| Never has the call of the Third Ecumenical council been so relevant: “Let not the arrogance of worldly authority creep in under the guise of religious rites; and let us not little-by-little and imperceptibly lose that freedom our Lord Jesus Christ, the liberator of all human beings, has given us through His protection.” This news from December 30, 2012 clarifies the author’s above reference to priest John Privalov. Alexander Dvorkin: The The Kochetkovite movement needs to be given an unambiguous ecclesiastical evaluation The publication of critical materials concerning the activities of the head priest of the Meeting of the Lord Church in the village of Zaostrovie, Primorsky region, Archangelsk province, Priest John Privalov, a follower of the well-known priest Georgiy Kochetkov, has evoked real hysteria the “Kochetkovite” camp, writes the website Orthodoxy in the Northern Lands. Calling for help from the loyal media on their generous payroll, the Kochetkovites began a slander campaign against the ruling bishop of Archangelsk diocese Metropolitan Daniel (Dorovsky) and the clergy and parishioners of Archangelsk parishes. They are using all means available to them: direct slander, personal insults, and threats. In their blogs they are declaring all out war against Metropolitan Daniel and do not hide their intention to get him removed from his cathedra no matter what it takes. Notably, Kochetkov’s followers are working along a united front with Scientologists, who have already filed suit against the Archangelsk diocese, and have tried to discredit the ruling hierarch in paid news articles. We recall that Fr. John’s renovations led to a schism amongst the faithful—in fact all those parishioners who do not ascribe to the “Kochetkovite” teachings have been kicked out of the church. As a result, the local people have no church to attend in their own village, and the elderly and infirm who cannot freely travel to another parish are deprived of Divine Liturgy. Professor Alexander Dvorkin, the president of the Russian association of centers for the study of religions and sects, chairman of the Expert Council for religious studies at the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, has commented on the situation in an interview with Orthodoxy in the Northern Lands. |
| A large church dedicated to the Holy Archangel Michael was under construction for over a century. This church is incredibly important for spiritual life in Mordovia. The construction began in 1902 and in 1916 it stopped unfinished. Interestingly, the Venerable Filaret of Ichalki helped greatly with the construction of the church. The shrine with his holy relics is now kept at the Archangel Michael Church. What is absolutely amazing and unique in the history of the church is the fact that the construction was renewed when the Bolsheviks came to power. The church was closed, but right after the Great Patriotic War, it was returned to the faithful and the divine services have been held since. It was the largest church in the republic, until the construction of the Cathedral of St. Theodore Ushakov. In the 1960s, Father Vasily Gundyaev, the grandfather of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, and Archpriest Mikhail Gundyaev, the father of the current Patriarch, served and prayed at the church for several times. In 2011 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill blessed the completion of the construction of the church, i.e. the foundation of a bell-tower. The dome was consecrated by Metropolitan Zinovy of Saransk and Mordovia. This day became a huge even for the Ichalkovsky land. Many organizations even declared this day a holiday, because nearly all residents of the village wanted to attend the consecration of the dome. The villagers who attended the service remembered how their great-grandfathers began the construction of the Archangel Michael Church and talked about how our contemporaries managed to finish this great deed. Photos by Sergei Zetkin 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. 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. For example, 5 euros a month is it a lot or little? A cup of coffee? It is not that much for a family budget, but it is a significant amount for Pravmir. If everyone reading Pravmir could donate 5 euros a month, they would contribute greatly to our ability to spread the word of Christ, Orthodoxy, life " s purpose, family and society. Also by this author Today " s Articles Most viewed articles Functionality is temporarily unavailable. Most popular authors Functionality is temporarily unavailable. © 2008-2024 Pravmir.com |
| Archive Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and Archbishop Antony of Vienna and Budapest consecrate the Church of Archangel Michael in Laa an der Thaya in Austria 1 October 2018 year 10:06 On 30 September 2018, 18 th Sunday after Pentecost, afterfeast of the Elevation of the Cross, commemoration day of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their Mother Sophia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, while in Austria upon the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and Archbishop Antony of Vienna and Budapest, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administration for Institutions Abroad, consecrated the Church of Archangel Michael in the town of Laa an der Thaya in Austria. The church was built at the burial place of the Soviet soldiers who had died there during World War II. The hierarchs celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church. Concelebrating with them were Archimandrite Agafor (Markevich) from the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius; Archpriest Vladimir Tyschiuk, rector of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Vienna; Hieromonk Ioann (Kopeykin), pro-rector for advancement of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies; and Archdeacon Viktor Shilovsky, a cleric of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Vienna. After the Liturgy Archbishop Antony of Vienna and Budapest cordially greeted Metropolitan Hilarion who had laid the foundation of the Church of Archangel Michael while serving as the ruling hierarch of the diocese of Vienna and Austria. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk expressed his joy over an opportunity to visit Austria and take part in the consecration of the church, saying in particular: “Today we have prayed for all those buried here, for our soldiers buried in this land. There are over 200 military graves in the Austrian land, and over 4 thousand in the neighbouring Germany. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers laid down their lives here so that we could have the peaceful skies above our heads. We believe that through their heroic deeds they gained the everlasting life, and pray for them as for heroes who laid down their lives for the sake of others, thus fulfilling the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| Accept The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy Delegation of abbots and abbesses of the Coptic Church visits holy sites of Niznhy Novgorod metropolia On 16 th – 19 th September 2019, while in Russia on a pilgrimage, a delegation of abbots, abbesses and nuns from the monasteries and convents of the Coptic Church visited a number of churches, monasteries and historical sites in the territory of the Niznhy Novgorod metropolia. On 16 th September, the delegation arrived in the Convent of the Holy Trinity and St. Seraphim in Diveyevo and venerated its shrines: the wonderworking “Eleousa” Icon of the Mother of God and the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov and of the venerable and blessed women of Diveyevo. The guests from Egypt also walked in a prayerful procession along the Holy Canal of the Theotokos and visited St. Seraphim’s spring not far from the convent. In the evening they met with Hegumenness Sergiya (Konkova), abbess of the Diveyeo abode, and the sisters. On 17 th September, while in the Diveyevo convent, the delegation members attended the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. After the service and repast, Hegumenness Sergiya told the guests about the present-day life of the abode and the obediences of the Diveyevo nuns. That same day the delegation members visited the convent’s Skete of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus. On 18 th September the representatives of the Coptic Church arrived in the city of Arzamas. There they visited the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection and the Convent of St. Nicholas, where they were warmly greeted by its abbess, Hegumenness Filareta (Shevchenko). That same day the delegation arrived in Nizhny Novgorod, where they visited the ancient kremlin and the Church of Archangel Michael – the oldest church in the city, as well as the Ascension Monastery of the Caves. The pilgrims also visited the Cathedral of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky and the residence of Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, where they met with the head of the Nizhny Novgorod metropolia. The archpastor asked the guests to convey his greetings and warm wishes to the Primate of the Coptic Church and expressed his hope for further successful and fruitful development of the bilateral relations between the two Churches, and between representatives of the Russian and Coptic monasticism in particular. |
| Archive Diocesan council of Tulchyn diocese under the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate condemns acts of radicals from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine after the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew to Ukraine 8 September 2021 year 14:43 On 7th September an extraordinary session of the diocesan council of the Tulchyn diocese under the Ukrainian Orthodox Church took place in Tulchyn. It was attended by the deans of ecclesiastical areas as well as the deputy abbot of the Tyshkov Holy Dormition monastery archimandrite Amphilochius (Vasilievsky) and the mother superior of the Chechelnyk Convent of the Archangel Michael abbess Seraphima (Smaglo). The members of the diocesan council heard the reason why fake legal documents became the basis for conflict in the village of Krasnoselka in the Bershad region of the Tulchyn diocese of the UOC. For information: The diocesan administration of the Tulchyn diocese of the UOC received information from the dean of the Bershad ecclesiastical area (Haisyn region in Vinnitsa) archpriest Oleg Murakhovsky that stated that on 3rd September upon the territory of the Krasnoselka church building of the UOC, earlier sealed off by the police, radicals from the non-canonical OCU, led by ‘priest’ Rostislav Protsanin and one Sergei Yarko, removed the lock on the door of one of church’s out buildings in which the community of the UOC was holding a service. At the same time there were two police cars standing by the church building ‘in order to maintain public order.’ It was only after Fr. Oleg Murakhovsky phoned the ministry of the interior hotline that statements were taken down. According to the deputy chairman of the Bershad administration Hechitailo the latter had an ‘oral order from the authorities’ to secure the ‘correct’ decision on the issue of the church building. According to sources from the OCU there was no seizure of the church building as they have in their possession a resolution from the supreme court of Ukraine (no.61-7647 21, dated 5th June 2021) that states that the UOC church in Krasnoselka belongs to the ‘Krasnoselka religious community of the UOC’, which was artificially created by the local authorities on an incline of part of the inhabitants of the village. |
| Originally, seven deacons were chosen and their duties were twofold. First they had the responsibility of gathering the food and other goods which were brought to the Church as offerings, and of distributing these donations as the philanthropy of the entire community to the needy whom the Church supported. It was also their duty to prepare for the Eucharistic gatherings and the common meals in which the whole Church participated. Consequently, the deacon’s role was both to extend the Church’s charity to those who required it and to lead the people in the liturgical gatherings. This idea of serving at tables very early influenced their comparison to angels, for just as the angels serve God, deacons serve the heavenly banquet of the holy Church. Consequently the form and design of diaconal vestments reflect not only their comparison to angels, but also the practicality of their service at the altar and their relationship to the bishop. Because of this, the deacon’s stole (orar), with which he binds himself before approaching the Holy Table at the Anaphora, is often compared to the wings of the angels. So too both the deacon’s stole and cuffs are often stamped with the words: Holy, Holy, Holy, – the hymn which the angels sing as they surround the throne of God. Seraphic representations are used on all the diaconal vestments to signify the seraphic ministry at the heavenly Throne. The deacon’s stikhar originated from the dalmatic, a form of tunic with large sleeves that came into use in the second century. Although it became the informal uniform for high officials and in the West by the fourth century was worn by important bishops, it was adopted as a normal dress by the seven regionary deacons of Rome. Significantly, deacons by that time, because of their role as ministers of charity for the Church, had already become superintendents of the whole poor relief system of the city and the estates which formed its endowment; and their duties were becoming administrative and financial rather than religious. The deacon’s stikhar (robe), moreover, is a longer version of the bishop’s sakkos, signifying his relationship to the bishop. The primary function of the deacon as server at the altar is manifest architecturally as well in that the north and south doors leading to the sanctuary are called Deacon’s Doors. They are traditionally adorned by icons of the Archdeacons Stephen and Laurence and/or the Archangels Michael and Gabriel dressed in diaconal vestments. |
| Archive Provocations against communities of Ukrainian Orthodox Church take place in five villages in Bukovina 25 February 2019 year 21:17 On 24 February 2019, activists of the so-called OCU organized provocations in the five villages of the diocese of Chernovtsy and Bukovina – Berezhnitsa, Berezhonka, Zadubrovka, Vaslovtsy and Tovtry. As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported, citing the Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, activists of the schismatic structure were brought to Berezhnitsa village in ten cars. The head of the village council tried to pacify the newcomers and asked them to observe the laws. The faithful of the canonical Church were at the time reading the Psalter and praying to the Most Holy Theotokos at the gates. Earlier, at 5 a.m., the rector of the church, Fr. Konstantin, celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the parishioners and read out the akathist to the Holy Archangel Michael. The community members were praying that peace be restored in the village. In Berezhonka village the OCU activists tried to carry out an illegal meeting. “Some ten policemen have arrived. Peace is still kept. The religious community is praying in the territory of the church. Activists are peacefully communicating in the street. A missionary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Fr. Ioann Verenko, has come. He is disputing with those interested on the religious situation in Ukraine,” some of the eyewitnesses reported. In Zadubrovka village supporters of the newly-created church structure arrived at 11 a.m. While waiting for an “OCU pastor,” they unfolded provocative placards, brought loudspeakers and started shouting at Fr. Leonid, rector of the church of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, inciting religious hatred. Fr. Leonid, together with the parishioners of the Church of the Holy Archangel Michael, was celebrating the Divine Liturgy. After the service everybody stayed inside the church, praying. The police was called. To a church in Vaslovtsy village the OCU representatives came at noon. Some fifty people demanded to be let in the Church of the Holy Dormition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in order to “celebrate a service.” The activists brought three OCU “priests” with them. The faithful of the canonical Church continued to pray inside the church. Someone called the police. |
| The Russian Museum and Park Complex By a decree of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev a museum and park complex was built on the central street of Jericho, which is adjoined by another Russian plot—Joasaph plot—which was obtained by the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society in 1883 and returned in 1994. On the territory of the park, among the plants mentioned in the Bible the giant Zacchaeus’ fig tree (ficus-sycomorus) still bears fruit. The finds of the joint Russian-Palestinian archeological expedition dating from the first century B.C. to the eighteenth century A.D. are displayed at the museum. Among them are Jewish, Byzantine, Roman, Muslim coins, dishes, household items, church vessels, and sixth-century Byzantine mosaics. On the basis of the discovered artefacts the archeologists have suggested that a monastery may have existed on the site of Joasaph plot. The locals have grown fond of the park: newlyweds come here to have their photos taken, and the street was named after a Russian politician. The Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael The distance from Jericho to the Jordan River is seven kilometers (c. 4.35 miles). On the way you’ll find the Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael, where St. Zosimas of Palestine lived in the sixth century. According to a tradition of the Middle East monasteries, monks used to retreat for the period of the Lenten fast to the desert or caves for more intensive ascetic labors and return (not all would come back—some could die) a week before Easter, on Palm Sunday. Following this rule, Monk Zosimas once retired to the wilderness where he met St. Mary of Egypt , a former harlot who through the power of her repentance achieved sanctity and told elder Zosimas her own story. The Monastery of St. Gerasimus of the Jordan There is also the Monastery of St. Gerasimus of the Jordan in the Jordan Valley. It was founded in the fifth century around the cave where the Holy Family stopped on their way to Egypt. An ancient fresco depicting Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, and St. Joseph the Betrothed has survived in the lower church-cave. St. Cyriacus the Hermit, mentioned above, was among the disciples of St. Gerasimus. About the year 575, these places were visited by the Byzantine monks John Moschus and Sophronius (afterwards a patriarch) of Jerusalem—they jotted down on papyrus numerous accounts of monks, hermits, anchorites, and laypeople and then compiled a book based on these stories, The Spiritual Meadow . |
| The Archbishop requested that his gratitude be conveyed to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill for his recognition of the autocephalous status of the Macedonian Orthodox Church of the Archdiocese of Ohrid and expressed the hope that in God’s good time he would be able to concelebrate with the Patriarch of Russia. After the service the bishops and clergy venerated the relics in the church of Saint Gabriel of the Holy Mountain and bishop of Velica. Receiving the Russian delegation in the guest hall of the monastery, the metropolitan of Bregalnica Hilarion warmly thanked the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Anthony for visiting the renowned ancient monastery and requested that his deep gratitude be conveyed to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church for his love of Macedonia and for the great deed of recognizing the autocephalous status of the Macedonian Orthodox Church of the Archdiocese of Ohrid. In his reply the chairman of the DECR said that we would forever keep in his heart memories of the monastery and that its remarkable holy objects and wonderful frescoes would forever be linked in his memory of how it was in this monastery that he first had the opportunity to concelebrate with Macedonian bishops at the Divine Liturgy: “We prayed that this day would come, we laboured in as far as we could for this, and we are happy that today we have become participants in this feast of faith.” Metropolitan Anthony thanked metropolitan Hilarion for his love and hospitality and also congratulated him on his fiftieth birthday by presenting him with a gift of an encolpion of the mother of God. Then the guests of the Russian Orthodox Church, headed by the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Anthony, were invited to a monastic repast, after which they viewed the sites of the monastery, in particular the memorial museum of Saint Gabriel of Velica, as well as the graves of Russian monks who lived and prayed here in the twentieth century. Lesnovo monastery is located between the cities of Kratovo and Zletovo in the Republic of North Macedonia. According to tradition, the monastery was founded in the eleventh century by the Venerable Gabriel of Lesnovo. The monastery enjoyed the patronage of Dušan the Mighty, King of Serbia and the Greeks, during whose reign in 1342 a stone cathedral church was built in the monastery dedicated to the Archangel Michael and adorned with frescoes that are famous throughout the world. A number of renowned literary monuments were made within the wall of Lesnovo monastery, including the Synaxarium and Menaion of 1342 and the Paraneisotis of 1353. |
| 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. |
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