| Archive The 7th meeting of Russian-Chinese working group for contacts and cooperation in religious sphere 30 May 2019 year 13:18 On May 29, 2019, the Russian-Chinese working group for contacts and cooperation in religious sphere held its 7th meeting at the Department for External Church Relations (DECR) of the Moscow Patriarchate. The previous meeting took place on March 22, 2018, in Beijing. The bilateral meeting was attended by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the DECR; Mr. V. Nazarenko, deputy head of the Russian Presidential Directorate for Foreign Policy; S. Melnikov, executive secretary of the Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations; Rushan khazrat Abbyasov, first vice-chairman of the Council of Muftis in Russia; Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; V. Yegorov, head of the UNESCO chair, Presidential Academy of Public Service; A. Shmanevsky, deputy director of the MFA First Department for Asia; D. Petrovsky, DECR; Ildar khazrat Galeyev, head of the Council of Muftis international department; and G. Zhigarkov, second secretary of the MFA First Department for Asia. The delegation of the Chinese People’s Republic state directorate for religious affairs was led by Mr. Wu Guosheng. It included representatives of national religious associations including Ze Wu, deputy chairman of the Chinese Buddhists Association; Meng Zhiling, deputy chairman of the Chinese Taoist Association; and Cong Enlin, deputy chairman of the Chinese Islamic Association. The participants exchanged opinions on a wide range of issues concerning cooperation and pointed to the importance of interaction of traditional religions in Russia and China. In November 2009, a delegation of the Russian Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations, with the participation of representatives of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, visited China at the invitation of the State Directorate for Religious Affairs. Negotiations were held on the development Russian-Chinese cooperation in religious sphere in accordance with the Action Plan for Implementing the Provisions of the Agreement on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Chinese People’s Republic for 2009-2012, approved by the heads of the two states. On the basis of the memorandum on mutual understanding signed during the visit by the Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations and the CPR State Directorate for Religious Affairs, a Russian-Chinese group was set up for contacts and cooperation in religious sphere. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk became the leader of the Russian part of the working group. The first consultations of the Russian-Chinese Group for Contacts and Cooperation in Religious Sphere took place on June 8, 2011, in Moscow. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| Pristina: Orthodox chapel turned into public restroom; Bishop: Lack of basic civilization norms A recently renovated and cleaned cemetery chapel in Pristina was turned into a public restroom and garbage dump, and several Orthodox graves are overgrown with weeds, said the Dioceses of Raska and Prizren. Such a situation exists despite the fact that a municipal community service is allegedly in charge of taking care of the cemetery and that a paid cemetery guard is provided, says the Diocese. “During the course of the visit to the Orthodox cemetery in Pristina, priest Sasa Mitrovic encountered a sad and sickening picture. The recently renovated and cleaned cemetery chapel was turned into a public restroom and garbage dump, and several graves are overgrown with weeds,” says the diocese’s statement. These photographs show a similar situation as in the Temple of Christ the Savior in the city center, where the Diocese of Raska and Prizren has recently decided to clean its temple, to which the municipality of Pristina and sent responded with an inspection (without a warrant) which banned further cleaning of the temple. “Given that Mitrovdan Memorial ay is near and that numerous believers from Pristina, of which most are not able to live freely in their home town and return to it, will visit their graves. The diocese will have to organize the cleaning of both the cemetery chapel and the cemetery,” says the statement. The diocese raises the question whether the mayor of Pristina will once again be eager to send an inspection and prevent the cleaning of the temple as he was so far in not undertaking any measures to have Christian Orthodox buildings used as public restrooms. Bishop Teodosije said that it is painful and difficult that in the “capital city of Kosovo” in the 21st century Christian buildings are used as public restrooms. “It is a frightening reflection of neglect and lack of basic civilization norms. " Mayor of Pristina Shpend Ahmeti recently said in an interview with KiM radio that the municipality is not responsible for checking whether places of worship are desecrated and damaged, so nothing was done during the desecration and arson in the Temple of Christ the Savior. However, as Ahmeti said, the municipality has responsibility to prevent any kind of work in these facilities (including cleaning and painting). Such abuses of religious freedoms are a disgrace for Kosovo society,” said Teodosije, stressing that no one can prevent the Church from preserving the dignity of its facilities from those who persistently desecrate them. In Serbia 4 октября 2016 г. Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Смотри также Комментарии Anthony 4 октября 2016, 20:00 Albanians are well known for this type of behaviour. Desecrating churches. Urinating in chalices etc. All condoned and supported by the freedom loving west. Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| 135th anniversary of Bulgaria " s liberation from the Ottoman Yoke solemnly celebrated at the Russian Dependency in Sofia Moscow, March 6, 2013 On March 3, 2013, the Sunday of the Prodigal Son and the 135th anniversary of Bulgaria " s liberation from the Ottoman yoke, Metropolitan Dometian of Vidin served the Divine Liturgy at the Dependency of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia with the blessing of Patriarch Neophyt of Bulgaria. The Rector of the Dependency, Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev), Hieromonk Simeon Minchev, and Priest Andrei Tregubov concelebrated with the Metropolitan. After communion Priest Andrei Tregubov gave a sermon on the Sunday Gospel. On this memorable occasion a thanksgiving service was celebrated after the Divine Liturgy. At the end of the service Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev) greeted Metropolitan Dometian. The Rector of the Patriarchal Dependency of St Nicholas presented the Hierarch with an icon of Saint Sergius of Radonezh. Metropolitan Dometian made a speech in reply. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Archimandrite Philip presented members of the community of the Patriarchal Dependency with Patriarchal awards. On the 60th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church " s representation in Sofia V.P. Garistov was awarded the order of Saint Sergius of Radonezh (III class), and a longstanding worker of the Church O.I. Chonkova, the principal of the Sunday school N.I. Zhivkova, and the Dependency’s press-secretary I.N. Alexeeva, were awarded orders of the holy Princess Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles (III class). A number of parishioners were given Patriarchal certificates of gratitude. On the decision of the organizing committee of the celebration of the 135th anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke, the chairman of the public forum “Bulgaria-Russia’, Svetlana Sharenkova, awarded Metropolitan Dometian of Vidin, Archimandrite Philip (Vasiltsev) and the Dependency secretary, Hieromonk Zotik (Gayevsky), the Samara Cross. That day the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Great-Martyr Panteleimon, which is attached to the Dependency, was served by Hieromonk Zotik (Gayevsky). Archpriest Nikolai Neshkov concelebrated. With the blessing of the Rector, Hieromonk Zotik gave Patriarchal certificates to the Church " s choir director L.V. Baleva-Yordanova and L.A. Velinova. (Report from the press service of the Church’s Foreign Relations Department). Pravoslavie.ru 8 марта 2013 г. ... Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Tweet Нравится Ukrainian Orthodox Church criticizes Ukraine " s Foreign Ministry Source: Interfax-Religion Moscow, February 5, 2016 Cathedral of the Resurrection, Rovno The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has criticized the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. " The Foreign Ministry is hiding encroachments on religious freedom and pressure on Ukrainian Orthodox Church communities, " the Ukrainian Orthodox Church press service says. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry press service earlier stated at its public council session that there are " no encroachments based on religion " in Ukraine, calling the information on such discrimination " accusations made by the aggressor. " " The latest statement made by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry indicates that bias and religious discrimination are becoming part of the policies of this state agency, " Ukrainian Orthodox Church said. The statement says that some 30 communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the Rovno, Ternopol and Volyn Regions are not able to pray in their churches " due to the raiding takeovers by supporters of the " Kiev Patriarchate. " " " There have been numerous instances of violence and intimidation against believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and some representatives of local authorities are violating the principle of equality of all citizens before the law and are openly lobbying the interests of the schismatics. Such instances have been registered by international human rights establishments and missions many times, " the document says. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church said Archpriest Nikolay Danilevich, deputy chairman of the department of external church relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, had spoken at the session and urged not to ignore the numerous violations of the rights of the flock and community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Interfax-Religion 6 февраля 2016 г. Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi is asking the Ukrainian people to remain faithful to the canonical Church Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi is asking the Ukrainian people to remain faithful to the canonical Church The elder shared his concern about the events in the Ukraine. Christians persecuted in Ukraine by national-radical forces - Lavrov Christians persecuted in Ukraine by national-radical forces - Lavrov " Three Orthodox priests have been killed, and many others have fled to Russia from extremist threats, " he said. Attacks on the Church in Rivne Diocese continue Attacks on the Church in Rivne Diocese continue The day before, there were several unsuccessful attempts to forcibly seize the Holy Trinity Church in Povcha village of the Dubno district of the Rivne region, when Priest John Savchuk was seriously injured (with an internal brain injury and a brain concussion). Комментарии © 1999-2015 Православие.Ru |
| Archive Statements on discrimination against the Church in Ukraine and North Macedonia were made at UN forum 16 July 2021 year 13:08 At the high-level political forum of the Organization of United Nations for sustainable development (HLPF), which was held at the UN headquarters from July 6 to 15, 2021, in New York, human rights advocates of the Public Advocacy organization made a written statement on the discrimination against the Orthodox Church in such countries, as Ukraine and North Macedonia, reports the Union of Orthodox Journalists with reference to the Public Advocacy press service. This public organization noted that the forum held in New York was a basic platform for the UN in its further work and in monitoring the agenda in the field of sustainable development in the period till 2030. The human rights advocates called on the HLPF to make its own contribution to the support of inter-confessional peace in the above-mentioned countries. “It is inadmissible that states, on the level of their central power bodies, should pursue a policy of inequality on national, ethnic or religious grounds. Regrettably, this kind of policy is used today against religious communities in Ukraine, North Macedonia and, earlier, in Montenegro. In these countries, the state interferes in the religious affairs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church, creating conditions for the emergence of alternative religious structures directly encouraged by the authorities”, reads the statement the full text of which is published on the UN forum site under No. 303. The document states, “We repeat that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a union of millions of Ukrainians of various ethnic backgrounds united by Orthodoxy. They have a right to confess freely their faith and to enjoy equal conditions with other confessions. At this forum, we once again call upon Ukraine to ensure respect for the rights of the UOC faithful and to reject the discriminatory policy with regard to this confession”. Commenting on this statement, the Public Advocacy head Oleg Denisov noted, “In spite of the UN’s inertia in matters concerning the rights of Orthodox communities in Ukraine, North Macedonia and Montenegro, we continue doing all that is possible for us to make the problems of Orthodox Churches not forgotten by international human right advocacy structures”. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| Archive Ukrainian Orthodox Church clergy and parishioners have recorded a video appeal in defence of the Kiev Lavra of the Caves 24 March 2023 year 18:25 The clergy and parishioners of several dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have recorded a video appeal to the Ukrainian authorities calling them not to take off the Kiev Lavra of the Caves. As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reports, the video appeal is published by the Public Union ‘Miryane’ (Laity). ‘We ask to prolong the leasing contract of the Lower Lavra of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’, the appeal reads, ‘As far back as the Middle Ages, the Lavra was the breading ground of Orthodoxy and today it remains to be a center of Orthodox pilgrimage. Under the militant atheism, the Lavra fell into decay. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been restoring this holy monastery since 1988. Today, at the site where only ruins used to be, golden cupolas are sparkling magnificently. The clergy and laity of the Lavra work daily exerting great efforts to maintain order in the monastery. It is for this reason that we consider it unjust to take away from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church clergy the permission to serve in this holy place. Let the icon-lamp continue gleaming here so that the faithful could freely come here to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries of Christ and venerate the saints of the Caves’. According to the faithful, nowhere in the world, the relics of saints are ‘museum exhibits’. ‘Just imagine that the relics of Nicholas the Wonder-worker in Italy were made ‘an exhibit’, or the Church of the Lord’s Sepulchre in Jerusalem was closed for people and became a museum’. The parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reminded the authorities that a hundred years ago the Orthodox Christians in Ukraine ‘already endured similar trials, and it did not bring any good to theomachists’. ‘Do not take the Lavra from us. You will take away the walls but not the faith’, the appeal stressed. Taking part in the recording of the video were the clergy and faithful from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Dioceses of Vladimir-Volynsky, Volyn, Dnepropetrovsk, Zhitomir, Kharkov, Kiev, Kirovograd, Odessa, Rovno, Sarny, Ternopol and Chernovitsy-Bukovina, as well as from Poland. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| Archive Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk awarded the Russian MFA’s Medal ‘For Cooperation’ 3 September 2021 year 18:02 On September 3, 2021, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, met with the Russian Federation Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey V. Lavrov, at the Russian MFA House of Receptions. The head of the Russian foreign policy ministry presented the DECR head with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Medal ‘For Cooperation’ timed to the 75th anniversary of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations and Metropolitan Hilarion’s 55th birthday. “Our meeting is held soon after your birthday”. Mister Lavrov noted, “In addition to the congratulations that I and my colleagues had sent to you, we would like to recognize in addition your contribution to the development of relations with our compatriots abroad, to the advocacy of traditional religious and moral values of the multi-ethnic people of the Russian Federation and, in cooperation with our diplomacy, the advocacy of the interests of the country on various platforms, including through the UN, Council of Europe and other multilateral organizations”. Having thanked the minister for his warm congratulations, Metropolitan Hilarion made a special mention of the importance of contacts between the MFA and the DECR, “Very frequent challenges are common for us. It is important therefore that we have an opportunity for synchronizing watches on a permanent basis: there is a mechanism for consultations; there is a Working Groups acting between the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department for External Church Relations. This Working Group was founded, as you remember, at the initiative of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, when he occupied the post of DECR chairman. And we continue the work we began then”. The hierarch thanked Mr. Lavrov for the long-standing cooperation, expressing a hope for its further consolidation and development. From the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, the meeting was attended by the DECR vice-chairmen Archbishop Leonid of Vladikavkaz and Alania, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov and Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), as well as DECR secretary for the diaspora, Archpriest Sergiy Zvonarev. The Russian Ministry for Foreign Relations was represented by G. I. Askaldovich, ambassador-at-large; K. P. Kozhanov, deputy head of the MFA Department for the Federation Constituents, Parliament and Public Associations; M. M. Melikh, head of the department for liaison with major Russian religious organizations of the MFA Department for Relations with Federation Constituents, Parliament and Public Association, and O. V. Shor, a staff member of this department. In the course of further talk, its participants discussed matters of mutual concern. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| First man suspected of participation in armed bands in Syria appears in Russia Grozny, January 10, 2014 In the Chechen republic the first criminal case has been initiated regarding participation of a Russian citizen in outlawed armed bands on the territory of Syria, reports ITAR-TASS . As was reported by the public prosecutor " s office of the republic, investigators of the Federal Security Service " s administration in Chechnya have filed a suit against a local resident, Shahid Temirbulatov (section 2 of the article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation: " Participation in a paramilitary group on the territory of a foreign state, which is not provided for by the legislation of this state, with an aim contradictory to the Russian Federation " s interests " ). " The examination has established that in July 2013, the RF citizen, being on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, entered a paramilitary group, which was not stipulated by the state " s legislation, and has been taking part in warfare against the government armed forces of Syria up to now, with a purpose contradictory to the Russian Federation " s interests, " stated in the public prosecutor " s office. The public prosecutor " s office has recognized this decision as lawful and well-grounded and has taken the control of the course of investigation. " Earlier, the republic " s prosecutor many times noted the need to investigate and search out operations aimed at eliciting incidents of Russian citizens’ participation in the armed conflict against the Syrian government armed forces, " stressed the republic public prosecutor " s office. Meanwhile, according to BaltInfo , reinforcements are being redeployed to Aleppo from Rakka and Deir-Ez-Zur. The objective is " to overwhelm dogs of the Awakening " —rebels fighting against the " Islamic state of Iraq and the Levant " group, which is connected with al Qaeda. The reinforcement columns are headed by Chechen militants, who have a reputation as select sub-units during fierce warfare against the Syrian army. This was reported by Interpolit.ru with reference to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar . The beheaded Franciscan Friar, Fr. Francois Murad, was brutally murdered by militants from the North Caucasus. In the video of the murder on YouTube they can be heard speaking with each other in Russian. Pravoslavie.ru 13 января 2014 г. Смотри также Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Gospel of St. Luke translated into more Northern Siberian languages September 28, 2012 The Institute for Bible Translation (IBT) published the first book in a series of Northern Diglott translations of the Gospel of Luke in the languages of the native nations of the Russian North and the Far East (Koryak, Itelmen, Chukchi, Nanai, Evenk, Even). This is a dual-language edition with parallel text in Russian (the Synod Version), reports Patriarchia.ru . The series was initiated by the appeals from ruling Bishops of Petropavlovsk and Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Anadyr and Chukotka dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church to the IBT. All publications are planned to come complete with audio recording of the text. A colorful children’s edition of " The Story of Jesus Christ " has been recently released in the Koryak and Dolgan languages with parallel Russian text. This edition is already on the market and the demand for it is high. Petropavlovsk and Kamchatka diocese will soon receive the edition of the Gospel of Luke in the Koryak language with introductory remarks by Bishop Artemiy of Petropavlovsk and Kamchatka. This edition published at the expense of a Russian sponsor will go to churches, libraries and schools free of charge. The text of the Book is also available in electronic format on the IBT website. Other parts of the series are planned to be released in 2012-2013. The Gospel of Luke in the Nanai language is the first one in the order. Translating of the Holy Scripture into the native languages of the Russian North is one of the priorities for IBT. In September of 2012 the staff of the Institute and its director Dr. Marianne Beerli-Moore received Northern Nationalities Benefit Compensation Fund diplomas " for translating and publishing the books in Koryak and Itelmen, for their work in preserving and promoting the national cultures of circumpolar Kamchatka. " The Fund was established in 1991 to support the Northern native nations and to preserve their spiritual heritage and culture. Arthur Izosimovich Belashov is a Chairman of the Foundation. He is also a well-known Kamchatka social activist, publisher, writer, director of the Museum of the History of Orthodoxy in Kamchatka and Russian America, and author of the three-volume " Petropavlovsk and Kamchatka Dioceses History " . (Translation by Ksenia Dolgova) 29 сентября 2012 г. ... Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Adoption and signing of texts The unanimously approved texts on the agenda of the Council shall be produced in the four official languages and shall be equally valid. They 1) shall be signed by the initials of all the primates of the autocephalous Orthodox Churches on each page and in all the official languages of the Council and on the final page by the Chairman and all members of the Council; 2) the Council’s signed decisions as well as the Message of the Holy and Great Council shall be sent out by Patriarchal letters of the Ecumenical Patriarch to the primates of the autocephalous Orthodox Churches who shall bring them to the notice of their Churches. These documents shall have a pan-Orthodox authority. Article 14 Participation of observers The observers from other Christian churches or confessions as well inter-Christian organizations shall be present at the opening and closing sessions of the Council without the right to vote or speak. Article 15 Preparation of Minutes The Minutes of the work of the Council shall be transcribed and edited in accordance with the established order for publication in the official languages and sent out to all the autocephalous Orthodox Churches by the Pan-Orthodox Protocol Commission of the Council’s Secretariat appointed by the decision of the primates of all the autocephalous Orthodox Churches. Article 16 Information for the press 1) by the decision of the Chairman and with the consent of the primates of other Orthodox Churches a Council Commission shall be set up consisting of fourteen members of the Council (one from each Church) and to be assisted by special advisers. The commission shall inform the mass media on the progress of the Council on a regular basis; 2) only those journalists who are appropriately accredited in the Secretariat for the Preparation of the Holy and Great Council may be present at the opening and closing sessions of the Council. Chambésy, 27 January 2016 DECR Communication Service 30 января 2016 г. Смотри также |
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