| Baptizer of Rus’ commemorated on Phuket Island Source: DECR Natalya Mihailova 31 July 2015 On July 28, 2015, the commemoration day of St Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles, the millennium of his repose was marked in Thailand. In accordance with the clergy’s joint decision, the celebrations took place at the Parish of the Life-Giving Trinity on Phuket Island. All-Night Vigil celebrated on the eve of the feast was followed on the feast day itself by the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand. He was assisted by the clergy of the ROC Representation serving in several churches in Thailand and Cambodia. Photo: https://mospat.ru The combined choir of the Orthodox parishes in Thailand sang, conducted by Ms Xenia Bychkova, and the children’s choir of the church of the Ascension in Samui, conducted by Ms. Maria Golovina. Before the service, an icon of St. Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles, painted by the representation’s iconographer Rev. Roman Bychkov, was consecrated. The Gospel and the Acts were read in Slavonic and Thai. After the Reading of the Gospel, Father Oleg read out the Massage of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia issued on the occasion of the millennium of St. Vladimir’s repose, and after the Dismissal he addressed the congregations, greeting them on the occasion and thanking them all for their work for the good of the Holy Church. He also presented church awards to some clergy of the Representation. After that, a thanksgiving to St. Vladimir was celebrated and a procession with the cross was made around the church. Later that day, there was a presentation of the new book Prince Vladimir the Red Sun in its Russian and Thai versions. In conclusion of the celebrations, a festive dinner was given by the Parish of the Trinity for the clergy and parishioners, the website of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand reports. Tweet Donate Share Code for blog Baptizer of Rus’ commemorated on Phuket Island |
| His Holiness Patriarch Kirill greets Patriarch Irinej with the fifth anniversary of his ascension to the patriarchal throne Source: DECR Natalya Mihailova 24 January 2015 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent the following message to His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, greeting him with the fifth anniversary of his enthronement: Your Holiness, beloved brother and concelebrant at God’s Throne: I cordially greet you with the fifth anniversary of your election to the Throne of the Archbishops of Pe, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Patriarchs of Serbia. Your have been carrying on your shoulders a heavy cross of primatial ministry for five years. As the spiritual father of the Serbian people, you tirelessly exert your efforts to the rooting of your large flock in Orthodoxy so that they keep faithfulness to the time-honoured traditions and be ‘fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God’ (Col 1:10). With warm recollections of our fraternal meetings in Belgrade I prayerfully wish you peace, gracious strengthening of your health and bountiful divinely help in your future labours to the glory of the Holy Serbian Orthodox Church. With brotherly love in the Lord, + KIRILL Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Tweet Donate Share Code for blog His Holiness Patriarch Kirill greets Patriarch Irinej with the fifth anniversary of his ascension to the patriarchal throne Natalya Mihailova Your Holiness, beloved brother and concelebrant at God’s Throne: I cordially greet you with the fifth anniversary of your election to the Throne of the Archbishops of Pe, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Patriarchs of Serbia. Your have been carrying on your shoulders a heavy cross of ... 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. |
| The Working Group on Church Unity Meets as the Fifth Anniversary of the Signing of the Act of Canonical Communion Approaches November 17, 2011 On November 17, 2011, the first meeting was held in Moscow by the working group on Church unity as the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion approaches. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate hosted the meeting, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion of Volokolamsk. This body was formed by His Holiness at the request of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Participating in this meeting were the following group members: His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and Great Britain, Vice President of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia; His Eminence Archbishop Feofan of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR (via internet link); His Eminence Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA; His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Egorievsk, Head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administration of Institutions Abroad; His Grace Bishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe (ROCOR); Protopriest Nikolai Balashov, Vice President of the DECR; Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff, Head of the Office of Inter-Orthodox Relations of ROCOR; Protopriest Serafim Gan, Chancellor of Administration of the Synod of Bishops and Personal Secretary of the First Hierarch of ROCOR; Hegumen Savva (Tutunov), Vice President of the Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate, Director of the Deputy Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate, and Protopriest Andrew Phillips, member of the Diocesan Court of Great Britain of ROCOR. Opening the meeting, Metropolitan Ilarion noted the enormous significance of the reunification of the Church in the Homeland and Abroad which took place on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord in May, 2007, for ecclesiastical and national life. The names of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus of ROCOR, the archpastor added, will always be preserved with gratitude by the people of God, and they will enter history as those who reestablished unity within the Church after decades of separation. |
| The Enthronement of His Grace Irenei Bishop of Sacramento On Sunday the 4 th of December, 2016, on the Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, His Eminence KYRILL Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America visited Holy Ascension Church of Sacramento, CA, and enthroned a new Vicar, His Grace IRENEI Bishop of Sacramento, in his city and vicariate. Local clergy and parishioners along with many guests greeted His Grace Bishop Irenei on Sunday morning with a tradition peel from the belfry and bread and salt. After His Grace was vested in the center of the church, His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill presided over the Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating with him were Bishop Irenei of Sacramento, Archpriest Paul Volmensky (Rector), Archpriest James Steele of St. Elias Church in Diamond Springs, CA, Archpriest Steven Tumbas of St. Sava Church (Serbian Archdiocese) in Jackson, CA, Hieromonk Paisius who represented St. Herman of Alaska Monastery (Serbian Archdiocese) in Platina, CA, Hierodeacon Peter (Karakozoff), Deacon Nicholai Lenkoff, Deacon Edward Anderson, Deacon Timothy Winegar (OCA) and Deacon Nicholas Stoltz. Holy Ascension Church was filled to overflowing and the faithful communed from two chalices due to the multitude of children that were brought by their parents for the Feast Day of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill officially enthroned His Grace Bishop Irenei in the City of Sacramento. The ceremony began with a “Molebin Before the Beginning of Every Good Work,” as prayers were raised up the health, salvation of soul and good success of Bishop Irenei. At the conclusion of the molebin Archbishop Kyrill pronounced the following words instating His Grace Bishop Ireniei: “Your Grace Bishop Irenei, honorable fathers, brothers and sisters, we have just prayed earnestly that the Holy Spirit would send down grace upon the omophorian, upon the shoulders, of a new bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church. We believe that you, your Grace, will bear your achpastoral duty with glory, with purity, while executing the laws of the Church of Christ for your flock and for all of those who will come to you asking for your prayers and for your spiritual help. On this day and before this flock we confirm you as the newly-chosen Bishop of Sacramento. Axios! ” |
| Program created to save a unique cave monastery in Georgia Tbilisi, September 7, 2014 The Georgian government has resolved to start a project to save the cave monastery complex of Vardzia in the Samche-Javaheti region, reports Novosti-Gruzia . Multidisciplinary research and a number of projects are scheduled for the first stage. 570,000 Georgian Lari (about have been allocated from the government’s reserve fund to implement the four-year project. “Charts of rock damage and rockslide risks will be created, and an initial assessment of the necessity for conservation will be developed. An improvement and a rehabilitation of the complex infrastructure are planned as part of the project. After strengthening two large boulders, the risk of destruction of a complex fragment will be eliminated and the safety of visitors and maintenance staff will be ensured,” reports the ministry. Professor Claudio Margottini, the UNESCO consultant, will be in charge of the research work. International experts will be invited as well; together with Georgian specialists they will determine the methodology and techniques needed to save the monument. Vardzia is the cave monastery complex dating to the 12th-13th centuries, in the valley of the Kura river, situated about 70 kilometers south of the town of Borjomi. This is an outstanding monument of medieval Georgian architecture. The ensemble was constructed mainly between 1156 and 1203, during the reign of George III and his daughter queen Tamar at the southwestern border of Georgia. The monastery complex played an important role in the country’s political and cultural life. It was used also for the purpose of defense – there is a secret tunnel in the eastern part that goes down to the river. Hundreds of rooms and passages connecting them were built inside the mountain, which stretched 800 meters along it, up to 50 meters deep, and 8 stories high. Among the rooms were refectories, cells, storage areas, and wine cellars. The Vardzia monastery complex has 15 churches. The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God is situated in the center; there are unique frescoes on the church walls (depicting, among others, George III and Queen Tamar). The frescoes depicting the Dormition of the Mother of God, the Ascension of the Lord, and the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ are of a great historical and artistic value. |
| Restoration of Canonical Unity within the Russian Orthodox Church. Celebration in Dioceses Outside of Russia At the blessing of His Holiness, Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow and all Russia, an official delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, headed by His Eminence Isidore, Metropolitan of Ekaterinodar and Kuban, will be participating in a celebration of the restoration of unity in the Russian Orthodox Church. The delegation, which includes the Sretensky Monastery Choir, will be participating in Divine Services in churches and monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. These guests from Russia will be carrying a holy miracle-working icon treasured by all Orthodox Christians—the “Reigning” icon of the Mother of God. The delegation will also be participating in the celebration of the forty-year anniversary of the hierarchical consecration of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus of New York and Eastern America and First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. The Sretensky Monastery Choir’s program includes Divine Services in Jordanville, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Washington D. C., San Francisco, Melbourne, Sydney, Geneva, Berlin, London, and Paris. They will also be appearing in foremost concert halls of these cities with their choral program entitled “Masterpieces of Russian Choral Music.” The miracle-working “Reigning” icon of the Mother of God The miracle-working “Reigning” icon of the Mother of God The miracle-working “Reigning” icon of the Mother of God The miracle-working “Reigning” icon of the Mother of God was found the same day on which Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II abdicated the Russian throne— March 2/15, 1917. The Russian Orthodox people accepted this occurrence as a witness that the ultimate authority over and care for Russia had passed to the Heavenly Queen Herself. On Febuary 13, 1917, the Most Holy Mother of God appeared in a dream to the peasant girl, Eudocia Adrianova, and spoke to her these words: “There is a large, dark icon in the village of Kolomenskoe. It must be taken from there; the people must pray.” On February 26, in a second dream, the girl saw a white church and a majestic Lady within it. The peasant girl decided to search for the church she had seen in her dream. On March 2 in the village of Kolomenskoe, near Moscow, she recognized the Church of the Lord’s Ascension as that very church. A diligent search by the girl and the church’s rector revealed a large, dark icon of the Mother of God—the very image that had revealed itself to Eudocia in her dream. |
| The feast of the Life-giving Spring has its origins in the fifth century. It commemorates the consecration of the Church built next to it outside of Constantinople. The very large and beautiful church named in honor of the Theotokos of the Life-giving Spring was built by the Emperor Leo the Great (457-474) in Valouki, west of Constantinople (now Balkl, Istanbul). Emperor Leo (January 20), before his ascension to the throne, had encountered a blind man, who being tormented with thirst asked him to help him find water. Leo felt compassion for him and went in search of a source of water, but found none. Leo then heard a voice that called him “Emperor” and told him that he would find muddy water in the densely wooded place nearby; he was to take some water and anoint the blind man’s eyes with it. When he had done this, the blind man received his sight. Emperor Leo raised up a church temple over the spring, whose waters worked many healings, as well as resurrections from the dead, through the intercessions of the Theotokos who brought forth life: her son and our God, Jesus Christ. From this, it came to be called the “Life-giving Spring.” Emperor Justinian the Great (527-565) was also cured by the waters of “The Life-giving Spring” and in gratitude built a new church temple, larger than the first. It was destroyed by earthquakes but rebuilt by Justinian’s successors. (The Life-giving Spring, modern day) After the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, this church temple was razed to the ground and the materials from it were used for building the mosque of Sultan Beyazt. Nothing remained of that church’s ancient beauty, except for a small chapel, almost completely buried in the ruins. This chapel had twenty-five steps going down into it, and a transom window on the roof, from which it received a little light. Toward the western side of the chapel was the holy spring, fenced about with a railing. In 1821, at the start of Greek independence form the Turks, even that little remnant was destroyed. The sacred spring was buried with it and disappeared altogether. But in the days of Sultan Mahmud, when those subject to him were rejoicing in their freedom to practice their religion, permission was gained by the Orthodox Christian community to rebuild at least the chapel. It was consecrated on Bright Friday in 1835. But on the night of September 6-7, 1955, it — along with 73 other Orthodox churches in Istanbul — was desecrated and burned to the ground by the Turks. The church has been restored yet once again, but not anywhere its former magnificence. |
| Moscow Patriarchate and Russian Orthodox Church Abroad reunited 10 years ago today Moscow, May 17, 2017 Photo: Foma.ru 10 years ago today, on May 17, 2007, the feast of the Ascension, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was finally reunited with its mother Church, the Moscow Patriarchate. The Act of Canonical Communion was signed by His Holiness Patriarch Alexey II and the first hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, in Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. The act, which incorporated the Russian Church Abroad into the Moscow Patriarchate as a “self-governing part of the Local Russian Orthodox Church” reads: By this Act, canonical communion within the Local Russian Orthodox Church is hereby restored. Acts issued previously which preclude the fullness of canonical communion are hereby deemed invalid or obsolete. The reestablishment of canonical communion will serve, God-willing, towards the strengthening of the unity of the Church of Christ, of her witness in the contemporary world, promoting the fulfillment of the will of the Lord to “gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (John 11:52). After signing the document of reunification, the first concelebrated Divine Liturgy was served by Pat. Alexey, Met. Laurus, and a number of other bishops. Later reflecting upon the long-awaited reunification, Met. Laurus spoke of the greater witness to Christ that the reunion fosters: In the reestablishment of ecclesiastical unity, the Lord “gave strength unto His people; the Lord blessed His people with peace .” This peace strengthens us in witnessing Christ, strengthens us in the service of the Church of Christ, in the preservation and dissemination of our Holy Russian ideals both in the Fatherland and beyond its borders. The main thing is to live in peace, help one another and support each other in the work of the Church, showing others the example of love, humility, patience and the good Christian life. |
| Archbishop Kyrill is Awarded the Imperial Order of St Anne, 1st Degree admin 02 June 2013 June 1, 2013 On May 14, 2013, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, during a trip to Moscow, Omsk and Ekaterinburg, visited MV Lomonosov State University, Moscow’s PI Tchaikovsky State Conservatory and the Museum of the Romanov Chambers in Zaryadiye. In the chambers, which had belonged to her glorious ancestors, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, escorted by Ms GK Shchutskaya, viewed a new exposition on the 400th anniversary of the triumph over the Time of Troubles, the restoration of the Russian sovereignty and the all-Russian election to the Russian Throne of the House of Romanovs. Afterwards, a ceremony took place awarding orders and medals “In Memory of the 400th Anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty” and the “Jubilee of the Russian Triumph of 1613-2013.” His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, visiting the territory of the Russian Orthodox Church with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, was awarded the Order of St Anne, 1st Degree, and his name entered into the Russian Nobility Registry. His Eminence was bestowed personally by Her Highness with the Royal Order and gave him awards for His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Seattle (Order of St. Anne, 2nd Degree), members of the Diocesan Administration of the Western American Diocese and other Russian eminent figures of California. Among those receiving orders and medals by the Head of the House of Romanovs were Mr VE Churov, President of the Central Election Committee; Mr AK Levykin, Director of the State Historical Museum; Archimandrite Tikhon, Prior of Nizhny Novgorod Ascension Pechersky Monastery; Ms Shchutskaya, and other eminent cultural and humanitarian figures. A dinner was hosted that evening to which Her Highness invited Archbishop Kyrill and Mr PA Karakozov, his associate. During the dinner, Archbishop Kyrill reported to Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna on the state of affairs in his diocese, the celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty in the Russian diaspora. Her Imperial Highness told His Eminence of the divine services scheduled in the cities of Omsk and Ekaterinburg, and of her anniversary visits to her Homeland and other countries. |
| In Alma-Ata was celebrated the feast of All the New Martyrs of Kazakhstan Alma-Ata, September 20, 2010 On September 18, 2010, the eve of the feast of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan, a delegation of archpastors arrived in Alma-Ata: Archbishops Antony of Uralsk and Gurievsk, Vikenty of Ekaterinburg, Elevthery of Chimkensk and Akmolinsk, Paul of Ryazan and Kasimov, and Bishop Alexander of Baku and Prikaspiisk. As Patriarchia.ru reports, the celebrations began in the St. Nicholas Cathedral of Alma Ata. The head of the Metropolitanate in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Actanai and Kazakhstan, along with the newly arrived archpastors and clergy of Alma-Ata, solemnly venerated the relics of New Confessor Nicholai, Metropolitan of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan. After a brief moleben and greeting from Metropolitan Alexander, the participants departed for the central cemetery of Alma-Ata, where they served a Litya for the reposed at the grave of Metropolitan Joseph (Chernova). The archpastoral delegation visited other churches and beneficent institutions of the Orthodox Church, joined by local civic leaders of region. On the same day in the Ascension Cathedral of Alma-Ata, they served the All-Night Vigil, Metropolitan Alexander presiding. At his blessing, a reliquary with the relics of New Confessor Sebastian of Karaganda was brought from Karaganda. Also brought for the occasion were relics of Holy Hieromartyrs Seraphim and Theognost of Alma-Ata, and relics of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called. On the following Sunday, Metropolitan Alexander together with the archpastoral delegation and regional clergy served Divine Liturgy. After the Liturgy, a moleben was served to all the new martyrs, Confessors and sufferers for the Orthodox Faith and the Church of Christ in Kazakhstan, before the saints' relics brought for the event. The archpastors congratulated Metropolitan Alexander with his name day (since his name day occurred while he was on pilgrimage to the holy places of Iberia). The sisters of the Iveron-St. Seraphim Convent of Alma-Ata also presented the Metropolitan with commemorative gifts. |
|
|
