JOURNALS of the meeting of the Holy Synod of May 14, 2018

May 14, 2018 in the historic building of the Holy Governmental Synod in St. Petersburg, under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church was held. The permanent members of the Holy Synod are: Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine ; Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna ; Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova Vladimir ; Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan Alexander , head of the Metropolitan district in the Republic of Kazakhstan ; Metropolitan Vikentiy of Tashkent and Uzbekistan , head of the Central Asian metropolitan district ; Metropolitan Varsonofi of St. Petersburg and Ladoga , manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan of Minsk and Pavel Zaslavsky , Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk , chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. To participate in the summer session (March-August) of the Holy Synod invited: Metropolitan of Simferopol and the Crimean Lazarus ; Metropolitan of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky Mark ; Archbishop of Anadyr and Chukchi Matthew ; bishop of Daugavpils and Rezeknensky Alexander ; Bishop Nestor of Korsun . JOURNAL No. 16 HAVE JUDGMENT about the celebration of the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. To hold festive and memorable events - conferences, concerts or exhibitions dedicated to the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus in metropolias and dioceses that are not part of the metropolis. 2. To the diocesan bishops to perform on July 28, 2018 in their cathedral cities solemn divine services dedicated to the celebration of the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. 3. To prepare the celebration in Moscow, to form the Organizational Committee under the chairmanship of the administrator of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, Varsonofia, instructing him to present the composition for the approval of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. JOURNAL No. 17 HEARD: Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on his visit to the Albanian Orthodox Church on April 28-30, 2018. Reference: From 28 to 30 April 2018, at the invitation of His Beatitude Archbishop of Tirana and all of Albania, Anastasia, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia made a peaceful visit to the Albanian Orthodox Church. His Holiness was accompanied by a delegation including, in particular, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and the head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate Archbishop of Solnechnogorsk Sergiy, deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, Protopriest Nikolai Balashov. On April 28, a prayer service was held in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana on the occasion of the arrival of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. Then the fraternal meeting of the Primates of the Russian and Albanian Orthodox Church took place. On the fourth day of Easter, April 29, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and His Beatitude Archbishop Anastassy of Tirana and all of Albania, together with the hierarchs and clergy of the Russian and Albanian Orthodox Churches, performed the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana. On the same day, a solemn ceremony was organized in honor of the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to Albania, where, in particular, the Russian translation of the book of His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasia "Even to the End of the Earth" was presented. On April 30, His Holiness visited the monastery of St. Vlasius and the Theological Academy of the Resurrection of Christ in Durres. During his stay in Albania, the meetings of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia with the President of the Republic of Albania, I. Meta, Prime Minister of Albania E. Rama, as well as the Ambassador of Russia in Albania, A.R. Karpushin. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. To take note of the message. 2. Express cordial gratitude to His Beatitude Archbishop of Tirana and all of Albania for the warm hospitality extended to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the delegation accompanying him. 3. Thank God for the consecration and fraternal fellowship of the Primate of the Russian and Albanian Orthodox Churches. 4. To consider useful the meetings of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Cyril held during the visit with the statesmen of Albania. JOURNAL No. 18 HEARD: Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on the First Hierarchical Visits to the Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church on the Territory of the Russian Federation. Reference: Since the previous session of the Holy Synod, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the following dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church: April 10, 2018 - Moscow (in its regional part); May 3, 2018 - the Kemerovo. On April 10, 2018, Tuesday of Holy Week, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the village of Gagino, Sergiev Posad district of the Moscow Region, where he inspected the restored temple complex. The ordinance of the great consecration of the church was performed by Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna in the morning of the same day, in co-operation with the bishop of Serpukhov Roman, Bishop Peter of Lukhovitsy and the clergy of the Moscow diocese. In the Kazan church, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was greeted by Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna. Together with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill with the history of revival of the temple complex, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Restoration of the Temple Complex, the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation V.R. Medinsky and the governor of the Moscow region A.Yu. Sparrows. May 3, 2018, on the 40th day after the fire in the shopping center "Winter Cherry", His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the city of Kemerovo. From the airport His Holiness Patriarch Kirill went to the shopping center "Winter Cherry", where he laid flowers at the memorial created by the citizens next to the building of the burnt down building. After visiting the site of the tragedy, His Holiness went to the Znamensky Cathedral of the city, where he performed a memorial service for the victims of the fire. Relatives and relatives of those who died in the fire prayed for the service, as well as Metropolitan Aristarchus of Kemerovo and Prokopyevsky, Archbishop of Solnechnogorsk Sergiy, Bishop of Mariinsky and Yurginsky Innokentiy, bishop of Novokuznetsk and Tashtagolsky Vladimir, clergymen of the Kuzbass Metropolia and residents of Kemerovo, the head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate. After a memorial service and conversation with the relatives of the victims of the tragedy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the diocesan administration of the Kemerovo diocese, where he met with the plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Siberian Federal District, SI. Change, temporary acting governor of the Kemerovo region SE. Tsivilev and the head of the Kuzbass Metropolitan Metropolitan Kemerovo and Prokopyevsky Aristarchus. At the end of the conversation, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill left for Moscow. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. To take note of the message. 2. To thank the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church for his labors and prayerful communion with the archpastors, pastors, monastics and laymen of the regional part of the Moscow diocese, and for special care for the grieving flock of the dioceses of the Kuzbass Metropolitanate. 3. To express gratitude to Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Metropolitan Aristarchus of Kemerovo and Prokopyevsky, as well as to the temporarily acting governor of the Kemerovo region, S.E. Tsivilevu for the hospitality extended to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and his accompanying persons. JOURNAL No. 19 HEARD: Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia regarding the reports of the synodal institutions on their activities for 2017. Reference: According to paragraph b of Article 29 of Chapter V of the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church: "By administering the synodal institutions, the Holy Synod ... approves the annual work plans of the synodal institutions and receives their reports." IT WAS RESOLVED: To approve the reports of the synodal institutions on their activities in 2017. JOURNAL No. 20 HAVE REUSE JUDGMENT about the submitted petition of His Eminence Metropolitan Eskevius of Pskov and Porkhovsky on reckoning him to rest in connection with the achievement of the 75th anniversary. Reference: The request of His Eminence Metropolitan Eusebius of Pskov and Porkhovsky to reckon it for rest in connection with the achievement of the 75th anniversary was considered by the Holy Synod on May 30, 2014 (Journal No. 33). According to paragraph 26 of Chapter XV of the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church: "Upon reaching 75 years of age, the bishop gives the petition to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for retirement. The question of the time for the satisfaction of such an application is decided by the Holy Synod. " IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. The request to satisfy. 2. Express cordial gratitude to His Eminence Metropolitan Eusebius for his many years of archpastoral care for the Pskov diocese. 3. The place of residence of His Eminence Metropolitan Eusebius in rest to define the Holy Dormition Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery. 4. The Most Reverend Pskov and Porkhovsky, the head of the Pskov Metropolia, to be Bishop Tikhon of Yegoryev, while retaining the post of chairman of the Patriarchal Council for Culture. MAGAZINE № 21 HAVE JUDGMENT about the state of affairs in the Alexandrov Diocese (Vladimir Metropolitanate). IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. Archbishop of Alexandrovsky and Yuryev-Polsky, Archbishop of Alexandrov and Yevstafy count in peace for health reasons, expressing gratitude to him for the archpastoral works incurred in the Alexandrov diocese. 2. The seat of His Eminence Archbishop Eustathius in resting to determine the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. 3. The Most Reverend Alexander and Yuryev-Polsky to be the bishop of Nizhny Tagil and Nevyansk Innocent with an expression of gratitude for the archpastoral care of the Nizhny Tagil diocese. 4. The Most Reverend Nizhny Tagil and Nevyansky to be Bishop of Sredneuralsk Eugene, vicar of Ekaterinburg Diocese. JOURNAL No. 22 HEARD: Report of His Eminence Metropolitan Volgograd and Kamyshinsky Herman on appointing him a vicar bishop. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. Vicar of the Volgograd diocese with the title "Gorodishchensky" elect hieromonk Feoktist (Igumnov), cleric of the diocese of Moscow. 2. The place of the naming and ordination of hieromonk Feoktist (Igumnov) to the bishop, upon his elevation to the rank of archimandrite, leave for the benefit of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill. - About what to send the corresponding decree. JOURNAL No. 23 HAVE JUDGMENT about the candidates for the chair of the Primate of the Estonian Orthodox Church. Reference: April 19, 2018 in Tallinn, the Primate of the self-governing Estonian Orthodox Church metropolitan of Tallinn and all Estonia Cornelius. According to the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, "The Primate of the Self-governing Church is elected by the Council from among the candidates approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod" (XII.4). According to the Charter of the Estonian Orthodox Church, "The Primate of the Estonian Orthodox Church is elected by the Council of the Estonian Orthodox Church from among candidates nominated by the Synod of the Estonian Orthodox Church, approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod" (3.3.2). On May 5, 2018, a meeting of the Synod of the Estonian Orthodox Church took place in the Pyhtitsa Dormition Stavropigial Convent, during which the following candidates for the election of the Primate of the Estonian Orthodox Church were represented: Archbishop Evgeny Vereisky, vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church's Educational Committee, rector of the Moscow Theological Academy; Bishop of Narva and Prichud Lazar, who temporarily operates the Estonian Orthodox Church. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. Praying to the Lord about the repose of the newly-departed Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia Cornelius, noting his many years of work on archpastoral care of the Estonian Orthodox Church. 2. To approve, as candidates for the chair of the Primate of the Estonian Orthodox Church: Archbishop Evgeny Vereisky, vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church's Educational Committee, rector of the Moscow Theological Academy; Bishop of Narva and Prichud Lazar, who temporarily operates the Estonian Orthodox Church. JOURNAL No. 24 HEARD: Report of His Grace Metropolitan of Minsk and Pavel Zaslavsky, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, on the session of the Synod of the Belarusian Exarchate. Reference: According to Article 8 of Chapter XII of the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church: "The journals of the Synod of the Exarchate are presented to the Holy Synod and are approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia." IT WAS RESOLVED: To approve the journals of the Synod of the Belarusian Exarchate of April 19, 2018 (Nos. 1-18). JOURNAL No. 25 HEARD: Report of His Eminence Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan Alexander, Head of the Metropolitan Region in the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the meetings of the Synod of the Metropolitan Region in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Reference: According to Article 9 of Chapter XIII of the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church: "The journals of the Synod of the Metropolitan District are submitted to the Holy Synod and are approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia." IT WAS RESOLVED: To approve the journals of the Synod of the Metropolitan Region in the Republic of Kazakhstan on February 11, 2018 (Nos. 1 (385) - 27 (411)). JOURNAL No. 26 HEARD: The report of His Eminence Metropolitan of Tashkent and Uzbekistan Vikenty, the head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District, about the meeting of the Synod of the Central Asian Metropolitan District. Reference: According to Article 9 of Chapter XIII of the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church: "The journals of the Synod of the Metropolitan District are submitted to the Holy Synod and are approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia." IT WAS RESOLVED: To approve the journals of the Synod of the Central Asian Metropolitan District of March 17, 2018 (Nos. 1-17). JOURNAL No. 27 HEARD: Report of His Eminence Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, Chairman of the Commission for the Making of the Month of the Russian Orthodox Church, proposing to include in the months the names of the ancient saints who worked in Western countries, as well as saints who had been honored in the Georgian Orthodox Church since ancient times. Reference: Created on September 18, 2014, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Commission for the drafting of the month's month of the Russian Orthodox Church carried out work on the formation of a list of ancient saints who lived in Central and Western Europe until 1054 on the basis of information about their veneration by Orthodox in Western European dioceses The Russian Orthodox Church, and also on the basis of the tradition of their veneration in other Local Orthodox Churches. When considering the question of including the saints in the holy months, the Commission was guided by the following criteria: the impeccable confession of the Orthodox faith; the circumstances under which glorification took place; the absence of mentioning the name of the saint in polemical works against the Eastern Church and the Eastern Rite; modern veneration in the foreign dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Local Orthodox Churches. In addition, the work included the information contained in the "Full month of the East" Archbishop Sergius (Spassky), the report of St. John (Maximovich) to the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad in 1952, articles of the "Orthodox Encyclopaedia", as well as in the synaxar, compiled by Hieromonk Makari from the monastery of St. Simonopetra. Also, the Commission considered the issue of the possibility of including saints who are revered in the Georgian Orthodox Church in the months of the month. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. Include the names of the following saints in the month of the month: Reverend Gall (16/29 October, † 650); Reverend Columbus, Hegumen of Luxembourg (November 23 / December 6, † 615); Rev. Fridolin of Sekingen (March 6/19; † 540); the apostolic king of Iveron Mirian (1/14 October; † after 361); the Equal-to-the-Apostles queen of the Iberian Nana (1/14 October; † around 364). 2. Publish the lives of these saints in the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. JOURNAL No. 28 HAVE JUDGMENT about the document of the Inter-Sobornaya Presence "Akathist in the Prayer Life of the Church" and the results of his public discussion. Reference: The theme "Akathist in the Prayer Life of the Church" is included in the agenda of the Commission of the Inter-Cathedral Presence for Divine Services and Church Art by the decision of the Presidium of the Inter-Cathedral Presence of January 28, 2015. The Commission, chaired by the Metropolitan of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky Mark, discussed the issue in several meetings and completed work on it on March 19, 2015. The church-public discussion of the document began on January 16, 2017, the publication of the project on the website and in the blog of the Inter-Cathedral Presence, as well as on the portal "Bogoslov.ru". The project was sent to the eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church and theological schools. Based on the results of the discussion that ended on May 2, 2017, responses were received from 117 dioceses, 66 of them contain comments and suggestions on the text of the document. The total number of comments and comments received was 142. According to the Statute on Inter-Cathedral Presence, the conclusion of the Presence Commission can be transferred to the Holy Synod, which, after reviewing the document, submits it to the Local Council or Bishops Council, or takes its own decision on it. According to the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, the regulation of liturgical matters is part of the duties of the Holy Synod (Chapter V, paragraph 25, e). With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Working Group on the codification of Akathists and the elaboration of standards for akathist creativity was established at the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on April 29, Since September 3, 2015, the group has been acting under the leadership of Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovo, chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. To recognize as useful as the work of the Commission of the Inter-Soborny Presence on the divine service and church art on the document "Akathists in the Prayer Life of the Church", and the general church discussion of this document. 2. Noting that, on the one hand, the use of akathists in public worship still does not have statutory regulations, since the current version of the Typicon presupposes the performance of an akathist only at the Saturday morning of the fifth week of the Great Fast, and on the other hand, other akathists are used in liturgical practice , to emphasize that, according to the observation of the priest Athanasius, bishop of Kovrov, Akathists can be used "only in addition to the main parts of the divine service, and not as a substitute for them." 3. In connection with the foregoing, it should be noted that the texts of akathists should be used primarily outside the liturgical follow-ups that make up the diurnal circle, for example, during pilgrimages, religious processions or in conjunction with conversations held by clergymen. 4. To admit at the same time that the akathists are allowed to perform the prayer service (before reading the Gospel), and also, proceeding from the current practice: at a small vespers (after the released troparion), at vespers (after stichera at the poetry, or after the release troparion) (after the Creed) or in the morning (after the kathisma or after the sixth canon song). 5. Do not recommend the performance of akathists after the Divine Liturgy, as well as during the Holy Thursday, except for the Matins of the Sabbath of the fifth week and the ordination of the Passion in those temples where it is customary to perform such a rite. 6. To remind the diocesan bishops, abbots (abbesses) of monasteries and parish priests and suburbs about the inadmissibility of using the texts of akathists not approved by the Holy Synod or not being part of official publications. 7. To draw the attention of the diocesan bishops that they can bless the official publication of newly formed akathists only to local saints and only within the dioceses headed by them (Journal of the Holy Synod No. 80 of October 1-2, 1993). 8. To instruct the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate, in conjunction with the Working Group on the codification of Akathists and the development of standards for akathist creativity, to prepare a collection of akathists recommended for general church use. 9. Instruct the Publishing Board to post a list of akathists approved by the Holy Synod and their texts on the website of the Publishing Council or on a special Internet site with subsequent regular updates. 10. Instruct the Synodal Liturgical Commission to prepare and submit for approval to the Holy Synod the draft of the ritual service of performing moleben singing with the akathist for subsequent inclusion in the additional part of the Trebnik. 11. To the Working Group on the codification of akathists and the development of the standards of akathist creativity, to accept the akathists for the newly glorified saints only after the preparation and approval in due course of the full liturgical follow-up of such saints. JOURNAL No. 29 HEARD: On the approval of the "Concept of the Diocesan Missionary Department". Reference: The document was prepared by the Synodal Missionary Department in pursuance of the resolutions of the Bishops' Councils of 2016 (paragraph 15 of the Resolutions) and 2017 (paragraph 15 of the Resolutions) and approved at a meeting of the Supreme Church Council on March 16, 2018. The draft concept was preliminarily discussed in the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church in the framework of the seven regional congresses held by the Synodal Missionary Department in the fall of 2016 in the federal districts and two meetings of heads of diocesan mission departments held during the International Christmas Educational Readings in 2017 and 2018. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. To approve the "Concept of the activity of the diocesan missionary department" . 2. Diocesan bishops and diocesan missionary departments should be guided by this Concept in the organization of missionary activity. JOURNAL No. 30 HEARD: Report of His Grace Bishop Seraphim Luberetskiy, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs, on the adoption of recommendations on the interaction of the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church with higher educational institutions. Reference: March 16, 2018 at a meeting of the Supreme Church Council, the proposals of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs concerning the interaction of dioceses with higher educational institutions were discussed. The Supreme Church Council approved the recommendations, after making a number of amendments to them, and sent the document for approval by the Holy Synod. IT WAS RESOLVED: Approve recommendations on the interaction of the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church with higher educational institutions and send them to the diocese to guide the relevant work. JOURNAL No. 31 HEARD: Report of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, about the trips to the fraternal Local Orthodox Churches. Reference: From May 5 to May 9, 2018, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, visited the Alexandrian, Antiochian, Jerusalem and Cyprus Orthodox Churches. In the course of the trips, metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk met with His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa Theodore, His Beatitude Patriarch of Antioch and all of East John, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos of New Justinian and the whole of Cyprus. The subjects of bilateral relations and inter-Orthodox interaction were discussed. IT WAS RESOLVED: Take note of the report. JOURNAL No. 32 HEARD: The report of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, about the participation of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church in the XI session of the Joint Russian-Iranian Commission for Dialogue "Orthodoxy-Islam". Reference: From 5 to 7 May 2018 in Tehran (Iran) XI session of the Joint Russian-Iranian Commission on Dialogue "Orthodoxy-Islam" was held, dedicated to the theme: "Religions and the Environment". The delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church included: Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Feofan - head of the delegation; Archimandrite Alexander (Zarkeshev), rector of the Nikolaevsky Cathedral in Tehran; Archpriest Lev Semenov, Head of the Theology Department of the Moscow State Linguistic University, Head of the Spiritual and Educational Center of the Orthodox St. Tikhon Humanitarian University; priest Dimitri Safonov, secretary of the Department for External Church Relations for Interreligious Relations; priest Alexy Sorokin, acting rector of the temple of the blessed Xenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikovo, Moscow; A.I. Osipov, Honored Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy; О.Р. Kalimullin, consultant of the Department for External Church Relations; E.V. Dunaeva, senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Participants of the meeting discussed topics related to the attitude of traditional religions to the problem of ecological crisis. On May 6, Metropolitan Theophanes, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, took charge of Sunday worship at St. Nicholas Church in Tehran. On May 8, members of the delegation visited the city of Qom, where they met with the leadership of the leading spiritual educational institutions and the great ayatollah Hussein Nuri Hamadani. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. To express satisfaction with the participation of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 11th meeting of the Joint Russian-Iranian Commission on Dialogue "Orthodoxy-Islam". 2. To consider it expedient to continue work on a bilateral dialogue with the Muslim community of Iran. JOURNAL No. 33 HEARD: Report of His Grace Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofia, the administrator of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, the chairman of the Commission for the Distribution of Graduates of Religious Educational Institutions on the work of the Commission. Reference: The Holy Synod approved in its meeting of October 22, 2015 (Journal No. 78) Regulations on the distribution of graduates of theological educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church and its regulations. Graduates of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary, the St. Petersburg Theological Academy and Seminary, the Orthodox St. Tikhon Theological Institute, the Sretenskaya, Nikolo-Ugreshskaya and Perervinskaya theological seminaries are subject to distribution through the decision of the Holy Synod. In past years, some of the graduates of the bachelor's or master's degrees, previously distributed by the Holy Synod in the diocese with a sharp staff deficit, did not arrive at the place of distribution due to the receipt, respectively, of the magistracy and doctoral studies, the decision of which was taken in August. The current practice was discussed at the Council of Bishops of 2017, whose members spoke in favor of its adjustment. In connection with the foregoing, for consideration of the Holy Synod proposed changes in the procedure of distribution procedures, which require approval by the Holy Synod in the spring of each year: a list of graduates who are scheduled to be sent to the permanent ministry in the diocese from which they came, or to other dioceses (subject to the consent of the ruling bishop), or to a synodal institution or academy; a list of graduates who, in the case of non-admission to the next level of education, will be allocated to a temporary place of service (for a period of two years) in a diocese with a staff deficit; a list of dioceses into which graduates can be allocated on a business trip (in order of priority). The final distribution will be carried out by the Commission for the Distribution of Graduates of Religious Educational Institutions after the entrance examinations on the basis of lists approved by the Holy Synod. Graduates will be sent to the diocese according to the distribution no later than September. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. To approve the changes in the Rules of procedure for the distribution of graduates . 2. Approve the lists of alumni to be sent to the permanent and temporary place of service, as well as the list of dioceses-recipients in 2018. 3. The Chairman is to submit, as information for the winter session of the Holy Synod, this year. information on the actual distribution, taking into account the results of the entrance examinations for the next stages of training. JOURNAL No. 34 HEARD: Report by His Eminence Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, Chairman of the Publishing Council, about the celebration of the Day of the Orthodox Book in 2018. Reference: The celebration of the Orthodox Book Day in the dioceses of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States and Central Asia included various educational, cultural and scientific events aimed at developing the book culture in the society, especially among children and young people. In the regions there were conferences and round tables, excursions, competitions, book exhibitions, meetings with writers and clergymen, concerts of sacred music. Also, traditional actions were held to collect and transfer Orthodox literature to libraries, educational and social institutions. The grand opening of the celebration took place on March 14, 2018 in Moscow in the Hall of Church Councils of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. In a traditional meeting with the children of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the Mayor of Moscow, S.S. Sobyanin was attended by 1,400 schoolchildren: inmates of cadet educational institutions in Moscow, Sunday schools, 200 inmates of social institutions from the Vladimir, Moscow, Ryazan, Tula regions, as well as 100 children with physical development problems undergoing rehabilitation at the Scientific and Practical Center for Children's Psychoneurology in Moscow . Guests of the holiday were presented to the musical and dramatized production "Look Into Your Heart" performed by the creative team of the cultural and educational center at the women's monastery in honor of the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God in Kaluga and the Choir "Otrada" at the Nikolsky Monastery of the Black Sea in Maloyaroslavets, Kaluga Region. All the children were given presents - book sets provided by the Moscow mayor's office and leading Orthodox publishers, as well as confectionery sets. On the website of the Publishing Council, as well as on the information portal "Pravchchenie", a live Internet broadcast of the holiday was held. On March 14, in the White Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate held a presentation of the new books of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church "Living Memory: Saints and Us", "On the Meaning", as well as new issues of the book series "The Word of His Holiness the Patriarch". The chairman of the Public Council Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovskiy Kliment, the chairman of the Synodal Liturgical Commission Metropolitan Konstantin of Petrozavodsk and Karelia, the vicar of St. Andrew's Stavropigial Monastery, the bishop of Dmitrovsky Theophylact, the editor-in-chief of the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate Bishop Nikolai of Balashikha, the chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs, Bishop Luberetskiy Serafim, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, State Secretary G.B. Karasin, President of the Russian State Library V.V. Fedorov. On the website of the Publishing Council, an interactive map of the events of the Orthodox Book Day was added, containing information on regional events in 2018. According to the data recorded on the interactive map, in March-April of the current year, 3,794 events were organized in the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church (as of April 23, 2018). In addition, during the celebration of the Orthodox Book Day, an interactive map of Orthodox libraries was launched on the website of the Publishing Council. The map contains information on 1553 Orthodox libraries. IT WAS RESOLVED: Take note of the report. JOURNAL No. 35 HEARD: Report of His Eminence Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, on the fourth season of the International Children's and Youth Literary Competition named after I.S. Shmelev "The Summer of the Lord." Reference: With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church held the fourth season of the International Children's and Youth Literary Competition named after ISKhim. Shmelev "The Summer of the Lord." Important thematic areas of the contest were the themes of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Patriarchate, as well as the deed of the New Martyrs and confessors of the Russian Church. In order to develop the competition, the general meeting of the Publishing Council defined special nominations: "For creative originality", "For the best work about the new martyrs and confessors of the Russian Church", "For following the traditions of Russian literature". In total, more than 1200 works were received from schoolchildren from 62 regions of Russia, as well as from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Ukraine in three age categories (sixth-eighth, eighth-ninth and tenth-twelfth grades). Based on the results of the correspondence stage, the received works were evaluated by the council of experts and the competitive commission, 36 finalists were identified. On March 25 in the Publishing Council the participants of the finals wrote the final creative works, after which the winners of 1, 2 and 3 places were determined. The solemn ceremony of awarding the winners of the competition was held on March 27 in the White Hall of the Refectory Chambers of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The event was attended by the chairman of the Publishing Council, Metropolitan Kaluga and Borovsky Clement, chairman of the Writers' Union of Russia NF. Ivanov, laureate of the Patriarchal Literary Prize writer VN. Krupin, the poet K.V. Skvortsov, editor-in-chief of the magazine "Youth" VF. Dudarev, editor-in-chief of the literary magazine "Day and Night" M.O. Savvin's. IT WAS RESOLVED: Take note of the report. JOURNAL No. 36 HEARD: Report of His Eminence Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, proposing changes in the composition of the Chamber of Trustees of the Patriarchal Literary Prize of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius. Reference: The Holy Synod established a Patriarchal Literary Prize in the meeting of 25 December 2009 (Journal No. 115), the Chamber of Trustees of which is formed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod (clause 2.1 of the Regulations on the Patriarchal Literary Prize). IT WAS RESOLVED: Include the chairman of the board of the Writers' Union of Russia NF. Ivanova in the House of Trustees of the Patriarchal Literary Prize named after the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius. JOURNAL No. 37 HEARD: Report of His Eminence Metropolitan of Constantin Petrozavodsk and Karelian, Chairman of the Synodal Liturgical Commission, on the submission of a number of liturgical texts for approval by the Holy Synod. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. To approve the texts of the services provided for church-wide liturgical use: the Cathedral of the Kemerovo Saints; to the holy martyr Michael, the presbyter of Orel; the new martyrs Bykovsky; righteous Alexy, the presbyter of Moscow. 2. To send approved liturgical texts to the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate for inclusion in the liturgical collections. JOURNAL No. 38 HEARD: Report of His Eminence Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, on the new edition of the text of the Akathists. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. To approve the proposed texts of akathists for use in worship and in domestic prayer: All the saints in the Russian land beamed; the righteous Paul of Taganrog. 2. To send approved akathists to the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate for inclusion in the liturgical collections. JOURNAL No. 39 HEARD: Report of His Eminence Archbishop Feghognost of Sergiev Posad, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism, concerning the applications of the diocesan bishops for the opening of monasteries, the appointment of hegumens and abbesses of monasteries, and the release of those from office. IT WAS RESOLVED: 1. In connection with the request of His Eminence Metropolitan of Ufa and Sterlitamak Nikon to open the Iversky Women's Monastery of Ufa in the Republic of Bashkortostan and appoint Abbess Moisei (Rakitin) to be Abbess of this monastery. 2. In connection with the request of His Eminence Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Feofan to appoint Hieromonk Gabriel (Rozhnov) to the post of viceroy of Raifa Bogoroditsky Monastery in Raifa village of Zelenodolsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan. 3. In connection with the request of His Grace Metropolitan of Orenburg and Saraktash Benjamin to open the Nikolsky Women's Monastery in the village of Pokrovka in the Novosergievsky district of the Orenburg region and appoint the nun Joanna (Boyarsky) to the position of abbess of this monastery. 4. In connection with the request of His Eminence Bishop Kolpashevsky and Strezhevsky Silouan to appoint Hegumen Mathew (Cherevichin) to the post of hegumen of the Savior-Transfiguration Monastery in the village of Bolshoy Volok, Molchanovsky District, Tomsk Region. 5. In connection with the request of His Eminence Bishop of Syzran and Zhigulevsky Foma to release Hegumen Mark (Alekseyev) from the post of hegumen of the Ascension Monastery in Syzran. JOURNAL No. 40 HEARD: Message of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia on the direction for serving in Georgia of a clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church. IT WAS RESOLVED: Based on the results of the agreement with the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the archpriest Vladimir Alexandrov, a clergyman of Moscow, was sent to Tbilisi for pastoral service among Russian-speaking believers, instructing the clergyman to represent the position of the Russian Orthodox Church in necessary cases. JOURNAL No. 41 HEARD: Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on dioceses and parishes abroad. IT WAS RESOLVED: Patriarchal parishes in Canada Archpriest Sergiy Kipriyanovich, in connection with the end of the trip, to relieve the clergyman of the Patriarchal parishes in Canada and send them to the disposal of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. The parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in East and South-East Asia 1. To accept the following parishes in the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church: in the name of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir in Jakarta, Indonesia; in the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh on Fr. Bali, Indonesia; 2. Hieromonk Joasaph (Tandibilanga), clergyman of the Belgorod diocese, at the disposal of His Eminence Archbishop Solnechnogorsk Sergiy, the administrator of the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in East and Southeast Asia, for pastoral service in Indonesia.

Kadyrov doubts ISIL was behind Chechen church attack

Kadyrov doubts ISIL was behind Chechen church attack MSOCOW/GROZNY. May 20 (Interfax) - The Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has denied that Islamic State (banned in Russia) has emissaries in his republic, and said that recent claims of the terrorist group's involvement in an attack on a church in Grozny were meant to deflect suspicion from the true masterminds of the crime. "Of course the Iblis state [Kadyrov's name for ISIL], or whatever remains of it, is triumphant whenever it is ascribed anything and everything. I am not saying its supporters would not order such an inhumane act, but in this particular instance there was intelligence on where the instruction came from, which side the wind was blowing from," Kadyrov wrote on his Telegram channel on Sunday. "Pointing fingers at the ISIL means diverting the investigation from the real protectors," he said. Websites tracking information on ISIL activities "deliberately or blindly engage in information support for acts of terrorism," Kadyrov said. "Now that the Iblis state is practically defeated, some foreign websites are reporting, with regular constancy, that it organized everything that happens in the world (. . .). The purpose is clear: to inculcate in the ordinary guy the world over that the Iblis state is still an omnipotent organization capable of plotting and carrying out terrorist attacks," Kadyrov said. "There once was a Salman Raduyev who made the whole world laugh by claiming responsibility if told that an arsenal was blown up on a nonexistent military site in a nonexistent town," Kadyrov said. The inquiry into the attack on the Grozny church is going successfully, and in time more details will be made public, he said. "As for the Iblis state, its morons were capable of the most treacherous crimes. Thanks to the firm and resolution position taken on the fight against it by Russian President Vladimir Putin, it was effectively defeated, deprived of the single coordinating center. We made, and are making, a worthy contribution to this fight. There is no Iblis state or its emissaries in Chechnya, and never will be. And those who were behind the events at the Church of Archangel Michael, will face the most severe punishment in accordance with the law. No one should have doubt about that," the Chechen leader said. Earlier SITE Intelligence Group, a website tracking information on terrorist activities, reported that Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the attack on the Orthodox church in Grozny On Saturday Kadyrov told Interfax that four militants had been killed in Grozny after they tried to capture parishioners at the Archangel Michael's church. "Militants broke into St. Michael the Archangel's Church, their objective was to take parishioners hostage. All four militants were eliminated as a result of an immediately conducted special operation," he said. Two law enforcement officers (they had been posted to Chechnya from Saratov region) were killed as the result of the attack and subsequent operation to eliminate the terrorists, a law enforcement officer told Interfax later. "According to the latest information, two police officers were killed and two more injured," the source said. There was also one dead, who was not identified by the church's leader as one of the parishioners, could be one of the five attackers on the church, the source said. One parishioner was injured, he also said. Meanwhile, the Investigative Committee has confirmed the elimination of four militants and the killing of two policemen and a parishioner.

"Orthodoxy-Islam" was held in the capital of Iran.

print version 10 May 2018 11:27 On May 5-7, 2018, the eleventh session of the Joint Commission on Dialogue "Orthodoxy-Islam" was held in the capital of Iran. This year's meeting was devoted to the theme "Religions and the Environment". Meetings within the framework of this commission are held once in two years alternately in Moscow and Tehran. The composition of the delegation was approved by the Holy Synod at a meeting on March 7 this year. ( Journal No. 9 ): Metropolitan Theophanes of Kazan and Tatarstan , head of the delegation; Archimandrite Alexander (Zarkeshev), rector of the Nikolaevsky Cathedral in Tehran; Archpriest Lev Semenov, Head of the Theology Department of the Moscow State Linguistic University, Head of the Spiritual and Educational Center of the Orthodox St. Tikhon Humanitarian University ; priest Dimitri Safonov , secretary of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate for Interreligious Relations; priest Alexy Sorokin, acting. rector of the temple of the blessed Xenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikovo, Moscow; A.I. Osipov , Honored Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy ; О.Р. Kalimullin, consultant of the Department for External Church Relations; E.V. Dunaeva, senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Metropolitan Feofan on a trip to Iran was accompanied by the rector of the Kazan temple of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Archpriest Alexy Kraevsky. On the night of May 4, the delegation arrived in Tehran. The delegation was greeted by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Iran L.S. Jagaryan, the first secretary of the Embassy of S.A. Sushkov, head of the Center for the Dialogue of Religions and Cultures of the Organization for Culture and Islamic Relations of Iran (MoH) Mohammad Mehdi Tashiri and the staff of the JIU. On May 5, the church delegation arrived in the building of the Center for the Dialogue of Religions and Cultures of the OICS, where it was accepted by the head of the OIKS Abuzar Ebrahimi Torkaman. During the conversation between Metropolitan Feofan and the head of the JINR, issues related to the long-standing dialogue between the two religious communities and the prospects for its development were discussed. At the end of the meeting, the participants exchanged souvenirs. Then the first session of the meeting of the dialogue commission began. It was held under the chairmanship of the Metropolitan of Kazan Feofan and the head of the OICS A. Ebrahimi Torkaman. The opening session was attended by Iranian Vice President, Head of the Environmental Protection Organization Isa Kalantari, Ayatollah Ali Tashiri, members of delegations, staff of the JIU, staff of the Russian Embassy in Iran, representatives of the press and the scientific community of Iran. Metropolitan Theophanes read the greeting of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the participants of the dialogue and gave it to A. Ebrahimi Torkaman. In his report, the head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church dwelled on the Orthodox understanding of the problems of the ecological crisis. He stressed: "It is important to cultivate a culture and respect for the environment at all levels of society, from schoolchildren to businessmen and politicians. This transformation of society is impossible without the participation of traditional world religions, such as Orthodoxy and Islam. " In his speech Dr. Abuzar Ebrahimi spoke about the importance attached to this meeting in Iran, described the problems of ecology from the point of view of the organization he headed. He stressed that he sees particular importance in developing a dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church. Until 2014 A. Ebrahimi headed the cultural representation at the Embassy of Iran in Moscow and is an expert in Russian language and culture. Iran's Vice-President Isa Kalantari spoke about the importance attached to the problems of ecology in Iran. Archimandrite Alexander (Zarkeshev), rector of the Nikolaevsky Cathedral in Tehran, invariable participant of all meetings on dialogue with the Islamic community of Iran, made a report on the topic "Environmental activities as a component of the external activities of the Russian Orthodox Church." Then came the speech of the assistant to the President of Iran on the issues of ethnic and religious minorities, Khojat al-Islam Ali Junesi. The head of the Iranian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Cilician Catholicosat) Archbishop Sebukh Sargsyan warmly welcomed the participants of the meeting. He heads the largest Christian community of Iran - the Armenian-Gregorian, which ranges from 70 to 90 thousand people. The meeting was also attended by the head of another Christian community of Iran - Bishop Ramzi Garmu (Chaldean Catholic Church). At the end of the first day of the forum, Dr. Mostafa Mohakkek Damad and Professor A.I. Osipova. The report of the Russian theologian titled "Where is the modern man going?" Aroused the special interest of the participants in the meeting. Aleksey Ilich pointed out that the origins of the ecological crisis are rooted in the most modern man. He stressed: "Now it is becoming increasingly clear that humanity, even with all the benefits of civilization, will soon perish, unless it preserves, or more accurately, restores the integrity, the soundness of the nature of its own soul. That is, the environmental problem is, first of all, a spiritual problem, not a material one, and its core is the state not only of the environment, but mainly of the person himself. The solution of this problem, from a religious point of view, has two main vectors. The first corresponds to the specificity of religious understanding of spiritual life and the activities of man and society. The second is connected with those ideological tendencies and manipulations of consciousness in the modern world, which represent the greatest danger for man. " The second session began on the afternoon of May 6, after the Divine Liturgy, performed by Metropolitan Theophanes in the Nikolaevsky Temple of Tehran. The meeting began with the presentation of a long-term participant in the dialogue with the Iranian side of the Hojat of Islam, Dr. Ahmad Beheshti, the rector of one of the religious institutions of the city of Qom, which was called "Environmental ethics from the point of view of Islam and Christianity." The report was translated into Russian in advance and distributed to the participants of the meeting. After Dr. Bekeshti's speech, the opportunity to speak was again provided to AI. Osipov, in view of his special respect for him and because of the fact that on the first day of the sittings his speech was not heard in full. The speech of the professor of the MDA aroused a lively dialogue of the parties, revealing the common position, which boils down to the fact that religions should cultivate spirituality in a person, and without such education, the overcoming of the ecological crisis will be impossible. After the presentation of Dr. Moshkena Esmaili, who proposed a philosophical understanding of the problems of ecology, a detailed presentation of the OVC consultant O.R. Kalimullina on the topic "Modern environmental issues and the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in the field of ecology". Then came the lecture of Professor of Philosophy, Religion and Ethics Sayed Hasan Eslami Ardakani on the topic "Islamic Environmental Ethics of Virtue: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Benefits". A member of the church delegation is a senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dunaeva presented the report "The Role of the Academic Communities of Russia and Iran in Promoting the Ideas of Green Economy (on the Example of the Ecological Complex of the Caspian Water Basin)"; the report was read in Farsi. The third day of the dialogue, on May 7, began with a speech by Dr. Abdulhasan Nawab, rector of the University of Religions and Denominations (Kum). In the report of the head of the theology department of the Moscow State Linguistic University, head of the Spiritual and Educational Center of the PSTU, Archpriest Lev Semenov, candidate of historical sciences, "Ecological problems in the Orthodox vision", the connection between the biblical understanding of the right attitude of man to the environment and the relevant sections of such important documents as "The Basics of the Social Concept of the Russian The Orthodox Church " (2000), " Foundations of the doctrine of dignity, freedom and human rights " (2008) and " The position of the Russian Orthodox Church on the urgent problems of ecology " (2013). On the Iranian side, Dr. Shahin Avvani spoke. Priest Alexy Sorokin, rector of the Moscow church of the blessed Xenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikov, who recently defended the thesis of candidate of theology in biblical botany at the post-graduate and doctoral studies of St. Cyril and Methodius, made a presentation on "Nature in the Sacred Scripture of Christians: the Biblical Flora". The secretary for interreligious relations of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, priest Dimitry Safonov, spoke about the Russian experience in interreligious cooperation, in particular, about the activities of the Interreligious Council of Russia , whose executive secretary he is. In conclusion, Father Dimitri pointed out the importance of developing religious education, which serves as an effective tool for overcoming extremism. At the final meeting, a final communiqué was adopted. In the document, the participants of the meeting emphasized that followers of world religions should promote the careful use of natural resources in accordance with the teachings of these religions. Speakers noted that nature is an important foundation of human existence and spoke of protecting the environment as an expression of gratitude to the Creator. Both sides were in agreement that the processes of development of technologies and economy in the modern world should be carried out without causing damage to the environment. The document noted the significant role and responsibility of religious leaders and their followers in the matter of their influence on persons making practical decisions in the sphere of the relationship between man and nature. The communique also states that the next meeting of the commission will be held in Russia in 2020. In his closing speech, A. Ebrahimi Torkaman thanked the members of the church delegation for active work, and the secretary of the DECR for interreligious relations, the priest Dimitri Safonov, presented a commemorative gift in recognition of the work on the preparation of this dialogue. Metropolitan Theophanes, in turn, noted the unprecedentedly high level of participation in the forum from the Iranian side and thanked Mr. Ebrahimi Torkaman for the hospitality and level of the organization of the event. The meetings of the forum aroused considerable interest in the Iranian media, dozens of Iranian scholars dealing with religious studies, as well as post-graduate students and students of Iranian universities attended the meeting room.

Romanian Saints relics in Canada

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presented Wednesday His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada with particles of the holy relics of the Romanian Saints Gregory the Teacher and Constantine Brâncoveanu. Patriarch Daniel also offered Bp Ioan Casian a fragment of the vestment with which the holy relics of Saint Demetrius the New were covered. The gifts were received at the Romanian Saints’ Hall of the patriarchal residence in Bucharest. ‘It is a moment of deep spiritual meaning for our communities in Canada,’ Bishop Ioan Casian said in an interview with Radio Trinitas. Referring to the mission carried out in Canada, His Grace noted that ‘it is a new diocese with a fresh new spirit that consists of old parishes.’ Bishop Ioan Casian pointed out the desire of the Romanian communities in Canada to keep their ties with the Mother Church through the intercessions and protection of the Romanian Saints. Particles of the holy relics of Sts Gregory the Teacher and Constantine Brancoveanu. Photo: ZL As Bishop Ioan Casian reported, the relics of St Gregory the Teacher and of Ruler Prince Saint Constantine Brancoveanu will be placed at Saint George Cathedral in St Hubert, Quebec. The vestment of St Demetrius will be offered to a Romanian parish in Montreal. ‘I am somehow personally connected to Saint Demetrius the New, because it was the feast of St Demetrius when I left Jerusalem 25 years ago. I think he cared for me all these years,’ the bishop added. Bp Ioan Casian expressed his wish to bring several other particles of holy relics to Canada. ‘We will try to place some of these relics in other parishes. We would also try to bring some other holy relics to establish a communion of Saints in all our Canadian communities,’ His Grace said May 2. On May 7, 2018, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian will celebrate his first enthronement anniversary as Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada.

members of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia , headed by Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York

On April 28, 2018 members of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia , headed by Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, prayerfully paid tribute to S.V. Rakhmaninov at his grave in the cemetery of Kensiko in the city of Westchester (New York). A memorial service for the 75th anniversary of the composer was performed by the vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, Bishop Nikolai of Manhattan , co-chaired by Archbishop Synod Archbishop Seraphim Ghana, dean of the Second District, Archpriest Alexander Anchutin, clergyman of the Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, New York) of the Protodeacon Yevgeny Kallaur. Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany , Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada , Vicar of the Western American Diocese Bishop Irenaeus of Sacrament , Archpriest Giorgi Larin of the Intercession Church in Nyack, New York, personal secretary of the First Hierarch of the ROCOR, Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov), believers, admirers of the talent of the Russian composer. Divine service chants were performed by the Synodal Choir conducted by P.A. Feces. During the funeral, the clergy together with the Synodal Choir and the believers sang a fragment from the work of S.V. Rachmaninov's "All-night Vigil", the first time fulfilling the last will of the composer. Regent P.A. The fecula, on the initiative of which the funeral service was held, reminded the audience that "shortly before his death, Sergei Vasilievich bequeathed to perform on the burial a fragment of" Vespers "- a hymn" Now let go, "but this was never done ... And now, 75 years later , his wish was fulfilled in the presence of the Metropolitan, several bishops, in such a solemn atmosphere. "

Glorified in the face of the local saints of the Pyukhtitsky Monastery, the nuns of Catherine (Malkov-Panina)

print version March 21, 2018 12:21 March 20, 2018 in the Pyukhtitskoy Uspensky stauropegial nunnery held the glorification of the blessed old man of the nun Catherine (Malkov-Panina), ranked as the local holy saints by the decision of the Holy Synod of March 7 this year. ( Journal No. 7 ). In the morning after the end of the midnight service at the Assumption Cathedral of the monastery, the clergy of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate headed by the bishop of Narva and Prichud Lazarus and the vicar of the Tallinn diocese, the bishop of Maardu Sergius for the last time performed a memorial service, where the nun Catherine (Malkov-Panina) was buried. At the end of the funeral service, Bishop Lazar announced the decision of the Holy Synod to assign the nun Catherine to the image of saints for local veneration, the protodeacon Andrei Kilin read the life of the old man. Then the blessed Catherine was celebrated. During the singing of the troparion, kontakion and majesty in the middle of the temple, the image of a newly glorified saint was taken out, to which the worshipers were attached. Then the authorized services were performed. The Bishop of Narva Lazar, together with the bishop of Maardu Sergius, performed the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The bishops were co-served by the clergy of the Tallinn and Narva dioceses. At the end of the Liturgy, a moleben was performed, at which prayers were delivered to the holy blessed Catherine. With a congratulatory word, Vladyka Lazar addressed the audience in the church. Also on this day the abbess of the Pyukhtitsky monastery Abbess Filaret (Kalacheva) celebrated its 50th anniversary. Representatives of the clergy congratulated Mother Abbess on the anniversary.

the memory of the holy blessed Catherine Pyukhtitska

On May 5, 2018, the memory of the holy blessed Catherine Pyukhtitska was celebrated in Estonia for the first time in the Pyhtitsa Dormition Stavropigial Convent in Estonia, the glorification of which took place on March 20 this year. On the eve of the Assumption Cathedral, the all-night vigil with lithium was served. Divine Liturgy at the Assumption Cathedral was performed by Bishop Lazar of Narva and Prichud and Bishop of Sergius of Maardu in collaboration with clergymen of the Pühtitsa monastery and the clergy of the Estonian Orthodox Church . During the service prayed the abbess of the monastery of Abbess Filaret (Kalacheva) with the sisters of the monastery, guests of honor, numerous pilgrims and parishioners. At the end of the Liturgy, the clergy and prayers passed the procession with the image of Saint Blessed Catherine Pyukhtitskaya, the holy was celebrated. Bishop Narva of Lazar addressed the audience with a sermon. The feast ended with a meal, during which the life of the holy blessed Catherine was read. Bishop Lazar, Bishop Sergiy, rector of the Nikolsky Church in Tallinn, archpriest Oleg Vrona, cleric of the monastery of Protopriest Vyacheslav Karyagin and abbot of Filaret (Kalachev) told about the life of the old man, her role in the fate of the monastery and the significance of her feat for the residents of the monastery. The participants of the festival also received a gift from the sisters of the monastery prepared by the monastic publishing house book "Pyukhtitsa monastery and its blessed starred Catherine" and a holy icon. *** Ekaterina Malkov-Panina was born on May 15, 1889 in Finland, in the fortress of Sveaborg, in the family of the military engineer Vasily Malkov-Panin. The family had six children. From an early age the future saint was distinguished by kindness and responsiveness, loved to visit the holy monastery, located not far from their homestead. Until 1900 the family lived in Helsingfors (Helsinki), then moved to Gatchina. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Catherine studied at the Natural Faculty of the Bestuzhev Courses, after which she worked in the Entomological Society in 1912-1913. In 1914, Catherine entered the nurses' courses and at the same time began to work in free city hospitals, later worked in the rear hospital, then transferred to the flying squad of the St. George's community: the sisters of mercy of this detachment helped wounded fighters who were taken out of the battlefield. After a serious illness, Catherine got a job as a caretaker in the village of Bezrabotnoe near St. Petersburg, and in 1919 she went to Estonia with her parents. July 5, 1922 Catherine was accepted as a novice Puhtitskogo monastery. From the first days of her life in the monastery, she began to behave strangely, at times, foolish. Soon she was transferred to the Gethsemane Skete, which was thirty kilometers from the monastery. At the beginning of the Patriotic War the Gethsemane skete was liquidated, and its inhabitants returned to the monastery. Catherine in 1942 was released home to care for the sick elderly parents who lived in Tallinn. In the same year, she buried her mother and stayed with her father. In Tallinn, Catherine visited the courtyard of the Pyukhtitsky monastery and predicted (almost twenty years) its closure. In 1947, Catherine buried her father and returned to the monastery, after which she began to openly foolishly. The nuns recalled that she sometimes imposed a special post, explaining this by saying that she was going to die, and usually it was to the death of one of the sisters. If she said that she was fasting, because she was preparing to be tonsured in the mantle, it meant that someone's tonsure should take place. Catherine was widely revered in the Orthodox people as having the gift of vision and healing. Many pilgrims flocked to her for advice and prayer. In April 1966, the archbishop of Tallinn and Estonia Alexis Kelejno, in the hegumen chambers of the Pyukhtitsky monastery, was tonsured in the mantle of the novice of the monastery of Catherine with the leaving of the former name. The last years of her life, the old lady rarely left the house, she lay more. If I got up and suddenly appeared, it was a big event and it meant that something significant was going to happen in this house. According to the stories of the nuns, Ekaterina's mother was constantly in sickness, but outwardly she expressed nothing of her suffering. In one of the last letters the blessed wrote: "How easy it is to take upon yourself a feat and how difficult it is to finish it ...". May 5, 1968, for the celebration of myrrh-bearers, mother Catherine peacefully departed to the Lord. There are many convincing evidences of the holiness of the ascetic and the abundant gracious gifts manifested during her life and after death in obvious miracles, including healings (some of them are confirmed by medical documents).

In the hospital of the Antiochian Orthodox Church Al-Hosn, Russian doctors conducted a charity examination of patients

In the hospital of the Antiochian Orthodox Church Al-Hosn, Russian doctors conducted a charity examination of patients В госпитале Антиохийской Православной Церкви «Аль-Хосн» российские врачи провели благотворительный осмотр пациентов print version May 7, 2018 18:11 On May 5, 2018, in consultation with the Priesthood of the Antiochian Orthodox Church , a charity examination of Syrian patients by Russian doctors of the military base "Khmeimim" was held in the reception room of the Al-Hosn hospital in Syria. The event was timed to the commemoration of the feast day of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. Upon examination, the necessary medicines were given to the needy for free. The Patriarchal Hospital "Al-Hosn" is located in the Akkar Diocese of the Antiochian Orthodox Church near the village of Ain-Azhuz of the province of Homs. The hospital provides a wide range of medical and diagnostic services, paying special attention to helping victims during the war in Syria.

The meeting of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill with the President of Albania

On April 30, 2018, during the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the Albanian Orthodox Church , the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church met with the President of the Republic of Albania, Ilir Meta. In the conversation that took place at the residence of the head of state in Tirana, the Most Blessed Archbishop of Tirana and the whole of Albania Anastassy took part. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was accompanied by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk , Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archbishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk , Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov , Deputy Chairman of the DECR, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR Secretary for Inter-Orthodox Relations, Head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Priest Alexander Volkov . Among those present were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Albania A.R. Karpushin, representatives of the Presidential Administration: Secretary General Algi Blako, Head of Cabinet Arben Chichi, Diplomatic Adviser Walter Ibrahimi, Media Adviser Tedi Blushi, Advisor for Local Government Illy Aslani, Public Relations Director Edwin Schwartz. Greeting His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Ilir Meta stressed: "This is a very important visit, and not only because it is the first visit of this level to our country, but also because of the irreplaceable role played by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in ensuring religious harmony in the world ". "I want to assure that our country will continue to be an example of harmonious coexistence of religious communities, because it is a decisive factor in preserving peace both in our region and throughout the world," he stressed. For his part, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church thanked the head of state and in his person the people of Albania for the warm welcome. "This is the first visit of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to Albania," stressed His Holiness. - I've been here in 2003 and can compare what was at that time, and what is now. I would like to say that Albania has made a very big step in its development. I came across a completely different country: in addition to the wonderful nature, new beautiful buildings, roads, good agriculture are attracting attention. All that I could see made a good impression on me. " Especially noticeable are the changes in religious life, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church attested. "The majestic Cathedral of the Resurrection in which we performed the Liturgy is in a sense a symbol not only of a religious resurrection, but in general a symbol of the resurrection of Albania, a symbol of a new life," stated His Holiness the Patriarch. His Holiness emphasized the role of His Beatitude Archbishop Anastassy in preserving interreligious accord and cooperation in the country. "In your presence, I would like to thank His Beatitude Anastasia for his Abrahamic hospitality and, of course, for the great cause that he accomplished, creating an Orthodox community in this country," said the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. - We have very warm personal relations and good relations between the Churches. Vladyka Anastassy has visited our country many times. We attach great importance to such fraternal visits. " For his part, the President of Albania stressed: "We are not a very big country, but God has awarded us everything: two beautiful seas, lakes, endless rivers, griefs, fields - anything. We tried for several decades to live without faith in the Lord, but it was a failure. One of the gifts that the Lord gave us was Archbishop Anastassy, ​​who, as you noted, did an incredible job for the revival of the Albanian Orthodox Church. " Ilir Meta mentioned the important role of the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church in ensuring the peaceful existence of religious communities in the country, as well as joint works of leaders of religious communities in this direction. "As you rightly said, faith is of great importance for the construction of peace and stability in the country. For us the indispensable role of religious communities and their leaders in Albania is undoubted, "the President said, referring to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. During the conversation, the issue of tourist exchanges was discussed as an important factor in the rapprochement of peoples; the interlocutors also spoke about the challenges facing modern society. "Now many people are teaching us that in order to build a just and happy life, concentration of capital, economic power, military strength, scientific prosperity, social doctrines are sufficient," said His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. - Very rich countries tell us: live like us, and everything will be fine, you will achieve the goal. I scream at the top of my voice for the whole world: nothing will happen if humanity abandons God. There will be wealth - there will be no happiness. There will be power - there will be no justice. And we see what is happening now: terrible crises shake humanity. International law, international institutions, international organizations - all work for peace and justice in the world, but there is no peace, no justice. " Recalling that in different years he repeatedly discussed the theme of peace and justice with His Beatitude Archbishop of Tirana and all of Albania, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed the opinion: "The experience of the life of our countries and peoples must convince very many that without faith, without the moral values ​​that are supported by faith, it is impossible to build a happy family, a happy society, or a happy world order. "

Prayer of St. Matrona mp

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the discovery of the relics of the holy blessed old Matrona of Moscow. The relics of the old man are in the Pokrovsky Stauropegial Convent of Moscow. The abbess Feofaniya (Miskin) told about the relics of the saint, how the monastery was restored, and the abbot of the Moscow Patriarchate was told about the modern life of the monastery (see LMP, 2018, No. 3 ). - Back in the early 1990s, few people in Moscow heard of the blessed Matron of Moscow. Tell us, please, how did you find out about the old man yourself? - I learned about the fact that there is such an ascetic as early as in 1982. I just graduated from high school and faced the choice of my future life. The spiritual director of our family, Archimandrite Polycarp, was just transferred from the Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery to the St. Daniel Monastery, which was the first of all Moscow monasteries to be transferred to the Church back in the Soviet era. In the monastery, where I went to confess to the priest, there was complete devastation, the restoration work on the preparations for the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus had just started. Someone told me that an old lady was buried at Danilovsky Cemetery, which helps in different needs. It was difficult to find the grave - none of the visitors knew where it was. Only the beggars at the entrance to the temple and the flower sellers told me where Matron was buried. The grave was not completely abandoned, someone was courting her. I do not remember exactly what I was asking for, but even then the Matrona began to help me: she led me to many spiritually elderly people who solved my doubts. Soon I went to the monastery. - Tell us, how did it happen that it was in the Intercession Monastery that the relics of the old man settled down? - The monastery was revived as a female abode by the decision of the Holy Synod on November 24, 1994, and the decree about my appointment as abbess was signed by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II on February 22, 1995. When I came from Diveevo to Moscow, I went to the grave to Matrona before the meeting with the Patriarch. After receiving from the Patriarch I was given documents and the Charter of the new monastery, not yet agreed with the Ministry of Justice. It was difficult to start everything from scratch - to prepare and coordinate our demands on the buildings and land of the former monastery. She hated the rapids of the archives, ordered certificates, so that there was a basis for settling in the monastery, because there were so many tenants there! And of course, she again went to Danilovskoe cemetery, prayed to Matrona that she would help manage all the affairs. Monastic premises then occupied a wide variety of organizations and companies, including the Ministry of Fuel and Energy, Posyltorg, construction organizations and banks. Tenants were over 40. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy was worried about how I manage there, so sometimes I came in personally to check. Once he visited the monastery in early January 1998. Winter, on the territory of no one - the service has long since ended, the gates are all closed. His Holiness was alone, only with a subdeacon and a driver. They wanted to go through one gate, into others - everything is closed. We were still only preparing for the consecration of the Intercession Church, and the floors there were not yet fully laid. Two sisters were in the temple, closed there and read the rule. The Patriarch knocks at the window, and the sisters say: the temple is closed for cleaning, sorry. Did not recognize the Holy One! And how to know - they never saw him! At this time, I just returned from the Danilovsky cemetery, from Matrona. I did not know that the Primate in the monastery, went to her cell. After all, there were no mobile phones yet, I come - and I get a call from the city: "You have a patriarch in the territory, and where do you go?" I ran to the temple, my sisters say: "Take the blessing, this is the Patriarch in front of you!" And fell to the Holy One on his feet: "Forgive me, Your Holiness!" And he asks: "Where do you go on the weekends?" I immediately said, that was in the cemetery at Matrona, there goes so many people! And at us today only two people prayed, no one goes to the temple. I immediately began to tell how we watch the sisters and the grave, we are on duty, we feed people with tea and pies. The Patriarch then inspected the entire territory of the monastery, which we had already been given by that time, looked into every room vacated by tenants - everywhere not a soul, as if not Moscow at all. And about Matron Patriarch Alexy did not know anything, therefore I decided immediately, without delay, personally to go to the cemetery, to serve lithium. I took a censer, he had a homophore with him, and drove off. The Holy One served lithium, and we sang with a subdeacon. There were quite a lot of people in the cemetery, and at first people did not even understand that this Patriarch had come. After the liturgy, His Holiness continued to talk with the people for a long time, asking how the old man helped them. The Patriarch was very inspired by this trip. And I asked His Holiness, if possible, the remains of Matronushka to be transferred to our monastery, reburied. And immediately I submitted a petition, which was prepared in advance, personally into the hands of the Patriarch. After that, my sisters and I prayed to Matrona every night to bring her remains to our monastery. - And why the acquisition of relics was scheduled for March 8? - Such a decision and blessing was given personally by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. In early March, a week before the acquisition of the relics, I was informed that by March 8 it was necessary to prepare a cemetery, a commission would come to obtain relics. I did not say anything to anyone, not even to my sisters, and I went. With the administration of the cemetery, we agreed in advance that it should be closed at 5 pm. From 17 to 19 hours we all removed from the grave. The cross, which stood there, is now in our monastery, in the right side-chapel of the Intercession Church. The incoming commission included: Archbishop (now Metropolitan) of Istra Arseny , Archbishop of Orekhovo-Zuevsky Alexy , then he was the governor of Novospassky Monastery , Archimandrite Alexy , the governor of Danilovsky Monastery , Archpriest Alexander Abramov , Archdeacon Roman and archaeologists. When they began to dig the earth, the archdeacon began to sing "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us." And the singing was picked up by the people, they sang without stopping, not hurrying up, quietly and reverently, until they found relics. I do not even know where so many people came from, because the cemetery was closed! There was such a grace! All the people stood with reverence, no one spoke. There was a feeling that everyone was waiting for some miracle. While we were digging, all the time it was snowing, very large, but there was no coldness at all-some warmth and joy was poured in the air. The next day the remains were transported to the Danilov Monastery. Archaeologists continued their work with them, and every day we served a funeral service ... It coincided that that year on March 8 was the Week of the Triumph of Orthodoxy - the first Sunday of Lent. Everything is God's business. Today thousands of people come to Matronushka, even very far from the Church. At first, sometimes, they simply ask for help in their everyday needs, and in the end it turns out that the Matron of all leads to the Orthodox faith, to the Church of Christ. Helps to establish family life, work, study. We have many such examples. - How did the canonization process go? Were there any difficulties? After all, the relics of the holy old man found in 1998, and canonized it in 1999? - When the remains of the blessed Matrona were brought to our monastery on May 1, 1998 at 12.30, the question naturally arose about including it as a saint. The descriptions of miracles that were necessary for a positive decision of the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints were lacking. We began to collect stories about the help provided by the blessed Matrona, about the healing that happened on her prayers, recorded names and addresses. There were difficulties, but with God's help they passed all these tests. Patriarch Alexy II in April 1999 reported that the canonization of the blessed Matrona is scheduled for May 2 of the same year. It was such a joy that you just can not describe in words. On the day of canonization, so many people gathered, that the whole territory was filled with people, although nowhere did they give any announcements. It's been almost 20 years, but it seems to me that everything was just yesterday ... - For all these 20 years, as you have already mentioned, many people have experienced the efficacy of prayers to a blessed old man ... - Since the age of seven or eight, Matronushka has been given the gift of predicting and healing the sick. And from that time on, Matrona began her hard way of praying before God about people. And at the age of 17 her legs were cut off, she became completely disabled. How many sorrows had to be borne by her in her lifetime - only God knows. She was completely helpless, and her own brothers, who became Communists and told the Matrona: "You're in our way, because of you we can have problems," subsequently refused it. She lived by strangers. And then the good people helped her to go to Moscow. Of course, by the Providence of God all this was for Matrona - she could only rely on God and therefore pray very warmly. But the griefs of other people were close to her and understandable to her. And the Lord gave her spiritual vision, the gift of foresight and healing ... In life, up to 40 people a day came to her, with each one had to talk, comfort, and reassure. After the blessed death, the Lord granted the Matron a greater boldness. Today, look, thousands of people come to her relics, and she helps everyone. After all, there are young and old, with children, with babies. In all diseases, sorrows and disasters, and in families, in work, in court cases, before operations people come. And how many children were born by prayer to the righteous Matrona! - It is well known about the huge queues of those wishing to apply themselves to the relics of Saint Matrona, especially on holidays. Advise our readers when it is better to come to Pokrovsky Monastery. Are they available for prayer worship every day? "Matrona receives up to three thousand or more people every day, 8-10 thousand on Saturdays and Sundays, and even more in the days of Matrona's memory." On holidays we organize a charity meal for all parishioners: a field kitchen, tea with a bun. The monastery is open every day from 7 am to 8 pm, and on Sundays from 6 am. In the morning on Saturdays and Sundays there are especially many buses from the regions, people from 4 in the morning take turns. And so - from early spring to late autumn. Therefore, it takes a long time to stand, and, if possible, it is better to come on another day. For example, on weekdays in the evening, after 18-19 hours. At 20.00 we close the gates to the entrance, and those who are already on the territory, necessarily attach to the relics, even if the turn is still great. Happens, the last pilgrims leave in 22-23 hours. If the weather is good, people spend the whole day on the territory of the monastery - we have shops everywhere, there is a monastery refectory, a children's playground. In addition, for Matronushka holidays we are open all night: from 7 to 8 March, from 1 to 2 May, from 21 to 22 November, as well as to the main patronal feast - the Protection of the Blessed Virgin, from 13 to 14 October we do not close the gates of the monastery . Pilgrims can attach themselves to the relics, take communion in the early Liturgy, which is served at night, at 00.00. And the Liturgy is usually headed by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill or one of his vicars. Then for our parishioners - a double celebration. After all, the Patriarchal service is broadcast to the whole monastic territory, the Primate, going to the temple, blesses all pilgrims, speaks edifying and spiritual sermons. We are very grateful to His Holiness for the care and care of the Intercession monastery, for the fact that he always tries to choose time and pray together with all our parishioners. - You said that many pilgrims come from the regions. How to solve the issue of their placement? - By the numerous requests of the pilgrims, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, we began the restoration of the monastery hotel and the chapel with the prayer house. These buildings historically belonged to the complex of the monastery, but were demolished during the persecution of the Church. Since 2005 the documentation has been coordinated, and only at the end of 2012 we started construction work. July 23, 2015 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia consecrated the new building of the monastery hotel, recreated by historical photographs. Thank God, now residents of other cities and countries wishing to worship the honest relics of the blessed old Matrona will be able to find a decent refuge in the new hotel. We created all the conditions, continuing the tradition of monastic hospitality. - Mother, please tell us about how the Pokrovskaya monastery lives today? Is everything restored? What other activities does the monastery have, except for the reception of pilgrims? - You can thank the Lord that for these years the monastery has been completely restored. In addition to the hotel, in a complex with the church of Peter and Fevronia, where the baptism and the wedding takes place, we have restored two churches, a belfry, hulls, walls and towers. Service in the monastery is done every day, morning and evening. Every day we receive a large number of correspondence, we answer all letters, many letters come from prisons. Every day the sisters conduct charity excursions for different groups. In our children's shelter, 40 children from disadvantaged families live and study. And the history of the orphanage is also connected with the blessed Matrona. At that time, we constantly prayed that Matrona "come" to us, that is, that her relics be moved to our monastery. Soon the first pupils began to be brought to the monastery, and I began to go to other orphanages, to see how to register a children's shelter legally. In 2004 we have issued all the documents. In addition, we have a large subsidiary farm in the village of Markovo, Ramensky district, a metochion in Moscow (a small temple of the Blessed Matrona at the Annino subway station) and a compound in the Trinity Lykov where the two churches are the Assumption of the Mother of God and the Life-Giving Trinity. An Orthodox gymnasium for 100 children has been opened in Troitsa-Lykiv. The economy, of course, is very large. It is necessary to be an abbess of the monastery, and the director of the gymnasium, and the builder, and the agronomist. But most importantly - to restore the souls of men, sisters and children, to receive the numerous pilgrims who come to the ¬monaster to apply themselves to the relics of the blessed Matrona. - How do you and the sisters of the monastery manage to combine obedience and prayer in the center of a huge city, with so many people? - All according to the prayers of the blessed Matrona, we love her so much! After all, she devoted her whole life to people, praying to God for our people. And strengthens us in monastic life. When there was still no relics, the monastery with great difficulty was just being restored, I prayed to her that she "came" to us with her holy relics. Then I did not even imagine what difficulties and problems I would have to face, only now, 20 years later, looking back at the past years, I began to understand. So we carry our obediences among the worldly vanity. Before the revolution, the monastery was missionary, here preachers were prepared for distant corners of the country. And today Matrona is our main missionary, and within the walls of the monastery there is a great miracle of finding the faith of Christ for thousands and thousands of people. Now more than 50 sisters perform a variety of obediences in the monastery. Our most important obedience is to receive people coming to the relics of the blessed. And people are all different, with their problems, their sorrows, all need to be comforted, a kind word to say. When you see how a person becomes easier in a temple, that he discovers a new world for himself - bright, tall, it is very joyful. People come to God, and we help them a little "get used" in the temple. Old scribes and nuns in our country are reading a sleepless Psalter - and this is also an uneasy obedience. "Praying for people is the blood of shedding," as the Monk Silouan of Athos said. We also try to serve our Lord with our feeble prayers, we ask for the intercession of the Queen of Heaven. And Matrona strengthens us, because she herself lived as a monk and has great boldness with the Lord.

Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia Cornelius: I still rely on the staff of the PriestMartyr Platon

April 20, 2018 13:51 The Estonian Orthodox Church suffered a heavy loss. At the 94th year of his life Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia Kornily resigned to the Lord. The long life of Bishop Cornelius contained many of the conflicts of the 20th century. The son of a white officer who emigrated to Estonia, the lord decided to serve in the Church, for which he was repressed after the war. On his shoulders lay the heavy responsibility of preserving the Estonian Orthodox Church after gaining independence. Three months before his death, the oldest hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church gave the last interview to the "Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate" ( No. 2, 2018 ), in which he spoke in detail about his life and ministry in Estonia. - Your Eminence, the past year was marked by celebrations in honor of the 100th anniversary of the episcopate consecration of the PriestMartyr Platon, the first bishop of the Estonian Orthodox Church. What do these festive events mean to you? How do you assess the contribution of the Holy Martyr Platon to the preservation and development of Orthodoxy in the Estonian land? - Vladyka Platon (in the world - Pavel Petrovich Kulbush), unfortunately, did not manage our Church for long, but was always devoted to Orthodoxy. He is the first Estonian bishop. Earlier, the Estonian Church was ruled only by Russian bishops, and this could not but worry the local population. At that time, the northern part of the Estonian Orthodox Church was the vicariate of St. Petersburg's metropolitans, and the southern part was part of the Riga diocese . So, at the end of the theological academy in St. Petersburg, Father Pavel was appointed priest of the Estonian parish in St. Petersburg and for 23 years of church ministry proved himself to be a wise shepherd. He was considered one of the best priests of the capital, and at the request of parishioners on December 31, 1917, he was ordained bishop of Revel (Tallinn) with jurisdiction over all of Estonia. The ordination was performed in the cathedral in the name of St. Alexander Nevsky, the future martyr of Benjamin, Metropolitan of Petrograd. He gave the priest-martyr Platon a staff, which is a relic for all of us - a symbol of the spiritual power of the bishop. One martyr for Christ handed the rod to another martyr. On the staff of the PriestMartyr Plato, I still rely on. In a very short time of his episcopal ministry, Vladyka Platon tried to restore church life in Tartu after a revolutionary coup. Helping all the suffering word of consolation, he preached Orthodoxy among Estonians. In February 1919 local Bolsheviks, arranging violence against those who did not take their side, shot and Bishop Platon. Before the execution, he was imprisoned for a month, courageously suffered all humiliations and cruel tortures in prison. The body of the bishop was solemnly transferred to Tallinn and buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral. In 1931, that is, already in the years of independence, according to the project of the famous Estonian sculptor Amandus Adamson, a marble tombstone was installed on the funds appropriated by the Estonian government and collected by donations. It is important for us that the priest-martyr Platon did not serve any political forces, but remained always with God. And this is the most important thing for an Orthodox person. There have always been human suffering in our lives, which are perceived by the heart of an Orthodox Christian outside all parties. These sufferings and wanted to relieve the priest-martyr Platon, being an Orthodox pastor in Estonia. - Vladyka, you are already 93 years old, you are the oldest hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. How can you carry such a responsible ministry at this age? Where do you draw strength from? - "Responsible service" has no age. And in 93 years the Lord gives strength, if he sees that I still need it, not all of the affairs, apparently, have been altered by me. Today I am fed by what was laid down in my childhood, the warmest memories of which I have connected with my father - Vasily Vasilyevich Jacobs. A nobleman, a colonel of the White Army, he found himself in Estonia with the remnants of Yudenich's troops. This is a person who lived not in lies and knew what an officer's honor was. My father gave me the Gospel, on the page of which he wrote the words that have become for me a moral landmark: "Every day I ask the Lord, my dear, that He, Almighty, keep you for life as honest as you have been up to now." You can say that all my years fit into simple words: "Thank God for everything!". Not without the help of God all churches are equipped, parish life is established, the activity of church departments is developing, construction of Orthodox churches throughout Estonia continues. In recent years, our clergy have replenished with young clergymen who have graduated from the Russian theological schools on a new curriculum. In this I also see the care of the Mother Church for us, because the Estonian Orthodox Church does not have its own spiritual institution. This year, in memory of the bishop of Tallinn and Estonia Isidore (in the world John Yakovlevich Bogoyavlensky) - the master of theology and the editor of the almanac "Orthodox interlocutor", I decided to restore the publication, which ceased to exist in the 40s of last century. By this we renew the once-interrupted work of Archpriest John the Epiphany, the future Bishop of Isidore. - Why and how you were arrested in 1957? What people most influenced strengthening in the faith when you were imprisoned? "My arrest was a complete surprise for me. Of course, this was a shock. At that time I served as a priest in the cathedral for the Nativity of the Virgin in Vologda. Now I understand that by his naivete he did not notice much of what preceded the arrest. Those who came for me, tried to collect everything that could give a hint of anti-Soviet activities. The search lasted almost the whole day, then - for many months of investigation. The Tallinn pastor, Protopriest Valery Povest, rendered me a great help and spiritual support, as well as many ordinary believers, many of whom I have never even known - their attention and care greatly strengthened me. I was accused of allegedly cooperating with the Germans, as well as disseminating banned literature. One priest, whom I gave to read Berdyaev's book, showed her to a professor at the Leningrad Seminary. This professor was known as a "snitch" - from there it went ... When there was a trial, the regional prosecutor accused me of shouting: "We must give him 25 years, his hands are bloody, but we could not prove this and everything else ". Nothing of the kind, of course, could be proved to attribute treason to the Motherland. The prosecution was charged under Article 58.10, "The Storage and Dissemination of Anti-Soviet Literature and Defamation of Soviet Reality," and for the second part of 25 years it was possible to give ... The court considered the case, and in it two points were violated, the lawyer did not touch upon some issues, since believed that enough of my testimony that they were not included in the case, but they still included. But what she denied could no longer be included in the charge. In general, the court re-qualified the accusation from the second part to the first, and gave me 10 years of imprisonment. After the announcement of the verdict, they handcuffed me, although it was not supposed to be - I was not a dangerous criminal! The lawyer suggested that the handcuffs were worn on me so that I could not bless people! A lot of people came to the court, but only witnesses were allowed into the hall. The investigation lasted almost four months - in February I was arrested, and in May I was convicted. - How did your life develop after the camps? - After liberation, I returned to Estonia, where my family lived - a wife and daughters. Immediately joined the church life, became rector of the Ioanno-Predtechensky temple in Tallinn. There I also served 30 years. Over the years, a lot has been experienced: a serious illness and the death of my wife who courageously shared with me all life's difficulties, four fires in the temple that occurred through malicious arsons. Parish life had to be adjusted, adjusting to the formed Soviet atmosphere. It was difficult, but, with God's help, can be overcome. By the way, I described all my life's vicissitudes in the book "On my path", which was published in 2009. There are many interesting details about life in Estonia in the 1920s-1930s, about my school childhood and youth, about teachers and spiritual mentors, about the arrest and years of camp detention, about my pastoral service, and, finally, about the difficult cross of hierarchy. - 1990, when His Holiness Patriarch Pimen died, and in his place was elected Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod Alexis , who for many years ruled Estonia, which brought to your life great changes ... - Yes, soon after enthronement, His Holiness the Patriarch arrived in Estonia and served in our church July 7, the feast day - Christmas John the Baptist. The Patriarch was assisted by two bishops: Bishop Istra Arseniy and Tapaschi Victor, rector of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. For the arrival of this was a historic event. Of course, the temple did not contain the whole people, many were standing on the street. And then I had to part with the dear heart of the parish. Patriarch Alexy invited me to accept the Estonian Diocese. I can not say that it was unexpected - there were practically no other candidates, as it was necessary to know the Estonian language, to know the local traditions. But I did not seek for the archbishop's rank and did not aspire to this. He accepted as the will of God only because he understood the inevitability of such a turn of fate. My ministry in the Nõmme church ended with a monastic vows and the ordination of a bishop of Tallinn. The monastic was tonsured in Pskovo-Pechersky monastery - Archimandrite Pavel, now Metropolitan of Minsk . And my admirer was a wonderful father - Father Archimandrite John (Peasant). Until his death, he always lovingly treated me, supported by advice and prayers. - What is the political and ecclesiastical situation now, what are the concerns and aspirations in the Estonian Orthodox Church? Is there any kind of communication with the Russian-speaking Orthodox countries of the Baltic States? - The time of my bishop's service was at a very difficult historical period. The Soviet Union broke up. Estonia declared its withdrawal from the USSR and the desire to be an independent national state. There were completely new collisions. Life was rebuilt, new trends appeared. Perhaps, I did not always manage to react quickly and correctly to events, I made mistakes in some ways, went at random. But I can say one thing: I have always tried to act in accordance with conscience, do not take hasty decisions, thought through every step and every appointment and movement of the clergy, tried to create the world as possible. I hope that my flock believes me and will forgive me if in some ways I was wrong. The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate today is experiencing considerable difficulties: many of our churches in which we perform services do not belong to us, but to the Estonian state. We use them on loan. And the situation does not change. Different political parties have different attitudes towards the Orthodox Church. In politics, there is always a struggle for one's interests. We are not engaged in politics in the Church, but only, it happens, they suffer from politicians who somehow want to use the authority of the Orthodox Church. We are always for an open dialogue. Historically, a good relationship with the Diocese of Riga - are welcome to good communication. - On April 29, 1993, Tomos of Patriarch Alexy II was announced at the Pühtitsa Cathedral on the restoration of the autonomy of the Estonian Orthodox Church. Now in Estonia, officially two autonomous Orthodox Churches - the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople . What, in your opinion, are the reasons for the continuation of the split? - Then the opinion of the Church on the question of succession was expressed in the final document of the Council, in which it was said that the Estonian Orthodox Church is the successor of the Orthodox heritage in Estonia. However, the government of the Republic of Estonia decided to provide support not to the conciliar opinion of believers, but to a small group of activists, who relied on the so-called Stockholm Synod. The Department for Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Estonia registered the Charter of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church, thus provoking a church schism. As a result of this split, two church structures operate in the territory of the Republic of Estonia today. The Stockholm Synod was organized by Metropolitan Alexander (Paulus) in exile in 1948. But the Estonian Church was not destroyed in 1945, as the current head of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Stefanos, tries to say, and not at all the majority of Estonians went to the Constantinople Patriarchate. You know, dialogue is at the heart of all communication, but dialogue with Stefanos is extremely difficult, since his actions are not church ones, but political ones. The Church of Christ with politics is incompatible. The question of jurisdiction is the question of the relationship to the Mother Church. For me, it is very simple: how can you stay in some other jurisdiction if the roots of Orthodoxy in Estonia are in the Russian Orthodox Church. The healing of the church schism is a long and difficult task. I hope that my successors at the Tallinn department will be able to solve this task with the help of God. My episcopal ministry is in full view, and my path is not over yet ... And joy and sorrow-I am experiencing everything with prayer. I thank the Lord: I am surrounded by very good priests, assistants and friends who are ready to support their old bishop in difficulties.