Primate of the Russian Church presided over the meeting of the Chamber of Trustees of the Patriarchal Literary Prize

March 28, 2017 in the Red Hall of the Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia led the meeting of the House of Trustees of the Patriarchal Literary Prize named after St. Cyril and Methodius. The meeting was attended by: Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk , Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church - Secretary of the Chamber of Trustees; Bishop of Molodechno and Stolbtsovsky Pavel , chairman of the Publishing Council of the Belarusian Orthodox Church ; Archimandrite Nestor (Somenok), Professor of the Kiev Theological Academy ; D.M. Volodikhin, historian, writer, literary critic, publisher; V.A. Voropaev, literary critic, professor of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University; Yu.P. Vyazemsky, writer, philosopher, TV presenter, head of the Department of World Literature and Culture of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia; K.P. Kovalev-Sluchevsky, writer, professor of the Institute of Journalism and Literary Creativity; N.V. Kotrelev, literary critic, senior researcher of the department "Literary Heritage" of the Institute of World Literature named after A.M. Gorky; S.Yu. Kunyaev, poet, publicist, editor-in-chief of Nash Sovremennik, laureate of the Patriarchal Literary Award of 2013; Yu.M. Loshchits, writer, publicist, literary critic, laureate of the Patriarchal Literary Prize 2013; V.N. Nikolayev, writer, laureate of the Great Literary Prize of Russia, member of the Writers' Union of Russia, laureate of the Patriarchal Literary Award of 2012; O.A. Nikolaeva, poet, prose writer, essayist, professor of the State Literary Institute named after A.M. Gorky, laureate of the Patriarchal Literary Prize in 2012; B.N. Tarasov, writer, professor of the State Literary Institute named after A.M. Gorky; V.V. Fedorov, President of the Russian State Library, member of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art, member of the Union of Culture, Science and Education at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; S.I. Chuprinin, literary critic, publicist, editor-in-chief of the journal "Znamya"; A.V. Shchipkov, publicist, first deputy chairman of the Synodal Department for the relationship between the Church and society and the media . Representatives of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church also took part in the event. Opening the meeting, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, who is the Chairman of the Chamber of Trustees of the Literary Prize, read out the agenda and addressed the audience with an introductory statement. "This year is a jubilee year," His Holiness said in his speech. - We recall the restoration of the Patriarchate and, at the same time, the mournful bloody events connected with the revolution of 1917. It so happened that the revolutionary events overshadowed the election of the Patriarch - in fact, the second institution of the Patriarchate, because the Russian Church elected the Primate after more than 200 years of interruption, and in the most difficult year of its history. Therefore, within a year we will keep track of the chronology of the events of that terrible time, turn to eyewitnesses, re-read documents, trying once again to comprehend the events that took place one hundred years ago. " "The revolution led to the loss of historical continuity and a lively cultural tradition. But the main tragedy of our people in the last century is the loss of the ability to correlate one's thoughts and actions with God's law, the loss of an absolute moral principle in people's lives, "the Most Holy Vladyka emphasized. "Having been subjected to a cruel social experiment, our people passed through the greatest suffering in the 20th century, and the Russian Church completely drank a bitter cup of suffering, showing many martyrs and confessors who witnessed their loyalty to the Lord and Savior, in spite of threats, torture and even death." "A serious blow was inflicted on those whom we would today call the creative intelligentsia - poets, writers, artists, thinkers. Suffice it to recall even the infamous "philosophical steamer" of 1922. However, most of them remained at home and tasted all the bitterness of ideological persecution. But all that happened in the twentieth century, this meat grinder, which grinded the whole intelligentsia, is not an organic consequence of the terrible crimes that the intelligentsia committed against faith, against God, against their people, against their country? After all, the intelligentsia was primarily responsible for the terrible events of 100 years ago, "said the Primate of the Russian Church. "Unfortunately, today we see a few significant literary works about the new martyrs and in general about the victims in the period of persecutions, although a fairly large volume of relevant documentary materials is open. I am convinced that society needs cognitive and, at the same time, morally verified works, in an accessible form, telling about this historical epoch. It is important that worthy books appear that tell about the ministry of the Russian Orthodox Church in the past century, "believes Holy Holder. "As a rule, our contemporary is more or less familiar with the names and exploits of generals and heroes, but is much less aware of the activities of those who made a significant contribution to preserving the faith and spiritual culture of our country in the harsh years of persecution. But these are also heroes! And their heroism is multiplied by the fact that they ended their lives not in the eyes of tens, hundreds or even thousands of people, but perished in torture chambers, without any hope that the truth about their martyr's death will ever be revealed, "the Patriarch continued. - Early Christian martyrs perished in circuses, and thousands of people saw it. As they say, the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity, because many have been struck by the courage of believers. But no one saw, heard, knew about the feat of the new martyrs. Therefore, it is very important that highly artistic works appear that reflect the feat of the new martyrs, so that the modern reader can understand both the depth and significance of their suffering for us living in another era. " "Unfortunately, the war of historical arguments continues even now," complained the Most Holy Vladyka. - The society has not yet been fully reconciled with regard to the evaluation of the events of a hundred years ago. Probably, the interpretations will remain different, but it is necessary to do everything so that their diversity does not provoke new civil conflicts. Too much blood was spilled, too much price was paid so that we could overcome in our current realities the consequences of the former turmoil, exclude the possibility of its impact on our lives. " "Literature for children and young people is of particular importance. Today, children and youth are immersed in their gadgets, and nothing affects social psychology in the same way as social networks. Therefore, we need to think about how the best works can be displayed in social networks, but without real participation of writers it is impossible to do this, - said the Primate of the Russian Church. - Unfortunately, our writers, as a rule, have nothing to do with what is happening in social networks. It's easy to understand, but maybe someone should step over their critical attitude and begin to act more actively in this area of ​​communication. " "Writers are the core of the intellectual and creative elite of our people. They played and should play a significant role in the processes of shaping the mindsets of our people. The great work that is carried out within the framework of our award should influence the minds and hearts of our contemporaries. God grant that it was so, "added His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Then the floor was given to the chairman of the Council of Experts of the Patriarchal Literary Prize OA. Nikolaeva, who reported on the work of the Council of Experts and submitted a short list of candidates for the awarding of the Patriarchal Literature Prize of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius in 2017 (a long list was approved at a meeting of the Chamber of Trustees on March 6). The short list includes: Bogdanova Irina Anatolievna; Volodikhin Dmitry Mikhailovich; Dvortsov Vasily Vladimirovich; Likhonosov Victor Ivanovich; Hieromonk Roman (Matyushin-Pravdin); Sporov Boris Fedorovich; Tkachenko Alexander Borisovich; Archpriest Yaroslav Shipov. A discussion was held regarding the approval of this list, which resulted in the approval of the list of nominees for the Patriarchal Literary Prize of the Seventh Premium Season. These names will be entered on the ballot paper. The names of the winners of the 2017 award will be known at the award ceremony, which will be held on May 11 this year. In the Cathedral of Christ the Savior of Moscow. Also, the composition of the Counting Commission was approved, which included Bishop Molodechnensky and Stolbtsovsky Pavel, Yu.M. Loschits, Yu.M. The Poles. The draft script of the award ceremony was presented by the Deputy Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, Hieromonk Feoktist (Igumnov). Decisions were taken on the order of the ceremony. "I would like to thank Vladyka Clement and all of you, my dear brothers and sisters, for the work done," His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said at the end of the meeting. - I believe that we, as always, will choose the best candidates from the elected candidates by closed but public voting. I am sure that the Prize of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius undoubtedly plays a positive role, primarily in terms of popularizing and supporting our remarkable writers. Intellectual and spiritual charge of their works is very significant. " "God grant that our prize would help our contemporaries keep their faith and not lose their way in life, despite the many trials and temptations of our time," concluded His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky): on the 3 Hierarchs

Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky): Sermon on the Feast of the Three Hierarchs Today we celebrate the feast of the Three Hierarchs. The Church glorifies the memory of these great laborers in the harvest-fields of the Lord, whom She singled out from the uncountable host of saints, calling them Universal teachers and hierarchs. The Church emphasizes that each one of them was in his own time a Diocesan Bishop, but that their spiritual influence spread far beyond their borders, and truly the entire flock of the Universal Orthodox Church learns of Christian wisdom, Christian knowledge and piety from them. The Church canonized them each individually. In early January, we celebrated the feast day of Saint Basil the Great, not too long ago, Saint Gregory the Theologian, and most recently the Translation of the Relics of St John Chrysostom. Today, the Church established a special feast day of these Three Hierarchs, for according to Church tradition, after each of them completed their Earthly path, there had been many conflicts among believers. Each of them represented great spiritual significance, they made an impression on all who met them and for this reason each of these three great hierarchs gathered devotees. There were even groups who called themselves Basilites, Gregorians, and Johnites. There had been quarrels between them as to who among these bishops stood higher in the eyes of God. Church history teaches us that all three hierarchs once appeared once to Saint John Mauropous, and said “We are very sorrowful that there are so many quarrels among the believers because of us. We are all of equal glory before God. Speak out, let then establish one holiday for the three of us, not because we are in need of it, but in order to pacify these quarrels and unite the believers in the spirit of faith, love and concord.” This is how the feast day of the three hierarchs was first established. Basil the Great is a lantern of the Church, a hierarch who is always and everywhere during commemorations of the saints named first, as though he presides over the host of saints. We know of his courage, his staunch character, how he rebuffed the attacks of the heresy of Arius. His enemies themselves said that “The Church [diocese] of Basil alone is greater than all of us.” And they told the Emperor, an Arianist himself: “If we do not remove him, then all our efforts are in vain—he is not a man but a mountain. Victory is impossible over him, you must simply remove him.” But the emperor decided against it. Basil the Great adorned the Church with his written works, his pious, holy life, and he left us an abundant legacy. First of all, of course, the inspired Liturgy he composed, which is celebrated ten times a year, his inspirational writings as well. He had a profound mind and ability to reason: if Basil the Great addressed and brought an explanation to some matter, then there was nothing left to say on the subject. How many prayers were penned by Basil! Recall the kneeling prayers to the Holy Trinity read during Pentecost! Remember the prayers from the hours: “Thou who at every season and every hour, in Heaven and on earth art worshipped and glorified, O Christ God!” A remarkably profound and powerful prayer which our ears are so accustomed to hearing, but which only skims over our consciousness, as do other prayers of his. At the end of the reading of the hours, we also come across the words of Basil the Great. He left a gnuine treasure to the Church, adorning her with his works. St Gregory the Theologian was a great friend of his, a person of equal genius, a colossal mind, and they shared a similar outlook. He and Basil lived as though with one soul their whole lives, with the exception of a brief period when Basil the Great forced him to receive the episcopal rank. Gregory’s meek soul sorrowed from this and was frankly bitter towards his friend. St Gregory did not leave us with his own Liturgy, but he likewise adorned the Church through his works. Who does not know the canon of the Nativity, who doesn’t know the Paschal canon? One begins with the words: “Christ is born, glorify Him,” the other “Pascha of the Lord, o Pascha! It is the day of the Resurrection, let us be radiant!” The holy composers of the canons took these words from the inspired sermons of Gregory the Theologian. When you read his works, you cannot but fall in love with its meaning. A deep, holy inspired meaning, crafted as though with a sharp blade in the hand of a master,. We see this in his writings, in which he refuted heresy, the undeniable, unstoppable power of logic, the wealth of its content, the richness of thought and the utterly defeating critique of all that is in error. At the same time as he denounces heresy, when he writes about theology, his purified mind, illuminated and profound, is expressed in words of such loftiness, for which the church Praises him with the words “Rejoice, o Father of Theology of the uppermost Mind,” that is, a mind that reached the highest level possible for a human. He and his friend Basil were of completely different temperaments. Basil was by nature a warrior, a leader, while Gregory was as they said, a dove of the wilderness, who sought solitude, so that he could be alone with God, as he said, to be with the angels and be free from all that was Earthly. But the Lord does not keep such lanterns hidden, and despite his striving for solitude, the Lord elevated his great God-loving soul to the lofty service of a bishop. Although it was a heavy burden for him, still, when needed, he held his archpastrol staff with a strong hand, as did his great friend Basil. They died different deaths, basil among his weeping flock, Gregory completely alone alone with God and his holy Guardian Angel. How staunch were they when they needed to defend the truth of the Church. We remember when Basil the Great responded to the threat of the Emperor's officer. The emissary had been sent to convince Basil to consent to the heresy of Arius. Seeing that he was faced with a “mountain” of a believer and not a simple mortal, he began to threaten to take away all his property, to send him into exile, and even torture and death. Remember how the great hierarch responded? He smiled, and said, You can threaten me with anything, but you won't scare me! Take away my property? I don't have any, so you can't take anything away; you threaten exile, but it is the Lord's land and His Will, and I am a servant of the Lord, all the land belongs to God, I will feel at home wherever I am. Torturing my feeble body will not last long, maybe only the first strike will be yours, and death for me will be a blessing, for it will take me to God, for Whom I live, for Whom I labor, Whom I hurry to approach, and for Whom I am already half-dead. His questioner was stunned by his boldness. Gregory the Theologian was threatened to be driven away from Constantinople. But the bishop replied

Why Patriarch Kirill Is Really Consecrating Cathedrals In London And Paris christianitytoday.com

It's like something from a John Le Carré novel. The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) visits London. He consecrates a new cathedral and meets the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Queen. The visit is to celebrate 300 years of Orthodoxy in Britain. There are some nice historical touches – the Queen was represented at the consecration of the cathedral by her cousin Prince Michael of Kent, who has family ties with the Romanovs and bears an uncanny resemblance to Tsar Nicholas II. Should he have been welcomed so warmly by the establishment? Some think not, given the ROC's close ties to President Putin's regime. Labour MP John Woodcock told the Daily Mail that it was "very troubling" for Kirill to be welcomed to Buckingham Palace at a time when Russia is supporting a "murderous Syrian regime". Another MP, Alison McGovern, said it was an "inappropriate PR opportunity". Ukraine's ambassador to the UK said the visit risked legitimising Russia's aggression in her own country. Behind the diplomatic front, however, are intrigues and power plays, both political and ecclesiastical. This was an iceberg visit, in which most of the significant issues – both ecclesiastical and political – are under water. For instance, a statement from Justin Welby's office rather implied everything in the Lambeth Palace garden was rosy. The ROC's take was a little different: its representative Alexander Volkov said Kirill had told Welby the ROC was "seriously concerned with liberalisation of the teaching of the Anglican Church in questions of church rules – consecration of women to priests and bishops, and in morals and family issues". In Lambeth's version, this becomes: "Conversation also touched upon the concerns and challenges that their two churches face in the present time in their different contexts." However much the ROC will play along with the necessary ecclesiastical diplomacy, its opposition to homosexuality and to women priests is adamantine – hence its unlikely alliance with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, with which it had planned a summit in Moscow on religious liberty, now postponed. The consecration – or re-consecration – of the cathedral, too, is significant. Great Britain and Ireland form the Diocese of Sourozh (Moscow Patriarchate). The diocese was established in 1962, but after the fall of communism there was a large influx of Russians into the UK who were unhappy with the Orthodoxy they found here, which they thought wasn't Russian enough. An extraordinarily bitter battle for control of the Church followed, in which a leading role was played by Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev, now the ROC's foreign secretary. Hilarion was appointed by the Moscow Patriarchate to be the assistant bishop of the Sourozh diocese. He was being groomed by the ROC to succeed Metropolitan Anthony and to "Russify" UK Orthodoxy. Anthony issued an open letter in which he criticised Hilarion's appointment and said he didn't know how to be a bishop; Moscow backed down and brought him into its department of external affairs, where he has remained. The affairs of the ROC in the UK during this period – 2002 onward – are extremely complicated and unedifying, with continuing battles between those who favoured a more native style of Orthodoxy and those who wanted it to be more Russian. The Cathedral itself became a focus of the conflict. In 2006 many of the clergy and laity, headed by Bishop Basil Osborne, decided to leave the ROC and transfer to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople; in 2007 the Cathedrals parish council decided to take the building with them. It took a High Court action by the Moscow Patriarchate to retain it for the ROC. So the consecration of the church as a cathedral by Patriarch Kirill – with Bishop Hilarion in attendance – represents a comprehensive victory by the ROC and an assertion of Russian power over the decadent UK Orthodox faction. Bishop Hilarion's feelings at the service can probably be guessed at. Another victory is being celebrated today in Paris, with the consecration of another cathedral. Near the Eiffel Tower and topped by five massive golden domes, the cathedral is to serve as a "spiritual centre" and school as well as a place of worship. It is close to government agencies including the foreign ministry, and intelligence services are worried that it will serve as a base for spying. Again, it is in part a political statement: a split in the ROC after the Russian Revolution saw many Russian congregations join the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and they have refused to rejoin the Moscow Patriarchate. Their cathedral, St Alexander Nevsky, will be outshone by the new one. Russian Orthodoxy, vastly wealthy and assertive, is making its presence felt throughout Europe. The consecration of that cathedral, however, has had to take place without one of its principal guests of honour – Vladimir Putin. He was originally scheduled to attend, but pulled out over France's fierce criticism of his Syria policy – President Hollande had said he would raise the issue with him. But back to London. A little-noticed remark in Kirill's sermon at the cathedral indicates another reason for his presence. He said: "When at the beginning of the eighteenth century diplomatic relations between the two countries [Russia and Britain] were broken off, the rector of our church here in London carried out a state and diplomatic mission. And this would happen every time when relations between the two countries became difficult." In saying this, Kirill – himself a former KGB agent – was pointing, perhaps a little undiplomatically, to the role the Church could play in acting as a back channel for diplomatic conversations. Governments might be unable to speak to each other civilly – Putin in France, for instance – but there are ways of talking even so. And in an unreported note on the ROC's website yesterday, we discover that Metropolitan Hilarion – yes, the same – met Baroness Anelay, minister of state for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. They were joined by Laurie Bristow, Britain's ambassador to Russia, and among other things they discussed Syria and the Middle East. Evidently Hilarion tried to defend Russia's ally, President Assad; by her own account, Anelay told him off in no uncertain terms. It really is like a Le Carré novel.

The Primate of the Russian Church, performed the rite of consecration of the great church of St. Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria on Sivtsev Ravine in Moscow

March 4, 2017, on Saturday of the first week of Lent, the day of memory of Hieromartyr Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the miracle worker, (celebration postponed from Thursday February 17, SS / March 2, NS) and Great Martyr Theodore of Tyrone, Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill performed the rite of the great Blessing of the revived church of St. Athanasius and Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria that Ravine Sivtseff, Moscow and the Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church. Great rank were consecrated three altars: the high altar - in honor of Our Saviour the Image; south - in honor svtt. Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria; North - in honor of St. Nicholas of Myra. His Holiness was joined by: Metropolitan Arseny of Istra , the first Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in Moscow; Archbishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk , head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate; Bishop Theophylact Dmitrov , vicar of St. Andrew's Monastery Stavropegic ; Bishop Tikhon Egoryevsky , chairman of the Patriarchal Council for Culture , the governor Sretensky Monastery Stavropegic ; Divakov Archpriest Vladimir , secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in Moscow; Archpriest Mikhail Oskolkov, rector of St. Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria; metropolitan clergy. Liturgical chants sang church of St. Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria choir on Sivtsev Ravine (regent NI Vlasova). Patriarchal service was broadcast live on the TV channel "Union" . After the augmented litany of the Russian Orthodox Church prayed for peace in Ukraine. During the Liturgy, His Holiness ordained deacon Sergius Parfenov, cleric of St. Nicholas of Myra in Tolmachi of Moscow, to the rank of priest. Preaching before Communion the priest said Vladimir Sokolov, a cleric of the Nine Martyrs Cyzicus, rector of the Nativity Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius in St. Nicholas in Moscow. Upon completion of the Liturgy of the newly consecrated church rector Archpriest Mikhail Oskolkov on behalf of the clergy and parishioners welcomed His Holiness and His Holiness gave a list of the temple icon of St. Athanasius and Cyril. Patriarch Kirill said in a sermon . At the end of the Primate of the Russian Church said: "I would like to thank you, Michael's father, for your kind words and for the gift that you presented me, and all the congregation of the holy temple for those great works that you have suffered, since the 1990s to the present day, priugotovlyaya this the temple of the great consecration. It is important that the works that people do in the name of the Lord unites them. Experience shows that people are very united construction and restoration of churches, when everyone makes some small contribution, their money, time and effort. Then the temple becomes a part of life, it is something very close, relatives, and people associate with it their future life. Today we are building new churches, not only in order to make them more because they are not enough for such a huge city like Moscow, but also because the construction of the temples is a great general-doing. Translated into Greek general doing - is the liturgy. This is the name and the service that we have just done, is doing general: we all prayed together to the Lord, with the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Our whole life should be a liturgy, shared with making the glory of God and for their own salvation. " In gratitude for the work of the Holy Lord gave Archpriest Mikhail Oskolkov anniversary cross, made on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the birth of His Holiness. The gift of the newly consecrated church Primate of the Russian Church transferred the Triumph of Orthodoxy icon. Tonight, on the eve of the 1st Week of Lent, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill conducted All-Night Vigil in Zaikonospassky Stauropegial monastery in Moscow. *** Temple St Athanasius and Cyril on Sivtsev Ravine was built no later than the middle of the XV century. The first documentary mention is found in the Book of the patriarchal order of 1631. Wooden three-altar church in the early XVII century, was rebuilt in stone and dvuhprestolnoy. The main altar was consecrated in honor of Our Saviour the Image, and the side chapel in honor of St. Nicholas. But in the years 1748-1749 on the petition of one of the parishioners was arranged chapel svtt. Athanasius and Cyril, and the Church has once again become three-altar. During the war of 1812 was a significant event. The temple was placed miraculous Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria", brought from the besieged Smolensk. Later, a procession she was transferred to the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin. In 1813 he was re-consecrated chapel of St. Nicholas, the only survivor of the destruction of the temple. In the years 1815-1817 was rebuilt stone church. Since 1836, for twenty years, the temple entirely rebuilt and consecrated in 1856. On reconstruction and construction works were carried out with the blessing and direct participation of St. Filaret, Metropolitan of Moscow. At the end of 1870 work on the improvement of the temple was resumed. It was then that he acquired the present form. In 1932, the church svtt. Athanasius and Cyril was closed, its building was used for different household needs. In the 1970s, it began a partial restoration. In the early 1990s it was decided to return to the temple of the church building. November 5, 1992 were committed by a small consecrated chapel of St. Athanasius and Cyril, and the first Divine Liturgy.