OBL News

International Orthodox Christian News

8/3/2010

Emir Kusturica and No Smoking Orchestra have held a magnificent concert in Armenia, at the National Theatre in Yerevan. The Serbian film director had arrived at the invitation of Khachatur Almazian, famous Armenian violinist, best known for his Almazian’s Obsession orchestra.

Kusturica and Almazian were given an official reception by Armenia president Serzh Sargsyan, chatting for 45 minutes in a warm and friendly atmosphere in the president’s residence. Kusturica was then seen by Karekin II, the current head of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church, who presented the filmmaker with a 1,700-year-old Holy Mother Church plaquette.

Upon his arrival in Yerevan, Kusturica was welcomed by Armenia’s Prime Minister, Tigran Sargsyan, after which they visited Yerevan’s Armenian Genocide Museum, where Kusturica planted a tree of peace.
Following the visit to the museum-institute, Emir Kusturica, together with the members of the No Smoking Orchestra, laid a wreath at the location where seven Serbian pilots died in 1988, after delivering humanitarian aid to the Armenian people, hit by that year’s devastating earthquake.
No Smoking Orchestra continue their tour tomorrow night in Saint Petersburg, which will be the band’s eighth concert in this Russian city in the past year.

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09.03.2010

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a personal letter to Cyprus’ Archbishop Chrysostomos, in a gesture indicating he wants a quick solution to the Cyprus problem, Xinhua reported.

A high-ranking church official revealed on Monday night that Erdogan told Archbishop Chrysostomos, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus, that he has given his personal approval for the conservation and restoration of the historic monastery of Apostle Andreas in the Turkish Cypriot north.

The monastery is considered to be a symbol of Christianity in Cyprus and is an important worship site for Christian Orthodox Greek Cypriots.
This is the second time in a week that the Turkish prime minister makes a good-will gesture toward Greek Cypriots.

Last week, Greek Cypriot newspapers reported an unprecedented meeting of Erdogan with Greek and Turkish Cypriot journalists in Istanbul.

He told them that he was genuinely interested in finding a quick solution to the longstanding Cyprus problem along lines agreed in talks between the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

Erdogan’s letter to Archbishop Chrysostomos is seen as a significant gesture, since the Archbishop is one of the most vocal critics of Turkey’s policies on Cyprus, accusing Ankara of promoting a permanent partition of the island.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot authorities declared a breakaway territory and set up “the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” which is recognized only by Turkey.

The Archbishop has been campaigning for years for restoration of the monastery in the area.

Erdogan was said to have given an assurance to Archbishop Chrysostomos that restoration work will be permitted to start soon, after a delay of several years.

The history of the monastery, dedicated to Apostle Andreas, one of Jesus Christ disciples, goes back to the roots of Christianity. According to legend, the monastery was built on the shore at the far-eastern tip of Cyprus where a boat carrying Apostle Andreas from Israel to Rome capsized.

The monastery has suffered considerable erosion after having been left unattended for more than three decades and architects say it is in imminent danger of collapsing.

Conservation work was to have started long ago but was held up by Turkish vendors who refuse to dismantle the tents they set up next to the entrance to the church.

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9/3/2010

Chisinau, 9 March /MOLDPRES/ – Prime Minister Vlad Filat has met Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova, Most Right Reverend Vladimir and Metropolitan of Bessarabia and Exarch of Regions, Most Right Reverend Petru, the government’s press service has said.

The sides focused on the issue of teaching religion in schools. The prime minister emphasized the decisive role of the Church in the settlement of the problem of morality in society. Vlad Filat advocated the approval of an optional course of religion in schools, due to be studied by pupils with the parents’ consent.

At the same time, the prime minister spoke in favour of vast consultations with Church representatives and public debates on this issue in March. “We want to celebrate the Holy Eastern Holidays with a formalized decision on the matter this year, and to have a normative framework for teaching religion in school by 1 September 2010,” the prime minister said.

Most Right Reverend Vladimir and Most Right Reverend Petru appreciated the prime minister’s initiative. They stressed that the Church first called on the authorities to introduce religion in schools back in 1993.

“As the time passed, many Moldovan schools applied the practice of teaching religion as optional course. Their experience was positively appreciated in society. Parents, teachers, as well as priests were contented,” Most Right Reverend Vladimir said.

The metropolitans voiced hope that the common goal of the state’s authorities and the Orthodox Church – to consolidate society and promote the ancestors’ faith for the present at future generations – will be achieved.

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10/3/2010

Romanian Orthodox Church

On the occasion of the International Woman’s Day – 8 March, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church conveyed the following message of blessing:

BLESSING AND HOMAGE TO THE FAITHFUL WOMAN

Adopted at international level as day dedicated to woman, the date of 8 March is an occasion to emphasise the special role of the women in the family life and in society, in general. The Church avails of this opportunity to emphasise the fact that for the Christian woman, the example consecrated is that of the Mother of God, of the women of myrrh, celebrated in quite a special way in the Orthodox Church on the third Sunday after the Holy Easter, as well as of all the other women listed in the Christian Orthodox Calendar.

As the feast of 8 March has been embedded for many years in the common conscience as the day when homage is brought to the woman as wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, friend or colleague etc., we point out the fact that in the world history, Christianity contributed in quite an essentially way to the promotion of the woman’s dignity as a result of the coming human of the Son of God from a woman, that is of the Incarnation and Nativity of Jesus Christ, our Lord, from the Holy Virgin Mary. Consequently, by calling the woman to holiness, to giving birth to children and growing them in faith, in Christianity she reaches the dignity of empress, first in Byzantium and then in the West.

Always working in the family life, helping her husband and parents, growing her children in faith, or praying and working in monasteries, the faithful courageous woman has confessed faith in any time. This is why these Christian women are appreciated in the Church so much that the names of many of them have been listed in the church calendar, having been as many examples and brilliant landmarks for all Christians, men and women, for the entire Church.

Both as a wife and mother, the woman is for her family an example of devotion and responsibility, her diligence and love bestowed in the bosom of the family bringing peace and hope, joy and human dignity, at home and in society.

As a Christian mother, the woman shapes, first of all, the Christian conscience and feeling of her children, having been a source of affection and an icon of the devotion and care for all the family, a sign of divine blessing and joy for the Church.

In a society more and more individualist and competing, the faithful and diligent, wise and peaceful, woman brings more communion and peace inside the communities very often restless. The piety, kindness and humbleness of the Christian prayerful mothers and grandmothers are a blessing for the family and Church, especially in times of turmoil and confusion. In our country, lots of women contribute today to the education of the young people and children, in kindergartens and public or private schools. A lot of women who work in medical units and social centres bring peace and quiet and healing to the sick ones, and encouragement to the poor and lonely ones, while many other women contribute to the life of the society in many fields of activity: parishes in the country and abroad, public, central and local administration, scientific research, arts, agriculture, industry, trade, army a.s.o.

We bring homage of gratitude today to all women, especially to the faithful ones, and wish them many blessed years of life, with good health and much help from God!

May Christ, our Lord, bless all the good useful work of the women in the family, Church and society, for the prayers of the Mother of God and of all saints, for the glory of the Holy Trinity and for the welfare of the Romanian people!

† DANIEL
PATRIARCH OF THE ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

PRESS OFFICE OF THE ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE

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7/3/2010

Romanian Orthodox Church

On 7 March, the 3rd Sunday of the Lent, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church delivered a sermon, during the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Patriarchal Cathedral, informs the daily newspaper “Lumina”. The Primate of our Church emphasized that now, in the middle of the Lent, it is the feast that shows and urges us to have Christ Crucified and Risen as focus of our life.

His Beatitude showed that on this day we celebrate especially the Holy Life Giving Cross of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and that in the mystery of the Holy Cross revealed in the sky to Saint Constantine the Emperor and then found on the earth by his mother Helen, we are shown the union of the heaven with the earth through Christ, our Lord. “This Sunday, the 3rd in the Lent, called the Sunday of the Holy Cross, was established within the Church, in order to encourage our spiritual ascension to Resurrection, to the Holy Easter. As the Holy Cross is a sign of the victory against the bad spirits, against temptation and all trials caused by the demons or by people in order to separate us from Christ, our Lord. The Holy Cross is worshipped as a sign of victory, not as a sign of sufferance, of victory after we passed through sufferance and this is why we call it the Holy Life Giving Cross of Christ”, said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.

Further on, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church underlined the fact that through the sign of the Holy Cross, now, at the middle of the Lent, those who weakened somehow their courage to fast, pray, and repent, are urged to follow their spiritual ascension inside their soul for their meeting with Christ Crucified and Risen.

His Beatitude emphasized the main requirements for those who wish to be true disciples of Christ: “There are three main requirements for any human being who wants to be Christian or disciple of Christ: self denial, taking and assuming the Cross and following Christ, that is to fulfill the commandments of God, to obey Him, to live in communion with Him, to ask for His help to be able to accomplish His commandments in our life. Self-denial does not mean to do a way with oneself, but giving up a selfish way of living. It means to change our way of life, that is not to have our own person as focus of our life, but the relationship of love with the eternal God and with our fellow beings.

If our life is lived selfishly, temporary and limited, it is not on the way of salvation, but if it is focused on Christ, God-the-Man, then it is full of the never-ending love of God and becomes eternal communion with God, even here on earth. In this mutual love we also love our fellow beings.

The second requirement is taking and assuming the Cross. Taking the Cross has a spiritual meaning here. It does not mean carrying the wood on one’s back, but understanding that our life is limited and fragile. The Cross shows us our helpless when trying to be what we want to be and what God wants us to be. The Cross is a helpless that brings about sufferance. The Cross can be a life long incurable disease or a childhood lived as an orphan, it can be a long widowhood or a failure. The Cross always shows us that we miss something, that very often we are crucified between pure desire and failure when trying to reach the ideal desired”, showed His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.

The Patriarch of Romanian explained: “The Cross shows us that the sin as a disease of the soul is often reflected as disease of the body. Seeing our limits, Christ urges us to take them all to Him, not to carry them alone, as He has known sufferance.

“Loneliness increases sufferance, but if our sufferance is borne in communion of love and prayer to Christ, then our sufferance is diminished. Jesus Christ calls us, when we pass through sufferance, sorrow or disease, not to rebel, but to repent, not to estrange, but to come close to God, to pray, fast, repent and take the Holy Communion more often, namely His Body and Blood. Christ calls us to take our cross, sufferance and helpless and bring them all to Him, so that He can change our sufferance into hope and change the Cross into stair to God”, said His Beatitude Daniel.

Finally, His Beatitude explained that “In today’s Gospel, Christ, our Lord, also shows that man’s care for material things is not useful to man or to win the world if he loses his soul, and in order to win his soul he needs union with God. The Saviour also speaks about the glory of the Kingdom of God, showing in this way the relationship between the Cross and the glory of the Resurrection, between repentance for our sins and the victory over our sins as blessing from Christ and foretaste of the joy of the Holy Easter”.

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8/3/2010

Serbian Orthodox Church

Known, but poorly knowledgeable about the truth of the Orthodox Church in general and particularly about the Serbian Church, archpriest Mateja Matejic from America, wrote another pamphlet (published on the pseudo-zealot schizmatic website “Fight for the faith,” March 4, 2010), entitled ” Injustice as justice. ” The text of this well-known member of the Ljoticevci in the cassock could be renamed to “lies and slander as justice” – or pseudo-justice of pseudo-zealot circles that destroy the Church. All information of this Archpriest who is very educated but who scarcely understand , originate from sources or “hearsay” or, as in previous cases, from offensive anti-Church sites.

I do not intend to reply to archpriest Matejic what he said about me earlier and now what he has written. Let him! – what said Patriarch Pavle of blessed repose. I would advised him, however, as a brother and a concelebrant, that carefully read the decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops on the centuries-old (and not on the modern ) service of the Divine Liturgy. The multilayered Assembly decision has three important elements, and Archpriest did not carefully read or understand any of them. Not to mention that he neither looked, nor even read, four-volume anthology “Christ – New Pascha – On the Divine Liturgy” / 2500 pages /, available to every well-intentioned, and for which pseudo zealots, as well as Archpriest, say that it is ” fake! – Let them such pseudo-fight for pseudo-faith.

Prota finally wrote: “There are a few bishops in whose dioceses is being dealt opposite to the provisions of (sic!) the Holy Assembly of Bishops,” and so he concluded: “And this is enough to see that in the case of Bishop Artemije it is about the distorted justice.” “I kiss his logic!” – as the heugomen of Dechani father Makarije of blessed repose would say. And that the logic is wrong, which poses importunately as justice, can be seen by the fact that Mateja Matejic does not to want to know that decisions about His Grace brother Artemije – especially about the wrongdoings of the people closest to him (some of which are already in prison, and the others, as the real thieves, are on the run) – in fact, the decisions of that same Holy Assembly of Bishops, were made and have been made here for three years, but they are not carried out! Why – let Bishop Artemije answer rather than to represent as a great martyr and to talk that “all this is slander,” while his would-be defenders talk that this is “cosmic conspiracy”!

Clergy and the faithful Orthodox people in Kosovo and Metohija accepted the decisions of the Holy Synod, or the Assembly, and few pseudo zealots and slanderers did not accepted them, for which the Synod=Assembly=Collegiate and Universal Church is just what they think it is and that about which they unreasonably and unconsciously judge, adjudicate, condemn.

Open to me the doors of repentance, O Life-Giver!

Prizren-Gracanica, Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross 2010
Retired Bishop Atanasije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina,
Administrator of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren

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9/3/2010

Serbian Orthodox Church

These beautiful words from the church hymn resounded in the souls of the many faithful who prayerfully celebrated the third Sunday of Great Lent at St. Elijah the Prophet Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Merrillville, Indiana. In the full cathedral church the pious people, together with the clergy, offered their prayers and with fear of God and a firm faith bowed down before the Honorable Cross of our Lord. This prayerful celebration was made complete with the presence of the spiritual father of the New Gracanica-Midwestern American Diocese, Bishop Longin.

His presence brought joy and hope into the hearts of the many faithful that the unity of Christ’s Church will be strong and stable in these areas. The cathedral choir majestically sang the responses during the evening service. The homilist, Fr. Sasa Savic, reminded all that the task of every Christian is that they live according to the teachings of Christ and in Christ and we always make the effort that through fasting and prayer we grow and become stronger daily. The dean of the cathedral, Fr. Aleksandar Novakovic, thanked His Grace Bishop Longin, the clergy and the faithful for their prayerful visit and expressed his hope that they will fight the good fight, preserve the Christian faith and without condemnation to reach our goal of worshiping the Holy Resurrection.

This prayerful gathering was finished with a Lenten dinner prepared by the hardworking members of the local cathedral Serbian Kolo Sestara. This was truly a beautiful and spiritual event at the St. Elijah the Prophet Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Merrillville, Indiana.

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Serbian Orthodox Church

8/3/2010

His Grace Bishop Atanasije of served on March 6. 2010 Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in a newly renovated church of St. Nicholas in Prishtina with the concelebration of Bishop Teodosije and many priests from the local Diocese and other Dioceses of the SOC. Among those who served there were hieromonk Pajsije, head of Trnava Monastery near Chachak, protopresbyter Vladan Simic, secretary of the Diocese of Bachka, hieromonk German from Jezevica Monastery, as well as protopresbyter Radivoje Panic from Belgrade.

This is the second Liturgy that has been served in the St. Nicholas church since March 2004, when the church was torched. About thirty faithful partook the Holy Bread at the Liturgy. In the restored Prishtina church Bishop Atanasije spoke about the importance of St. Nicholas for the whole Christian world, and for every Christian individually.

Vicar Bishop Teodosije addressed the faithful from Prishtina after the Liturgy and thanked them they found a strength to come despite the cold weather to the church.

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Ukrainian Orthodox Church

9/3/2010

On Great Kobzar’s birthday anniversary His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr to donate to National Taras Shevchenko Museum a copy of facsimile edition of Peresopnytsia Gospels in whose investigation the poet was also involved

On the birthday anniversary of Taras Shevchenko, March 9, 2010, at 16.00 pm the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is planning to call to the National Taras Shevchenko Museum (Taras Shevchenko Boulevard, 12).

His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr is going to donate a facsimile copy of the Peresopnytsia Gospels in whose investigation the poet was also involved, and will give as a present to the museums several rarities from his Shevchenko collection.

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Ukrainian Orthodox Church

7/3/2010

On Sunday of Veneration of the Cross His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Sts Anthony and Theodosius Church of Lavra.

On March 7, the third Sunday of the Great Lent, called the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr celebrated the Divine Liturgy of Sts Basil the Great in the Refectory (Stst Anthony and Theodosius Church) of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Concelebrating to him were: Deputy Abbot of the monastery Archbishop Pavel of Vyshgorod, Rector of the Kyiv Theological Schools Archbishop Anthony of Boryspil, Bishop Panteleimon of Vasylkiv and the monastery clergy.

Addressing the faithful with the words of instruction the Archpastor spoke about the prayerful veneration of the Life-Giving Cross and bearing the life-cross by everyone willing to follow the Lord.

“Why do we bow unto the Cross? We do that since we give honor to the One, Who performed the cause of our salvation. In awful tortures on the Cross the Lord blessed to suffer death in order to revive the entire humanity. Before the salutary feat of Christ we were the contradictors of God, were in enmity with Him. By the death on the Cross Christ reconciled us with God, heavens and each other”, said His Beatitude.

The peculiarity of the today’s divine service is that by the end of the All-Night Vigils the rite of bringing out the Cross is performed. After the Cross is put in the special place in the middle of the Church, the clergymen and faithful prayerfully bow unto the shrine.

Photos by Maxim Shevchenko

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Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Address of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the UOC Primate to the Supreme Council of Ukraine to the People’s Deputies with recommendation to adopt the draft law providing more effective counterstand to the spread of gaming

№ 21-ВР 12.02.2010

Honorable people’s deputies!

In view of the pernicious for human soul consequences of the passion of gaming, the Church has always condemned them. Everyone, including those staying out of Church know what great evil this engagement causes. How many unfortunate ones have lost not only money and possessions because of the gaming, but have also ruined their families or even committed suicide. Therefore it is with a great joy that not long ago our entire society has welcomed the prohibition of the activity of gaming houses in Ukraine.

Unfortunately, some tricksters, having neglected prohibition, has not shut up their hideous business, but continued it under the guise of the Internet-clubs or made clandestine casinos.

Thus they have broken not only the human law, but the Law of God, since, as it is said in the Holy Scripture “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers” (Romans 13. 1).

And the gaming business continues its seductive cause, in spite of its prohibition by the state.

Therefore for the spiritual and physical health of our people will be beneficial the adoption of the draft law № 5320, suggested by the people’s deputy of Ukraine Vetvitskyy Dmytro Oleksandovych “On introducing amendments to the criminal procedural code of Ukraine (on the investigative jurisdiction of criminal cases on organization and performing gambling (holding the gaming business)».

Already in Old Testament times God has defined due treatment of the sins and crimes: “so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear” (Deuteronomy. 21. 21). In conditions when, according to some data, every fifth resident of Ukraine is gambling addicted, eradication of the gambling business is one of the most urgent tasks of the people’s deputies, more important than all the political ruffle and controversies.

With respect and wishing God’s blessing in the high and responsible service to the Ukrainian people and Motherland,

Plenipotentiary representative of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the Supreme Council (Verkhovna Rada) of Ukraine,

† Augustine, Archbishop of Lviv and Halych

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9/3/2010

Russian Church Outside Russia

RESOLUTION

Of the Pastoral Gathering and Diocesan Assembly of the Canadian Diocese

During the saving days of the Great Lent, we, the clergy of the Canadian Diocese, gathered at the St Nicholas’ cathedral in Montreal (Quebec) for our annual pastoral gathering and Diocesan assembly, wherein the laity also took part. This, joyous for all of us, meeting headed by His Grace Gabriel, Bishop of Montreal and Canada, who has already spent a year at the head of the now united Canadian diocese, was held in the spirit of love and helped all the participants to strengthen their hearts in the hope of the meeting of the greatest and most mysterious Feast of Feasts: the Holy Resurrection of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

During the meeting, not only the specific life of the Diocese, but the life of the entire Russian Church, both in the Fatherland and in the Diaspora, was discussed. In the years that passed since the reestablishment of the Eucharistic and canonical unity, we had the opportunity to be affirmed in the belief that the decision regarding such reestablishment, made by our Hierarchy, headed then by the ever-memorable His Holiness Alexis II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan Laurus, is truly the grace-filled and healing will of God. Constantly, we feel the good fruits of the unity. At the same time, our gathering expressed a concern with the known growth of statements in support of drawing closer to the Roman Catholics, and of accepting their mysteries, which becomes a direct contradiction to the Holy Canons. Such opinions, especially expressed by those in the rank of a Hierarch, are capable of causing a confusion and temptation in the Church. It was most recently, on the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, that we heard the awesome words, directed by the Church to those, who deviated from the Truth of Christ, as it is expressed in the Symbol of the Faith, confirmed by the Ecumenical Councils.

This year, the Russian Diaspora celebrates the 90th anniversary of the existence of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which came to be by the special providence of God during the years of the Russian upheaval. We believe that to this day the need for our ministry beyond the borders of the Fatherland is far from filled and that is wisely foreseen in the Act for the reestablishment of the Canonical and Eucharistic communion in the Russian Church.

Most important for all the participants were the preparation, prayer and Divine services. Specifically, the prayerful state of spirit helped in the discussion of the fairly complex questions, which demanded quick resolution and were related to the daily life of our Diocese. At some time, one of the richest and well functioning Dioceses in our Russian Church Abroad, the Canadian Diocese in recent years is having a multitude of difficulties. However, at the same time the merciful Lord does not abandon us. The life of the Diocese is gradually getting better. Calling upon the help of God, in the course of our meeting, we tried to find the ways to restore that, which at some time used to be the foundation of the life of the Canadian Diocese: spiritual strength, unwavering stand in Orthodoxy, together with successful administrative life, both at the parish and at the diocese level. Yet discussing the administration, we tried not to forget that the Lord humbles, and He again mercifully raises up and restores a hundredfold, which is now happening before our eyes. The only way to establish Church life correctly is in the perpetual following of the commandment, given to us by the Holy Apostle Paul: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2).

February 17/March 2 – February 18/March 3, 2010

Russian Church Outside Russia

From the Editors: On March 8, 2010, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent congratulations to Bishop Evtikhy on his 55th birthday. Bishop Evtikhy is the Vicar to His Holiness in ministering to the parishes of the Russian Church Abroad on the territory of Russia.

To His Grace Bishop Evtikhy of Domodedovo
Vicar of the Moscow Diocese

Your Grace!

I send you heartfelt greetings on your 55th birthday.

In your youth, having chosen to labor in the harvest-fields of Christ, you dedicated your talents to monastic labors and spiritual pastorship. This path was difficult and demanding, but by the will of the Holy Spirit, you were able to serve the triumph of canonical truth and become a direct participant of one of the most important events in the recent history of Russian Orthodoxy..

As a participant in the discussions between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, through your efforts, prayers and personal example, you made a weighty contribution to this God-pleasing matter. The signing of the Act of Canonical Communion became the basis for the reestablishment of unity within the Russian Church, and marked a new era in the life of the Russian people and the entire Orthodox world.

In recognition of your efforts towards reestablishing church unity, and to mark your 55th birthday, I deem it proper to honor you with the Second Order of St Sergius of Radonezh

Accept my genuine greetings and good wishes for spiritual and physical health, tireless patience, grace-filled and bountiful help from the Lord in your duties of serving His Holy Church.

With love in Christ,
+KIRILL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

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March 2, 2010
Santiago

To the Most Reverend Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad:

Very respected and beloved Vladika Hilarion: With hearts full of gratitude to our Lord and to our Hierarchs, we want to share with you the latest news from our distressed country: Fr. Alexei is alive and well, and so is Matushka Brenda and all the family! Only today, after 48 hours of anguished uncertainty, relying only on God’s mercy and Saint Nektarios and Saint Siluan’s protection, our community members managed to communicate with our Batiushka, as one of the telephone companies partially reestablished the communication with the zone.

He’s shocked by the surrounding human tragedies, and has been very busy helping people, working with so many wounded and mortally injured persons in the hospital and all the desperate and stressed around. As he also had no news from Santiago, he was concerned and praying for his people here. His house resisted the earthquake, although much of the houseware is broken and destroyed. They have water supply and food enough at least until the weekend. In Santiago and Valdivia all the members of the communities are OK, with different degree of material damage, nothing too severe, but all are alive and well, and currently that’s enough for thanking God.

In Santiago everything is returning slowly to normal, we now are engaged in collecting some money for father Alex, as it is yet impossible to travel from or to Concepción, and that city is indeed in a huge catastrophe, with extreme shortage of fuel, drinking water, food, medications and so on. Currently, the area is under military control, because shortage of essential goods, larceny and plundering overwhelmed normal emergency agencies. In Father Alex’s neighborhood, the neighbors themselves are guardians watching during the night to prevent theft, that’s the level of social chaos.

It was a great spiritual relief and support to read your statement and received the telephohe calls from the Synod and also the long call from Vladika John, very lovingly concerned with all of us.

We thank you sincerely for your prayers. As you say in your statement “We look for comfort in Christ” and we are sure that the prayer of our Archpastors and all the fathers and our brothers and sisters within our Holy Church are certainly helping to draw Lord’s mercy upon us and upon all our suffering fellow-citizens.
Please, don’t’ forget us aside in your prayers and keep all of us, mainly Fr. Alexei and his people in Concepción, under your blessing.

Kissing your right hand with much love and respect
We remain yours in Christ
Parish Council
Saint Nektarios Parish, Santiago, Chile

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The Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (for Chile)
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9/3/2010

A recital of Russian spiritual music will take place on March 26, 2010, at the old museum church of Agia Eirini in Istanbul, Turkey, to perform Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk’s Passions According to St. Matthews, and oratorio for soloists, a choir and an orchestra.

The idea of this concert was discussed by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in a talk he had with His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during his official visit to the Church of Constantinople on July 4-6, 2009. It was supported by the Primate and other prominent hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew, who has given his blessing upon the concert, is expected to attend.

This monumental oratorio composed by Metropolitan Hilarion was first performed on March 27, 2007, at the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire. Later this composition was performed in Italy, Australia, Canada and Ukraine, as well as various regions in Russia, invariably arousing a genuine interest of the public. On March 25, 2010, it will be played at the Church Councils Hall of the Cathedral Church of the Saviour in Moscow. Passions are based on the story from the Gospel of St. Matthews about the last days of the Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly life.

Passions According to St. Matthews will be rendered by the Russian National Orchestra founded in 1990 by Mikhail Pletnev, a People’s Artist of Russia. Internationally renowned, this orchestra is ranked among the best orchestras in the world. The choral music will be sung by the Moscow Synodal Choir conducted by Alexey Puzakov, an Honoured Artist of Russia. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Synodal Choir has been recently recreated on the basis of the choir singing in the church of Our Lady the Joy of all the Afflicted in Moscow. This team, engaged in reviving the repertoire and traditions of performance which were characteristic of the Synodal Choir in its prime in the late 19th- early 20th century, also gives great attention to the works of modern composers.

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9/3/2010

Moscow, March 9, Interfax – Head of the so-called Russian exarchate in the Western Europe Archbishop Gabriel of Comana (the Constantinople Patriarchate) changed his mind and decided not to invite head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk to celebrate a divine liturgy in Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris.

“I had been supposed to serve at the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in rue Daru as I had agreed to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in it on the invitation of Archbishop Gabriel of Comana, but a week before the appointed date I received a letter from Archbishop Gabriel informing me that my visit to the cathedral had to be put off until better times,” Metropolitan Hilarion told Interfax-Religion.

The Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky belongs to the Exarchate of Russian parishes in the Western Europe ruled by Archbishop Gabriel.

Archbishop Gabriel indicated as a reason the French court ruling that the cathedral in Nice be transferred to the Russian Federation for ownership.

“This decision displeased some members of the Diocesan Council of his Archdiocese, who indicated to him that my visit to the cathedral was impossible at the moment,” Metropolitan Hilarion told as he recently returned from France where he participated in the opening ceremony of the Holy Russia exhibition at the Louvre Museum.

The Metropolitan pointed out that the court ruling on the Nice church “has nothing to do with interchurch relations, as it is a pure ownership dispute.” The cathedral was built by the Russian Imperial Family and it was the Russian Federation as the recognized successor of the Russian Empire that should own the cathedral and the adjoining lot, which was reconfirmed by the French court, the hierarch stressed.

According to the Metropolitan, the Russian Federation has officially proposed to this parish, which is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, to continue using the cathedral. But the parish council rejected the proposal, insisting that along with the right to use the cathedral the parish should also have the right to own it.

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9/3/2010

Russian Church ready to discuss problems of dialogue with German Lutherans after their new leader is elected

Moscow, March 9, Interfax – The Moscow Patriarchate is ready to conduct talks on resuming the dialogue with the Evangelical Church in Germany by the end of the year.

“As for a resumption of the dialogue, I believe we will be able to discuss this matter after a new president of the ECG Council is elected, which is to take place in November,” Metropolitan Hilarion said in his interview to Interfax-Religion.

Bishop Margot Kaessmann, the leader of Germany’s Lutherans, has resigned after she had her driving license revoked for drunk driving.

Kaessmann, 51, a divorced mother of four daughters, was elected head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany, which unites over twenty Lutheran and Reformed Churches, during the Synod held on October 28. Then the Russian Orthodox Church stated it was not prepared to continue dialogue with the Evangelical Church in Germany in the previous format but may discuss current disagreements.

According to Metropolitan Hilarion, “election of Ms. Kaessmann was only the tip of an iceberg of a sort.”

“As His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said in his address to the Bishops’ Conference, we disagree in principle with the liberalization in theology, church order and morality which takes place in many Protestant communities including the ECG. We should be frank and ask: Is there any sense in conducting a dialogue if it does not bring us closer together?” the hierarch said.

At the same time, he accepted that “we have many opportunities for cooperation and we should preserve the great positive potential we have accumulated for the 50 years of dialogue.”

“But can we continue the cooperation in the form of interchurch dialogue, or should we look for some other forms of cooperation? I believe we will be able to answer this question when a new president of the Council is elected and when it is clear how seriously the ECG takes our concern for the situation as it has developed,” the Metropolitan summed up.

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6/3/2010

At its meeting on 5 March 2010 in St. Petersburg, chaired by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church made a number of decisions on the Church’s external work.

The Synod appointed Archbishop Justinian of Tiraspol and Dubossary as administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, vicar of the Moscow diocese, with the title of Bishop of Narofomisnk.

Having heard a report by Patriarch Kirill on his visit to Kiev for the inauguration of Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich, the Synod pointed to the importance of the visit to so significant an event in the life of the country and resolved that prayer be lifted up that God’s help may be granted to the Ukrainian President in his public service.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, DECR chairman, made a report concerning Metropolitan Christopher of the Czech Lands and Slovakia’s stay in Russia during his private visit from January 24 to February 7, 2010, by agreement with Patriarch Kirill. On February 1, the Primate of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia attended the enthronement of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The Synod thanked the Lord for the communion in prayer that took place between the primates of the two Local Orthodox Churches.

The Synod also heard and acknowledged a report by Metropolitan Hilarion on the Russian Orthodox Church delegation’s visit to France from February 28 to March 2, 2010. The participation of the delegation led by Metropolitan Hilarion in the launching of the Year of Russia in France and the Year of France in Russia and their meetings with French and Russian state officials as well as clergy and laity of the Moscow Patriarchate’s diocese of Korsun were deemed important. The Synod also considered it useful to maintain contacts with the Roman Catholic diocese of Paris with the aim to bear witness to holy Orthodoxy in the West and consolidate friendly relations between France and countries under the pastoral care of the Moscow Patriarchate.

After a report by Metropolitan Hilarion on the canonization of the Holy Martyr Philoumenos of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher by the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, the Synod resolved that the name of this saint be included in the Russian Orthodox calendar and his memory be celebrated on November 16/19 as established by the Church of Jerusalem. St. Philoumenos suffered martyrdom at the hands of heterodox fanatics on 29 November 1979, while serving at Jacob’s Well in Samaria. He is buried in the Trinity Church at Mount Zion.

Having heard the report of Metropolitan Hilarion on the bringing of the relics of St. John Chrysostom to New York, USA, the Synod praised the Lord for the opportunity He gave to the Orthodox believers in the USA to venerate this shrine. This event was noted as important for consolidating the spiritual unity of the Russian diaspora.

The Synod acknowledged the report by Metropolitan Hilarion on the plenary session of the Christian Inter-Confessional Advisory Committee of the CIS and the Baltic (CICAC) which took place on 4 February 2010 under the theme ‘Christian family – a minor church and the foundation of a healthy society’ and approved the result of the session.

The Synod approved the 2009 DECR work report submitted by the DECR chairman.

Having heard a report by Patriarch Kirill on dioceses and parishes abroad, the Synod assigned Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations, to St. Nicholas’s Cathedral in New York and appointed him as representative of the World Russian People’s Council to the UN. Archpriest Alexander Abramov, who occupied these posts previously, was placed at the disposal of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia due to the expiration of his term.

Archpriest Mikhail Povalyaev of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, by agreement with Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine, was placed at the disposal of Archbishop Innokenty of Korsun for pastoral care of the Ukrainian Orthodox diaspora in Italy.

Archpriest Nikolay Kim was relieved of his duty as a cleric of the diocese of Hungary and placed at the disposal of the DECR chairman.

Archpriest Vladimir Makeyev was granted his request to relieve him of the duty of rector of the Parish of the Intercession in Sidney, Australia, and placed at the disposal of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Rev. Alexander Filchakov was appointed as rector of this parish upon obtaining a letter of release from the Chairman of the Bishops’ Synod of the Russian Church Outside Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion, administrator of the ROCOR diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

Having heard a report by Metropolitan Hilarion on a request that came from Metropolitan Kosmas of Etolia and Akarnania (Greek Orthodox Church), the Synod authorized the move of Hierodeacon Vasily Maslenkov, a former novice of St. Daniel’s Monastery, to the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church for service at the diocese of Etolia. An appropriate letter of release will be sent to Metropolitan Kosmas of Etolia and Akarnania.

DECR Communication Service

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5/3/2010

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church met for its regular session on 5 March 2010 at the historical building of the Sacred Governing Synod in St. Petersburg. It was chaired by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

The permanent membership of the Synod includes Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine, Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga; Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchate Exarch for All Belarus; Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Metropolitan Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldavia; Metropolitan Varsonofy of Saransk and Mordovia, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; and Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. Summoned for the Synod’s meeting were Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa and Izmail, Archbishop Lev of Novgorod and Stray Rusa, Archbishop Ionafan of Abakan and Kyzyl, Archbishop Yelisey of Surozh and Bishop Markell of Beltsy and Felesht.

The meeting was preceded by a prayer at the Chapel of the Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils.

In his introductory remarks, Patriarch Kirill said that the agenda of the meeting included items on the current activities of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Holy Synod was to consider the results of patriarchal visits and various activities held recently and to assess the work of the recently established Inter-Council Presence.

The Synod is to make a number important decisions concerning the restructuring of the central church governance, His Holiness said, as ‘life has shown that the work to improve the church central governing system should be continued, and we will have to discuss it today, as well as some other important hierarchical appointments’.

The Synod will also consider the election of a new vicar bishop for the diocese of Minsk, who will be nominated by Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, the Patriarch Press Service reports.

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5/3/2010

PanARMENIAN.Net/ Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica plans to make a movie about Armenia and participate in Golden Apricot film festival.

“I was invited to participate in Golden Apricot film festival this year, but didn’t make it. In near future I will catch up on it,” Serbian filmmaker told a news conference in Yerevan.

Emir Kusturica is currently working on 2 films; in near future, a collection of 12 autobiographical stories will be ready.

“Visit of Emir Kusturica and “The No Smoking Orchestra” is an important event in the cultural life of our country. Acclaimed Belgium-based violinist Khachatur Almazyan is the one we should thank for causing Emir Kusturica’s visit to Armenia,” RA Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan said at news conference.

Today, Emir Kusturica commemorated Armenian Genocide victims in Tsistsernakabed.

Saturday, March 6 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II will meet with the filmmaker. The meeting will be followed by visit to the memorial to perished Yugoslavian pilots. In the evening Emir Kusturica will meet Armenian university students.

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