatives of the Ukrainian governmental authority attended the festal Divine Liturgy, celebrated on that day by Metropolitan Onufry at the Kiev Caves Lavra. Concerning Petroshensko’s promise of non-violence, the experience forceful seizure of UOC MP churches in the Ukraine recently show rather convincing evidence that the President is doing very little to prevent violence. 31 июля 2015 г. Смотри также Комментарии Sally Iloff 3 августа 2015, 03:00 Porosshenko received an order to instigate revot in the Ukrainian Church by overseas. He listen idiot, follow idiots, push idiots to make idiotisms. If Ukrainian Church and nation follow this idiot one day will finish in the pit of idiots. Porosshenko is very contemporary event in the new Ukrainian history, as very contemporary and traceless will be his overseas mentors. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is part of the body of Christ and one of the Brides. The church leaders should abstain what Porohenko demands, and follow the 1800 years tradition of the entire Orthodox Church. In other way for years the entire Ukrainian nation will suffer till come back to the proper cannon. It is proven fact what I say here! Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Archive Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk: Law discriminating canonical Church has not been reversed in Ukraine 18 April 2021 year 14:07 Over one million people have signed an Appeal to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky concerning persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Earlier in April boxes containing the signed document were brought to the Presidential Office. There is a request in the appeal to reverse the discriminating laws against the canonical Church. Speaking on ‘The Church and the World” TV programme, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, underlined the importance of this action: “A million of signatures is a great many. It is as good as the population of a big city. We are talking now about the document not digitally signed, but containing paper-based signatures collected by the faithful.” The archpastor said that during President Poroshenko’s tenure a discriminative bill was adopted which obliged religious organizations with the centre outside of Ukraine to put the name of this centre in its title. Using the adopted bill, the authorities were going to forcefully rename the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the largest confession of Ukraine, into ‘the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine.’ “But the Ukrainian Orthodox Church opposes the change of its name for several reasons, Metropolitan Hilarion underscored. Firstly, the centre of this Church is not located in Moscow, but in Kiev. This is a self-governing Church, which determines its domestic and foreign policy at its own discretion and elects its hierarchs and its head without consent of Moscow, being not in the least dependent on the Russian Church, neither in financial, nor in administrative, or in any other aspect. It is the national Church of Ukraine, and it would have been unfair to rename it into the ‘Russian Church.’ The Ukrainian Church consists not of the citizens of Russia, but its members are Ukrainians by birth and on passport. They are patriots of their country.” The goal of this bill is to discriminate the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and in the context of political infighting between Ukraine and Russia to declare it an outlaw, the DECR chairman added. He stated that the application of this legislative rule was suspended under Vladimir Zelensky, but the law has not been reversed. “That is why the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have collected signatures all over the country and sent an appeal to the President asking him to repeal this discriminative law,” Metropolitan Hilarion said in conclusion. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| Another attempted seizure of a church and attack on priest in Kiev region Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi (the Kiev region, the Ukraine), October 8, 2014 There was an attempted seizure of a church in Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi, some 85 kilometres (c. 53 miles) south from Kiev. The attempt was unsuccessful, but the church’s future will be decided by the voting, scheduled for October 11. There were young people with “The Right Sector” symbols among the attackers. According to the Boryspil Diocese’s website, on October 5 a group of unidentified people in camouflage and with baseball bats, headed by the city council deputies Sivorko N.N., Levchenko V.G., and Salobai A.Z., attacked the Church of Holy Righteous Princes and Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb, cut off the door locks and blocked the entrance to the church. Driving back from the church its rector, Archpriest Anatoly Mikhnevich, the attackers tore the scufia (priest’s hat) off the priest. The rector at once reported the incident to the police, who then posted security guards at the church doors. The rural dean, the deanery clergy and the faithful also immediately arrived to the location. In the meanwhile, the aggressors, who had nothing to do with the church community, demanded removal of the rector as well as transfer of the church to the so-called “Kyiv Patriarchate”. The assault was occurring in this “patriarchate” representatives’ presence who were just silently observing what was going on. Later the city mayor T.V. Kostin arrived to the church in order to settle the conflict situation, reports the diocese’s website. He declared that on October 11 there would be a voting among the Borisovka micro-district residents on a possible transfer of the church to the “Kyiv Patriarchate”. Our reference Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi is a city of regional significance in the Kiev region of the Ukraine, with a population of around 31,000 residents. It is the administrative center of the Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi district (but not included in it). This is one of the most ancient cities of Rus’ (the original name is Pereyaslavl, or Pereyaslavl Russkiy), the former capital of the medieval principality of Pereyaslavl. The city was given its current name in October 1943. 9 октября 2014 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Archive Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion on the Annulment of Anti-Church Provisions in Montenegro’s Laws 7 February 2021 year 17:04 At the end of January, the president of Montenegro Milo ukanovi was obliged to sign into law amendments made by parliament on freedom of conscience, thereby abolishing provisions of legislations which were discriminatory towards the Serbian Orthodox Church. The amendments to the notorious 2019 law were voted for by the new parliament, in which for the first time in thirty years the pro-presidential party found itself in opposition. Commenting on this event on air in the The Church and the World TV programme, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion stated that ukanovi “at the time when his party was in power enacted a law by which church buildings could be taken away from the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, and this caused a huge wave of protest throughout all of Montenegro.” “Thousands of people, in spite of the restrictions brought in at the start of the pandemic, came out onto the streets to make clear that they would not hand over their churches and holy sites. The bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, including the ever-memorable metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amphilochius, fought for this discriminatory law to be abolished,” said the chairman of the DECR. He believes that it was the stubborn position of the Montenegrin president, who insisted that this law be brought into effect, is what led to his party being defeated. “The people will never forgive any attempts to get rid of holy sites,” metropolitan Hilarion emphasized, noting that ukanovi “did not heed the voice of the bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and those who had warned him what would happen.” “And it happened – and now his party finds itself in opposition,” continued the metropolitan. “The party which called for the removal of the discriminatory parts of the law won and now these discriminatory parts have been removed.” Metropolitan Hilarion is confident that this event is a huge victory for both the Serbian Orthodox Church and for all of canonical Orthodoxy. “Mr. ukanovi wanted to repeat in Montenegro that which happened in Ukraine under president Poroshenko. He achieved this only in as far as his political career is over in much the same way as Mr. Poroshenko’s political career is over. But the canonical church stood its ground and will stand its ground.” At the same time, His Eminence noted that the Serbian Church’s victory came at a price. In the autumn of 2020, the metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amphilochius died from coronavirus; he did more than anybody to ensure that the discriminatory parts of the law on freedom of conscience in Montenegro would be removed. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| Moscow Patriarchate Condemns Another Seizure by Schismatics of Church in Ukraine/Православие.Ru Moscow Patriarchate Condemns Another Seizure by Schismatics of Church in Ukraine Source: Interfax-Religion Moscow, October 16, 2015 " Patriarch " Filaret The head of the Synodal Information Department, Vladimir Legoyda, has condemned the latest incident in the Ukrainian town of Konstantinovka, where schismatics seized a church of the Purification of the Virgin Mary that is currently under construction. " Unfortunately, this is by no means the first time that so-called " Kiev Patriarchate " representatives have used force to illegally seize Orthodox churches on long-suffering Ukrainian land, " Legoyda was quoted by his press office as saying. The fact that " Filaret followers " deliberately chose the Intercession of the Virgin Mary Day for ousting the town " s Orthodox residents from their own church, thus leaving them unable to perform a collective prayer on the occasion, is " an eloquent testament " to the moral image of the invaders, Legoyda said. " The " Kiev Patriarchate " representatives have turned canonical church seizures into " a kind of ordinary criminal activity to which the authorities are systematically turning a blind eye, " the Church spokesman said. Whereas before reports of such incidents came from the western and central parts of Ukraine, this one is from a parish in the country " s east where an absolute majority of believers are adherents of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Legoyda said. It is odd that the canonical church believers, who form a majority in Ukraine, " are increasingly being discriminated against as second-class citizens, " he said. 16 октября 2015 г. Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также 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”. Christians persecuted in Ukraine by national-radical forces - Lavrov Christians persecuted in Ukraine by national-radical forces - Lavrov " Three Orthodox priests have been killed, and many others have fled to Russia from extremist threats, " he said. 80 law-enforcement officers had to go to Pochayiv to maintain order 80 law-enforcement officers had to go to Pochayiv to maintain order The police and the Security Service of the Ukraine are trying to find the people who spread the false information on a possible attempt to remove the wonder-working Pochayiv Icon of the Holy Theotokos from the Dormition Pochayiv Lavra and to replace it with a copy. Комментарии © 1999-2015 Православие.Ru |
| Too early to speak of meeting between pope, patriarch - Russian Church Source: Interfax-Religion January 22, 2016 The position of the Moscow Patriarchate on the issue of the possibility of a meeting between the patriarch and the pope has not changed and a meeting is possible, but only after the problems in the relations between the two Churches are resolved. " The hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church have never denied such a possibility in general, but the objective conditions have so far not allowed for its realization. Such a meeting should be well-prepared. There is a need to reach agreements on the main issues in relations between the two Churches, which will then be reflected in the joint statement of the patriarch and the pope, " Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, the head of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations, said in an interview with the Serb newspaper Vecherniye Vedomosti , a translation of which was posted on the website of the DECR. Metropolitan Hilarion said the actions by the Uniates (Greek Catholics) in Ukraine are " the main obstacle " in the dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. The hierarch said the unia arose from the practice of converting Orthodox Christians to the Catholic Church and the Uniates took over Orthodox churches in Western Ukraine in the late 1980s and early 1990s, subjecting the clergy and laymen to violence, and have taken part in the civil conflict in Ukraine since the first days of the protests on the Maidan, often " using openly Russophobic rhetoric and attacks, including against the Russian Orthodox Church. " As to Catholic proselytism on the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate, it was a serious problem 15 years ago, but " has now ceased to be an acute problem, " the metropolitan said, adding that relations with the Catholic Church in the territory of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and other countries " are developing in the spirit of constructive cooperation. " " Our bilateral relations have improved considerably in the past few years. Both sides realize the need for cooperation to effectively respond to the main problems and challenges of our time. As a rule, the positions of our churches on these issues are very close; these are the need to defend traditional Christian values in a secular society, the protection of Christians from persecution, primarily in the Middle East, peacekeeping efforts, and the common approach to the solution of the main social and humanitarian issues, " the metropolitan said. Interfax-Religion 22 января 2016 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Bishop Markell: " Moldavian authorities under pressure from EU that tries to undermine the position of the Church " Kishinev, September 3, 2013 Bishop Markell of Beltsy and Falesht has spoken with harsh criticism of the authorities of Moldavia, accusing them of antinational policy. " After 2009, when parties, financially and politically supported by the European Union, came into power, there have been insistent attempts by the state authorities to change the Moldavian people’s way of life, especially regarding their attitude to the Church, " writes the Bishop in his article published on Interfax-Religion website on Tuesday. The Bishop noted that the state, under the insistent pressure from the EU, wishes to undermine the authority of the Church, to depreciate its historical role in eyes of the people, and to minimize its influence in society, limiting its functions in every possible way. " The rhetoric of the Moldavian bureaucrats, who are not supported or trusted by the population at all, is directed utterly against the Orthodox Church, the institution trusted by the overwhelming majority of Moldavian citizens. Isn " t it strange? Doesn " t it indicate that they are waging a war against their own people? " asking the author. According to him, on the legislative, administrative-executive levels and on the level of everyday life, " The most impertinent and pernicious experiment is being carried out with the people: to eradicate the image of the Church of Christ from its historical memory and to transform the spiritual and moral foundation of the Moldavian ethnos, based on Christian values, confessed throughout the centuries, to the level of brute, ‘animal’ instincts and vices " . The hierarch mentioned " the authorities’ pushing of an extremist version of Islam " in the registration of the League of Islam and the " shameful adoption by the parliament of the scandalous law " On equality of chances " that gives the sexual minorities unprecedented rights to propaganda of perversions and corruption in the upcoming generation " . Besides, as Bishop Markell stated, under pressure from the non-governmental organizations sponsored by the West, the Orthodox Church, to which, according to his information, 94% of the population of the republic belong, now shares equal rights with other religious organizations, " including destructive and totalitarian ones " . " Any unwillingness to base society on Western values, any open expression of sympathy with Russia, Russian language and culture, or any willingness to establish closer relations with the Eurasian Union are interpreted by the authorities as an attempt to prevent the process of the country " s European integration. The administration is pursuing a dirty anti-Russian policy and is persecuting (specifically persecuting) dissenters, " write Bishop Markell in the article. Pravoslavie.ru 5 сентября 2013 г. ... Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Church of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco Under Construction at St. Elizabeth Convent in Minsk, Belarus In recent years the St. Elizabeth Convent in Minsk, Belarus has been constructing a church in honor of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco on the territory of the National Mental Health Centre in Novinki in Minsk which sees 25,000 patients annually from throughout Belarus. This church is very important for those who undergo treatment in the psychiatric clinic—as soon as it is opened, patients will have the opportunity to receive both spiritual and physical healing by participating in prayer, the Holy Mysteries and regular services.The church is named in honor of St. John because he dedicated his entire life to serving other people, including the sick, and he was known to often visit the sick in hospitals and has worked numerous miraculous healings. Speaking of the vision for the church, Archpriest Andrew Lemeshonok states: " This church should really be like an outpost of Heaven, because here one sees grated windows and hears the moans and screams of the patients. " Psychiatrist Dr. Pogotskaya explains the need for the church: “When and individual falls ill, he always moves towards God more intensely. Mental diseases are diseases of the soul, and they are so closely intertwined with the diseases of the spirit that sometimes the border between them disappears. This is why this kind of cooperation is more important for psychiatry than for any other branch of medical science.” Eugene Nekrasov, a former patient testifies: “When you have to stay in the hospital for a long time, a visit to the church is like a breath of fresh air because you escape the usual routine, not to mention the spiritual help you can get in the church.” Your support and prayers for the successful implementation of this construction project are greatly appreciated. Please consider making a donation to this philanthropic project and visit the Facebook page dedicated to the building of the church of St. John. Below is a video detailing the story and construction of the church of St. John at the National Mental Health Center, followed by various images from the construction progress and the first Liturgy celebrated in the unfinished temple: Please click the image to view the video. September 2013 October 2013 May 2014 January 2015 July 2015 The First Liturgy in the Unfinished Church of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, 2014 22 августа 2015 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Many people are leaving Catholic and Evangelical Churches in Germany due to taxes Berlin, February 3, 2015 According to the Idea agency’s report, in 2014 the number of people who left the Evangelical Church in Germany increased. According to the preliminary estimates, approximately 200,000 people have already announced they are leaving the Church. This is the largest number since 1997 when 196,600 people left the Evangelical Church. It is quite easy in Germany to stop your membership in the Church. Pointers on automatic machines installed in the local court (Amtsgericht) of Cologne indicate which button one should press in order to leave the Catholic or Evangelical Church. The information on the Catholic Church for 2013 is the following: in that year 178,000 people left the Church. The primary data for 2014 indicates that the number of the members who left the Church increased by 20%. The reason is money, or, more exactly: the Church income tax (Einkommensteuer). This deals with the profit from capital investments. Since 2000 the profit from capital investments has been taxed at a flat rate of 25%, which the banks themselves calculate and deduct. Taking into account that the profit from capital investments is a kind of income, then the mentioned tax has the status of income tax. According to the German legislation, the officially registered members of the Catholic and Evangelical Churches must pay the income tax and the Church tax. Since 2013 the banks have had to deduct not only income tax but also the profit from capital investments and the Church tax. Since January 2015 this has been carried out automatically, according to the information in which the central tax administration informs banks to which religious denominations their clients belong. In 2013 and 2014 the banks were obliged to inform their clients about this innovation. In 2013 an exodus of people from the Church followed immediately. At first, Churches did not inform their members regarding the changes in taxation. All the information was received only from banks which, beyond doubt, in communication with their clients paid too little attention on the advantages of membership in the Church, focusing on losses from the tax. Finally, in 2014 the Catholic and Evangelical Churches of Germany started informing their members, but, given the number of the members who have left, it is too late. Source: Die Welt 4 февраля 2015 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Archive Summer institute for Moscow Patriarchate representatives held in Rome 28 May 2018 year 15:58 From May 19 to 26, 2018, the 3d Summer Institute for representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church was held in Rome as part of the academic and cultural cooperation between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Roman Catholic Church. The project was organized by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity with participation of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR) and the Ss Cyril and Methodius Institute for Post-Graduate Studies (CMI). The group of attendees included staff members of the synodal departments of the Moscow Patriarchate and representatives of theological schools and clergy from various dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church. The group was led by Bishop Arseniy of Yuryev, vicar of the diocese of Novgorod. The institute’s program included visits to common Christian holy places, introduction to the work of higher education institutions of the Roman Catholic Church and meetings with leaders of various institutions of the Curia of Rome, among which was a meeting with the Holy See State Secretary Cardinal Pietro Parolin, which lasted an hour and a half. They also met with Russia’s ambassador to the Vatican A. Avdeyev and the former Apostolic Nuncio to Russia, Archbishop Antonio Mennini. Throughout its visit the group was accompanied by the Rev. Hyacinthe Destivelle, a staff member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. On May 20, the guests from the Russian Orthodox Church visited the St. Clement Basilica, in which they celebrated a thanksgiving at the relics of St. Cyril Equal-to-the-Apostles, the Enlightener of the Slavs, as the next year will mark the 150th anniversary of his demise. On May 23, the group attended the Papal General Audience in St. Peter’s Square. After it they were introduced to Pope Francis. In his brief greeting, the head of the Roman Catholic Church underscored the topicality of inter-Christian dialogue. After that the sides exchanged gifts. On May 24, the commemoration day of Ss Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles, the Teachers of the Slavs, Bishop Arseniy celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Catherine’s in Rome. He was assisted by the delegation members in holy orders. After the service, Many Years of Life was sung to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill as it was his name day. The regular Summer Institute in Russia for representatives of the Roman Catholic Church is expected to take place this autumn. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
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