| The Crimean war. The key to conflict Source: The Economist Last time war broke out over Crimea, the consequences were terrible; about 750,000 soldiers died, plus countless civilians. And the immediate causes were religious. It’s a surreal story, one of the most extraordinary cases in history of religious differences being exploited for strategic and geopolitical ends. It all began with a Franco-Russian dispute over a grotto in Bethlehem, traditionally revered as birthplace of the Prince of Peace. Since the mid-18th century, Orthodox Russia had been citing treaties to insist strongly on its role as the protector of its co-religionists, and of Christian holy places, under the Ottoman sultan’s rule. Thanks to the warm relations between the Greek clergy and their Ottoman overlords, the Orthodox already controlled the lion’s share of Christian sites in the Holy Land. But this was challenged in the mid-19th century by France, whose Emperor Napoleon III was trying to extend Catholic influence in the region. Things came to a head in 1852 at the Church of Nativity. The key to the main door had been held for centuries by Greek Orthodox monks; the Latin or Catholic monks had to content themselves with the key to a lesser, inner door. There was also a dispute over a silver star with Latin inscriptions, marking what was believed to be the exact site of Christ’s birth; the Greek monks had apparently taken it away, and the French wanted a silver star re-installed. Napoleon III hoped to take over from Russia as the steward of the region’s Christians and Christian sites, which would duly come under Catholic control. To concentrate the Ottomans’ minds, France sent a massive warship up the Dardanelles. This duly convinced the sultan—only for a furious Russia, exerting massive pressure, to persuade the Ottomans to switch back in favour of the Orthodox. Russian religious diplomacy in the 19th century was both flexible and single-minded. It favoured Christians over Muslims (without precluding periods of good relations with the Ottomans); Orthodox Christians over Western Christians; and Arab Orthodox Christians over the Greeks. As Franco-Russian conflict loomed, Britain tried to negotiate a compromise that would give satisfaction to the Orthodox over the immediate points at issue while guaranteeing Catholic access to Bethlehem and the other holy places. But the momentum towards war was already unstoppable, and Britain was drawn in on the French side. Of course there was a broader strategic background to the war: competition for the spoils of the Ottoman empire which was perceived to be in inexorable decline, and over strategic routes and waterways. But to anyone who is spoiling for a fight, no catalyst will work as well as a good old sectarian squabble. |
| Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia and Hieromonk Gabriel (Bunge) concelebrate All-Night Vigil with Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk at the church of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Icon of the Mother of God Moscow, August 28, 2010 On 27 August 2010, the eve of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiate at the All-Night Vigil at the church of the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Icon in Bolshaya Ordynka Street in Moscow. Concelebrating were Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia, a vicar of Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain (Patriarchate of Constantinople), president of the “The Friends of Mount Athos” charity society, clerics of the church, and a well-known Swiss theologian, Hieromonk Gabriel (Bunge) who became Orthodox before the divine service. Many parishioners worshipped at the church together with the members of “The Friends of Mount Athos” representing Great Britain, the USA, Greece and other countries. The object of the society is to promulgate knowledge about monastic tradition and the Holy Mountain and, promote restoration of the monasteries there, and to attract pilgrims. The delegation is on a visit to Russia with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The pilgrims venerated holy sites in Uglich, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov the Great, Nizhniy Novgorod, Gorodets, Kalyazin, and the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius. After the divine service, Metropolitan Hilarion addressed his archpastoral words to the worshippers, congratulating them on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God. He said: “Today we glorify her Dormition and contemplate our life and death. Our life on the earth should be full, spiritual and divine, while our death should not be a tragic event, but a natural passing to life eternal; it should be dormition, rather than death. By her tomb that emanates grace, peace and love, the Most Holy Mother of God testifies that the mortals can pass from death to life, from sin to grace, from human life to divine life. |
| Archive Bishops of Serbian Orthodox Church attended celebrations in Pskov Monastery of the Caves 29 August 2019 year 18:02 On August 22, 2019, with a blessing of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, a group of bishops and clergy of the Serbian Patriarchate made a pilgrimage to shrines in the Russian North. The group included Bishop Irinej of Bac; Bishop Anthony of Moravici, rector of the Moscow representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church; Bishop Isihije of Mohacs, vicar of the Diocese of Bac; and Archpriest Vladan Simic, secretary of the Diocese of Bac. The guests were accompanied by Yu. Khoshev, secretariat for inter-Orthodox relations, Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations (DECR). From August 23-26, the pilgrims were on a visit to the Valamo Monastery of the Transfiguration, in which they venerated the monastery’s shrines and visited the monastic hermitages, and on August 25, the day of the Synaxis of the Valamo Saints, Bishop Irinej celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the monastery’s Cathedral of the Transfiguration. On August 26 and 27, the Serbian guests were in Pskov. They venerated the shrines of the Cathedral of the Trinity and saw some historical sites of the city. They also visited the Mirozhi Monastery of the Transfiguration and saw churches and historical sites in the city of Izborsk. On August 27, Bishop Irinej and his party arrived in the Pskov-Caves Monastery of the Dormition in which they were warmly welcomed the Metropolitan Tikhon of Pskov and Porkhov and the brethren of the monastic community. On August 28, the monastery’s patronal feast day, Bishops Irinej, Anthony and Isihij concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Hilario of Volokolamsk, head of the DECR, and Metropolitan Tikhon. The service was attended by a great number of the faithful and held in the square at the Cathedral of Archangel Michael. In conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Tikhon as head of the Metropolis of Pskov and abbot of the Pskov-Caves Monastery warmly welcomed the guests from the Serbian Orthodox Church. Addressing the head of the DECR, he said in particular, ‘The years of your youth were passed here in the Pskov-Caves Monastery among other places… We are very glad that after decades you have returned here and we pray the Most Holy Mother of God that She, on her special day, may give you special strength, joy and peace – all that She so abundantly gives to every sincere heart that comes to Her, especially on the days of Her great feasts. We are soliciting you prayers and will always be delighted to see you in the Pskov-Caves Monastery’. He also greeted the hierarchs of the Serbian Church and asked for their holy prayers, expressing gratitude for their coming on that very day. |
| Egyptian monks visit holy sites in Tver and Novgorod Dioceses Source: DECR Pravmir.com team 02 September 2021 Photo: mospat.ru On August 26-28, 2021, a delegation of the abbots and monks from the monasteries of the Coptic Church, on a pilgrimage in Russia, visited churches and monasteries in the Tver and Novgorod dioceses. On August 26 they arrived in Tver, where they had a meeting with Metropolitan Amvrosy of Tver and Kashin, visited the cathedral church of the Resurrection of Christ, the church of the Life-Giving Trinity and got acquainted with the restoration works of the cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord, one of the oldest churches in Tver, the history of which dates back to the end of the 12th century and which was destroyed in 1935. The guests also visited the “Tver Travel Palace” museum complex exhibiting many articles related to the history of Orthodoxy in the Tver land. Metropolitan Amvrosy gave a reception at the Tver diocesan administration in honour of the delegation from Egypt. Attending the reception was Irina N. Aksyonova, the head of the Tver branch of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society and rector of Tver “Verkhnevolzhye” Institute. Addressing the participants with his warm greetings, the archpastor mentioned his visit to Egypt in May 2019 at the head of a delegation of teachers and students of the Moscow Theological Academy within the framework of the Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church. Vladyka Amvrosy awarded a medal (1st class) of St. Simeon, the first Bishop of Tver, to Anton Milad, special representative of the Coptic Patriarchate and a member of the delegation, in recognition of his significant contribution to the development of Russian and Egyptian spiritual traditions and in connection with his 70th birthday. Irina N. Aksyonova read out a message of greetings from the IOPS Chairman Sergey V. Stepashin to the visiting representatives of Pope and Patriarch Tawadros II of the Coptic Church. |
| Georadar research of ancient monasteries of Northern Russia completed April 2, 2013 Georadar research has been completed on the territory of ancient Monasteries in the Kargopol district (the Arkhangelsk region in Russia). The research was conducted by the preservation of historical heritage “Emperor” fund with support of the fund, “Severny krai” (Northern regions). Work has been carried out in the St. Alexander of Oshevensk and St. Kirill of Chelmogorsk Monasteries, as well as in the town of Kargopol. The researchers believe that results may prove sensational. Metropolitan Daniel of Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory, the head of the administration of the Kargopol district Andrei Egorov, organizers of georadar research, heads of settlements, heads of government institutions and businessmen of Kargopol took part in the press conference devoted to this event. Metropolitan Daniel noted that these ancient places of the north are holy places. “Not so many holy sites have remained in Russia,” said the Hierarch. “And pain remains in the heart. This is the Russia that we have lost… Our first task is to take the Orthodox faith from our ancestors, to preserve it and to pass it on to future generations. When you see that you have failed to preserve it, to pass it on, then you begin to worry for future of the country”. Vladimir Stanulevich, the secretary of the Board of Trusties of the Emperor fund, informed that the results of research in the St. Alexander of Oshevensk Monastery may turn out to be a scientific sensation. “An object has been discovered there and its characteristics require more precise definition. We will get the final answer in a couple of months. We hope it proves to be a scientific discovery not only on the district level, but also on the regional and the national level on the whole,” stressed Vladimir Stanulevich. A number of objects have been discovered with georadar and there is a strong possibility that they are burial sites. It is still impossible to conclude whether or not they are the graves of saints. |
| Iran Has Talked With Syria Over Christian Suffering Source: Assyrian International News Agency Natalya Mihailova 18 September 2017 Iran " s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani expressed regret at the suffering of Christians in Syria, saying he has held political talks to resolve their problems. Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani Speaking at a church in Iran’s northwestern city of Oroumiyeh on Sunday, Larijani deplored the pressure that Christian people have come under in various parts of the region, as in Syria. Expressing concern about the destruction of holy Christian sites in Syria and imprisonment of Christians by terrorist groups, the Iranian speaker said he has held talks with Syrian officials to solve the problems the country’s Christian people are suffering from. “We should all join hands to rid the region of the plague of terrorism,” he further underlined. Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (ISIL), controlling parts of it. According to a report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders. Tweet Donate Share Code for blog Iran Has Talked With Syria Over Christian Suffering Natalya Mihailova Speaking at a church in Iran " s northwestern city of Oroumiyeh on Sunday, Larijani deplored the pressure that Christian people have come under in various parts of the region, as in Syria. Expressing concern about the destruction of holy Christian sites in Syria and imprisonment of Christians ... 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. Having said that, Pravmir provides daily articles from an autonomous news service, weekly wall newspaper for churches, lectorium, photos, videos, hosting and servers. Editors and translators work together towards one goal: to make our four websites possible - Pravmir.ru, Neinvalid.ru, Matrony.ru and Pravmir.com. Therefore our request for help is understandable. |
| KLA graffiti appear on gate of Serb Orthodox monastery Source: B92 Natalya Mihailova 26 April 2014 GRAANICA -- A graffiti reading " UCK " - Albanian for " KLA " , the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army - appeared on the gate of the Visoki Deani Monastery early on Friday. This is according to a statement issued by the Eparchy of Raška and Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC). The 14th century Serbian monastery is located in western Kosovo and is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. “This is the latest in a series of similar provocations by Albanian extremists who previously wrote messages containing hate speech on the church wall in akovica, after which similar writings appeared on the facades of Serb houses in Orahovac,” the Eparchy said. This time, extremists wrote on the very gate of the Visoki Deani Monastery, only a dozen metres from the KFOR’s Italian checkpoint, according to the statement. The Eparchy of Raška and Prizren noted that this act constitutes an open threat to the Visoki Deani Monastery and its brotherhood. The Eparchy recalled that armed Albanian extremists attacked the monastery on four occasions “in the course of the so-called 15 years of international peace in Kosovo and Metohija,” and the monastery brotherhood received threats several times. The Eparchy noted that the latest threat and provocation is “a consequence of the nationalist rhetoric which has been spreading through the local Albanian-language media against the monastery where monks provided assistance to Albanian refugees and refugees of other ethnicities during the war.” The latest incident is also an indicator that the safety of holy sites in Kosovo and Metohija is still in jeopardy, even when guarded by KFOR, the Eparchy said. Abbot Archimandrite Sava of Visoki Deani wrote to international representatives about the latest incident and called on them to reinforce protection measures at the monastery which has been on UNESCO list since 2005. “Although such provocations pose jeopardy for the safety of monks and Orthodox believers, as well as numerous tourists from around the world, they are most detrimental to Kosovo which remains the only area in Europe where Christian monuments and holy sites are still in jeopardy,” the Eparchy noted. |
| Patriarch Irinej Of The Serbian Orthodox Church: Europe Is Not More Important Than People admin 07 May 2013 May 4, 2013 Any autonomy of Kosovo-Metohija is acceptable, even the broadest one, but a de facto recognition of the unilaterally proclaimed statehood and independence of the province is not, said Patriarch Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), Tanjug Reported. Whatever happens in the future, the SPC will survive and stay with its people and holy sites in Kosovo-Metohija, as it has been doing for centuries, he said. “In the long run, it is more important for the state’s stability and survival that a solution for the issue of Kosovo-Metohija be grounded in the Constitution than anyone’s stand, even that of the SPC. We must not violate our own Constitution. The government has our full support to find the best possible solution for the Serbs and (ethnic) Albanians in Kosovo-Metohija to live alongside each other by adhering to the highest law,” the Patriarch said to Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti. Patriarch Irinej underscores that the SPC’s stance on the future of the province is unchanged, and that Serbia’s EU path, which the SPC also backs, cannot be paid by giving up on Kosovo-Metohija. “As regards Europe, by defending Kosovo-Metohija, the holy sites that are as numerous there as stars in the summer sky, we, I am convinced, are defending today the greatest values of European civilization,” he said. According to the Patriarch, we can see that EU member states do not have a unanimous position on the issue of Kosovo-Metohija either, and that Serbia’s integration process, given the political and economic reality of today, will be a lengthy one, and could even take two decades. “We must be even more consistent in respecting ourselves and our dignity. I hope that our state leadership will be able to find bridges toward Europe that will ensure the peaceful and stable development of our society and people,” the Patriarch said. “On the other hand, there have been centuries-old bridges toward the brotherly people of great Russia, which are, thank God, always open to us,” Patriarch Irinej said. |
| Photo Credit: Subdeacon Roman Ostash His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and a delegation from the Orthodox Church in America were the guests of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland from August 17 through 22, 2018. The visit marked the first official visit to the Orthodox Church of Poland by Metropolitan Tikhon since his election and enthronement as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America in November 2012. Accompanying Metropolitan Tikhon were His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West, Archpriests Daniel Andrejuk and Alexander Rentel, Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak, and Subdeacon Roman Ostash. Metropolitan Tikhon and the members of the OCA delegation were familiarized with the vibrant life of the Polish Church through visits to numerous parishes, monasteries and other Church sites, especially in the country’s northeastern and south central regions, where there are many centers of Orthodox Christian life. The highlight of the visit occurred as Metropolitan Tikhon and the delegation participated in the annual pilgrimage to the Monastery of Saints Martha and Mary on the Holy Mountain of Grabarka, which coincided with the Great Feast of the Transfiguration August 18-19. The pilgrimage attracts thousands of faithful from across Poland and beyond, many of whom arrive at the monastery’s gates after walking several days from their home towns. Metropolitan Tikhon concelebrated the festal Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Sawa and Archbishop Benjamin, the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Church of Poland, delegation members, and dozens of clergy. Metropolitan Tikhon addresses pilgrims. At the conclusion of the pilgrimage Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Tikhon addressed the faithful and was greeted with warm words of welcome by Metropolitan Sawa, which appear below. In the days following the pilgrimage, Metropolitan Tikhon and the OCA delegation visited numerous parishes, monasteries and related sites in the Dioceses of Warsaw, Bialystok and Lublin, where they were greeted by the local hierarchs and faithful. Prior to their return to the United States, Metropolitan Tikhon and the OCA delegation, accompanied by Metropolitan Sawa, were received at Warsaw’s Presidential Palace, where in the absence of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, they were welcomed by Minister Pawel Mucha, Deputy Head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland. Metropolitan Tikhon anoints faithful. |
| Russian, Serbian patriarchs criticize Serbian government July 17, 2013 The patriarch called for help of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian government in the preservation of Kosovo and Metohija, leveling criticism at the Serbian authorities. Irinej underlined that Serbia must not renounce Kosovo and Metohija, because that would imply renouncing our history, culture, spirituality and holy sites. “The current government is under considerable influence of the West. The Church is doing all in its power to bind their consciousness to the powerful Russian history and the Russian Church,” the Serbian patriarch said. “Russia’s stance on Kosovo and Metohija is influential. Therefore, I ask you and, through you, the state leadership to help us solve this issue and thus preserve Kosovo and Metohija,” he added. Patriarch Kirill reiterated that the Russian Orthodox Church agrees with the stands of the SPC in terms of Kosovo and Metohija, and he also criticized Serbia’s political leadership. “I regret to say that Serbia’s political leaders lack courage to take the same stands. I believe that the political leadership should consider the stands of the SPC and not ignore them, let alone to do that publicly,” the Russian Patriarch said at the meeting. Patriarch Kirill “reacted positively to the request of Patriarch Irinej,” Tanjug reported. “We are offering our unreserved support to the SPC righteous position in terms of Kosovo-Metohija and we will remain in the dialogue with leaders of Russia and other countries in defending the stance that we are sharing with the SPC,” the Russian patriarch said. “In creating of a model for solving the Kosovo and Metohija issue, the SPC would have to be included, and an acceptable model would have to provide firm guarantees for the survival of the Serb community and preservation of Serb holy sites in Kosovo and Metohija,” said Kirill. The Russian Orthodox Church will continue to collect funds for the reconstruction of Serb churches and monasteries in Kosovo, the Russian patriarch said. |
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