| Tweet Нравится Report of “Kiev Patriarchate” meeting with Constantinople reps called into question Moscow, January 18, 2017 Met. Emmanuel (right). Photo: Amen.gr As previously reported , the press service of the nationalistic and schismatic “Kiev Patriarchate” reported on its website that it sent a delegation to the Phanar to meet with representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, including Met. Emmanuel (Adamakis) of France, on January 12, supposedly discussing the recent Crete Council and the question of autocephaly for a Ukrainian Church. This claim, writes the Union of Orthodox Journalists , is now being called into question. According to media reports, including the Greek source Amen.gr , Met. Emmanuel was in fact participating in the Fifth European Orthodox-Catholic Forum which was held in Paris from January 5 to 12, which is confirmed by photos of the event, where he is seen seated next to Met. Gennady of Sassima. Presumably he was in Paris through the end of the forum, and thus not in Constantinople on January 12. 18 января 2017 г. Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также Constantinople official refused to participate in the cross procession of Ukrainian schismatics Constantinople official refused to participate in the cross procession of Ukrainian schismatics Archbishop Job (Getcha) of Telmessos, representative of the Constantinople Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches, received an invitation from Ukrainian schismatic leader Filaret Denisenko to participate in the procession with cross of the " Constantinople Patriarchate " , however he refused. Patriarchate of Constantinople apologized to UOC for unauthorized arrival of bishops in Ukraine Patriarchate of Constantinople apologized to UOC for unauthorized arrival of bishops in Ukraine According to the primate of the UOC, the question of unauthorized visits by representatives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople was raised during the pre-Council meeting of the primates of the local Orthodox Churches in Chambesy. |
| Veterans Day Moleben Prayer Service/Православие.Ru Tweet Нравится Veterans Day Moleben Prayer Service Source: The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA November 12, 2015 On November 11th, 2015, the nation’s Veterans Day, at 11 o'clock in the morning upon the request of Ukrainian-American Veterans a moleben service was held for all the Veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces. The moleben took place by the newly-dedicated monument to the Ukrainian-American men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces, which is located near the St. Andrew Memorial Church in South Bound Brook, NJ. His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony, in the presence of veterans, local clergy, seminarians, consistory workers and the faithful served the service sung by the St. Sophia's Seminary Choir. Following the conclusion of the prayer, Metropolitan Anthony stated that we have to extend our gratitude for the service of the military personnel of our country during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War as these individuals committed to a greater cause and accepted the challenge to defend our nation. Also, Metropolitan Anthony noted that Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who gave their lives and those who perished while in service. In conclusion, everybody venerated the cross with a greeting word from His Eminence " Christ is Among Us. " Most years Veterans Day passes with little or no mention in our parish communities. Historically and traditionally, Veterans Day has been more a civic than a sacred observance. As with Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, and others, Veterans Day is not a part of the liturgical calendar — although sometimes local congregations will observe that day in some manner, like ours did today, near the beautiful Ukrainian American Veteran Monument. Deacon Vasyl Shak Edited by OrthoChristian.com 13 ноября 2015 г. Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также Over 4K Bibles Sent to Serbian Soldiers to Prevent Future War Crimes Over 4K Bibles Sent to Serbian Soldiers to Prevent Future War Crimes In the 1990s, during the Yugoslavian conflict, the Serbian army and leadership were responsible for heinous crimes including ethnic genocide against Bosnians, Croats, and Albanians. |
| Director of the Russian Institute for Strategic Research Leonid Reshetnikov believes there is an attempt to eliminate Orthodoxy in Ukraine. " Ukrainism from the very start was an anti-Orthodox concept: it was directed not only against Russians, against Moskals (Moscovites - IF ), it was directed against Orthodoxy. This concept was formed in the West, in Austria-Hungary, in Poland, in Catholic countries and it is realized today, " Reshetnikov said in his interview with the Radonezh radio. According to him, the current task in Ukraine is the " exclusion of Orthodoxy as a foundation of our Russian Orthodox civilization but there wouldn't be civilization without it. " " We often say 'we are a civilization,' but we forget what civilization we are. There wouldn't be civilization without Orthodoxy. There is no civilization without faith. Today the doctrine of the West is to use this moment and finally destroy Orthodoxy in Ukraine by eliminating and intimidating Orthodox believers. Unfortunately, conditions for it have appeared, " he said. Reshetnikov noted that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church urges opponents to peace, but it shows that it does not understand " that the opponents are not people, they are satanic forces. They don't aim to live in peace, to reconcile, but they aim to eliminate, and at this time the only choice is to bear our cross, to confess Christ till the end. " " I am absolutely sure that the majority of believers belonging to the UOC-MP firmly defend Christ and stick to the positions of Orthodoxy. They won't betray Christ! They are the only real force in Ukraine, in Kievan Ukraine that resists, sometimes silently, not in barricades or attacks, but in their adherence to faith they resist! And the victory will be theirs, " Reshetnikov said. Interfax-Religion 15 января 2016 г. Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Смотри также Комментарии Sally ILoff 2 мая 2016, 21:00 The elimination of Orthodoxy across the world is not only for Ukraine, it is for the entire world. |
| " We Shouldn " t Integrate with Europe as Guided and Weak Partners " - Patriarch Kirill/Православие.Ru " We Shouldn " t Integrate with Europe as Guided and Weak Partners " - Patriarch Kirill Moscow, July 19, 2010, Interfax Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia believes that dialogue of Russia and Ukraine with the European Union should be held from positions of equal rights. " We (Russia and Ukraine - IF) preserve unity as nation. We're joining the family of other European nations not as guided nation hanging upon words of the other, stronger partner, but as equal partners, bearers of our own historic and cultural code, " Patriarch Kirill said in his interview to Ukrainian TV-channels on the eve of his visit to Ukraine. According to him, " The top brains in Europe and other countries understand pretty well " how important is to preserve national spiritual and cultural identity. " It's a great challenge in conditions of globalization. We should preserve diversity and the beauty of God's world, and at the same time develop good international cooperation and peaceful relations among nations, " Patriarch Kirill believes. According to him, if Russians, Ukrainians and Byelorussians refuse their " basic values, " probable destruction of " national matrix " will become " a great catastrophe of civilization - just as if other nations lose their identity. " " The world will be unified and horrific, the world will be easily manipulated. Why? Because this spiritual culture traditional for the majority of people is the main criteria for telling good from evil, " the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church believes. Interfax - Religion 20 июля 2010 г. ... Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также Fr. Artemy Vladimirov “Friends, beautiful is our unity” Interview by Nun Cornelia (Rees) Fr. Artemy Vladimirov “Friends, beautiful is our unity” Interview by Nun Cornelia (Rees) For example, when people ask me, “What do you have to say about the ideological leanings and impaired world-view of this or that ecclesiastical individual?” I always answer, “We receive those who are infirm in the faith without arguments about opinions. |
| Metropolitan Hilarion: The developments in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church should be understood in the context of unprecedented pressure put upon it Source: DECR Photo: mospat.ru In a brief commentary, Metropolitan Hilarion, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, spoke of the decision made on May 29, 2022, by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church made a judgement on the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which took place on May 27 in Kiev, and expressed all-round support for her archpastors, pastors, monastics and laity over the unprecedented pressure coming from various quarters, such as extremist groups, schismatic structures, local authorities, which, in particular regions in Ukraine, simply prohibit the work of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as from nationalistically-disposed circles of the Ukrainian public. The Synod stated that the status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is defined by the 1990 Charter of Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and All Russia. Precisely this Charter is the canonical foundation on which the edifice of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is built. It was noted that the amendments adopted by the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and included in its Statute require to be considered by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. We have not considered these amendments now since they have not been made public. The Holy Synod has expressed regret over the fact that a number of the dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have ceased making the liturgical mention of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, which has already led to divisions within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Commenting on these decisions of the Holy Synod, I would like to say not about what has happened in Kiev but about what has not happened. There is an opinion that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has separated from the Russian Orthodox Church. It is not so. No statement on separation from the Russian Orthodox Church was made. No statement was made that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church would have a certain new status. On the contrary, she has reaffirmed again that she has the status of independence and self-governance that was granted to her as far back as 1990. |
| Ukrainian Orthodox Church will Consider Invalid any Decision Made by ‘the Uniting Council’ in Kiev Source: DECR On December 7, 2018, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which met at the Kiev-Pechersky Lavra of the Dormition under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, discussed the interference of state authorities in church life in Ukraine and the convocation of the so-called uniting council. The other day, Ukrainian President P. A. Poroshenko announced the convocation of a ‘uniting council’ to take place on December 15 in Kiev. The bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are receiving invitations to attend it, signed by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. These invitations are handed over to archpastors through representatives of the Ukrainian State. As the Synod members noted, despite the repeated appeals of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the state authorities in the country continue to interfere rudely in church life. In its adopted decision, the Synod states in particular that, on the basis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Bishops’ Council Resolution of November 13, 2018, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, just as other Local Orthodox Churches, does not recognise the Patriarch of Constantinople decisions of October 11, 2018, in particular, the one on the extending of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s jurisdiction to the territory of Ukraine and lifting of anathemas on the leaders of church schisms in Ukraine and renewal of their episcopal and priestly ranks. ‘The Patriarchate of Constantinople has no canonical right whatsoever to convoke any gathering in Ukraine and to summon bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to it’, the participants in the session stressed. The Synod resolved that the planned ‘uniting council’ be considered unlawful since it will be attended by representatives of schismatic groups. Therefore, the episcopate, clergy, monastics and laity of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church are not authorized to participate in the so-call uniting council. |
| The Ukrainian Orthodox Church asks Constantinople not to interfere in church affairs in Ukraine Source: Interfax-religion Moscow, August 13, Interfax - The Ukrainian Orthodox Church criticizes officials of the Constantinople Patriarchate for interfering in church affairs in Ukraine. Metropolitan Antony of Borispol and Brovary “Unfortunately, we see that hierarchs of the Constantinople Patriarchate, who have recently visited Ukraine and communicated with representatives of state authorities and representatives of unrecognized church structures, in fact ignore the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” UOC chancellor Metropolitan Antony of Borispol and Brovary said in his interview posted on Thursday at the UOC website. He points out that the UOC is the major confession in Ukraine. As to the number of communities, this Church is one of the most numerous in the world. “So, we believe that our Church should be compulsory included in all possible negotiations on overcoming church schisms in Ukraine,” the metropolitan stressed. Thus, he commented on the recent visit to Ukraine carried out by the two Constantinople officials, when one of them backed up the idea to set up a local Orthodox Church in the country. Metropolitan Antony reminds that, according to the church canons, bishops of a local church can officially visit the territory of the other church only when it is approved by the church hierarchy working in the territory of the visit. Officials of the Constantinople Patriarchate did not coordinate their visit with UOC leaders. “Unfortunately, it is not the first time when bishops of the Constantinople Patriarchate visit Ukraine on Patriarch Bartholomew’s instruction, but they do not inform the Ukrainian Orthodox Church about the visits,” the hierarch said. He stressed that it is impossible to overcome church schism ignoring the only existing in Ukraine recognized Orthodox Church. “Experience shows that opening parallel structures of different local Churches on the same territory threatens both church and civil peace. We hope that in future leaders of the Ukrainian state and representatives of other local Churches will consider the position of hierarchs, clerics and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” the metropolitan said. |
| Archive Пн Appeal of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and Faithful, as of December 17, 2018 17 December 2018 year 16:39 On December 17, 2018, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has held an extraordinary session at the Kiev-Pechersky Laura of the Dormition. The Synod has adopted the following message to the archpastors, pastors, monastics and faithful: Your Eminences and Graces, Beloved in the Lord Fathers, Brothers and Sisters, On December 15, 2018, at the Sophia of Kiev National Preserve, the so-called uniting council was held to declare the establishment of a new church organization called ‘The Orthodox Church’. Its emergence resulted from the unification of the two uncanonical structures: ‘The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church’ and ‘The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate’. Thus, this gathering represents a union of schismatics and has nothing to do with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. For our Church, nothing has changed as the schismatics have remained in schism while the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has remained the true Church of Christ in Ukraine. Nobody in the world questions the validity of the episcopal and priestly ordinations of the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the gracefulness of the Sacraments celebrated in our Church – the fact that cannot be said of the newly created structure. We inform you with grief that the Holy Synod has had to relieve the Most Rev. Metropolitan Simeon of Vinnitsa and Bar of the administration over the diocese and to suspend the Most. Rev. Metropolitan Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky and Vishnev from his ministry. We call upon all of you, dear Eminences and Graces, Fathers, Brothers and Sisters, to pray for the above-mentioned persons and those who have diverted to the schism that they may come to reason and return to the bosom of the Church. Our Church, like a loving Mother, with hope awaits their return. Pitifully, among the initiators of today’s trials of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which argues for its right to interfere in our church affairs by asserting that our Church was once in its jurisdiction. |
| According to the head of the Opposition Bloc in the Verkhovna Rada, such actions are aimed at exerting pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church © Mikhail Palinchak/Press Office of the President of Ukraine/TASS KIEV, December 3. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) is questioning about 20 priests from the Rovno and Sarny Dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, head of the Opposition Bloc faction in the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) Vadim Novinsky said at a meeting of the Rada’s conciliation board. “At this very moment, SBU investigators are questioning about 20 priests from the Rovno and Sarny Dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” he said. According to Novinsky, such actions are aimed at exerting pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church “for one purpose – to compel the prelates of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to participate in the unification council of the so-called local church, which the people are already calling ‘the church of the Poroshenko Patriarchate’.” On Friday, agents from the Ukrainian spy agency conducted searches at the residence of Metropolitan Pavel, the head of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra (or the Kiev Monastery of the Caves), as well as in the monastery’s country farm located in the Voronkov settlement, in the Kiev Region. The SBU was investigating Metropolitan Pavel under a criminal code covering “violations of civil equality depending on ethnic or religious background, and incitement to religious hostility.” A booklet and Metropolitan Pavel’s international passport were seized during the searches. The Lavra’s head slammed the spy agency’s actions as political pressure on him. Ukrainian church crisis On October 11, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople confirmed its decision to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church, and revoked the 1686 decision on transferring the Kiev Metropolitanate under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. In addition, Constantinople lifted the anathema from the leaders of Ukraine’s two non-canonical churches, Filaret of the Kiev Patriarchate and Makary of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church. In response to these decisions, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church ruled on October 15 that full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was no longer possible. |
| Patriarchal condolences over demise of His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine. In the morning of July 5, His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, passed away in the Lord, aged 78. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia expressed his condolences to Metropolitan Onufry of Chernovtsy and Bukovina, Locum Tenens of the Metropolitan See of Kiev, to archpastors, pastors, monastics, and to all the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. His Eminence Onufry, Metropolitan of Chernovtsy and Bukovina, Locum Tenens of the Metropolitan See of Kiev, archpastors, pastors, monastics, and all the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Your Eminences and Your Graces, beloved in the Lord Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters, On the day of the demise of His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine, I express my deep and heartfelt condolences to the whole Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Words can hardly express what bereavement our Church suffers. I am grieving with all those who loved and honoured the deceased hierarch. Vladyka Vladimir and I had good, cordial relations for 49 years. I always remembered and appreciated that he had been among those who had laid hands on my head on the day of my episcopal consecration. We had close relations when we were rectors of the Moscow and St-Petersburg theological schools, when Metropolitan Vladimir served as the Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate, and especially when he headed the See of ancient Kiev, ‘mother of the Russian cities’. His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir was an outstanding hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church; he enjoyed love and respect of the multi-million Ukrainian flock. The Lord Himself, through the Holy Spirit and the election of hierarchs at the Kharkov Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 1992, granted to the Ukrainian Church a great primate and pastor in the person of His Beatitude Vladimir, having laid on his shoulders a hard cross of responsibility for the fate of Orthodoxy in Ukraine. Vladyka Vladimir accepted the cross with humbleness and carried it for 22 years with meekness and fortitude, in a most difficult period of the formation of the Ukrainian state. Many a time, vortices and tribulations of the world rose against the Ukrainian Church, threatening to sink the church ship, but each time, her steerer held the ship on her salutary course by his firm hand, helping the Church remain invincible and united. Preserving the church unity was on the main services of the deceased hierarch. He was working had, with wisdom and patience, to build the Ukrainian Church, protected her for schism, united bishops, clergymen, and laypeople. |
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