His Holiness Patriarch Kirill headed a solemn meeting on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill headed a solemn meeting on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society Святейший Патриарх Кирилл возглавил торжественное заседание по случаю 135-летия Императорского православного палестинского общества print version June 2, 2017 19:06 June 2, 2017 in the Hall of Church Councils of Christ the Savior in Moscow held IV report-back election conference of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society and the solemn meeting in honor of the 135th anniversary of the oldest international non-governmental organization. The solemn meeting was attended by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who heads the Committee of Honorary Members of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society. In the presidium of the meeting also attended: Patriarchal governor of the Moscow diocese Metropolitan Krutitsky and Kolomna Yuvenaly ; Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation The Medina; Chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society S.V. Stepashin; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the IOPS, Chairman and President of PJSC "Transneft" NP Tokarev. S.V. Stepashin welcomed the audience and read out the greetings of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin and the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation D.A. Medvedev . The word to the participants of the meeting addressed the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill. The gift of the Imperial Palestinian society His Holiness gave a copy of the picture GI Semiradsky's "Christ at Martha and Mary." S.V. Stepashin thanked His Holiness the Patriarch for his participation in the ceremony and presented His Holiness with the painting "The Church of the Holy Sepulcher", created by Anastasia Artemieva, a student of the Moscow Academic Art Institute. IN AND. Surikov. At the solemn meeting devoted to the 135th anniversary of the IOPS, were: Minister of Culture of Russia V.R. The Medina; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation M.L. Bogdanov, who read out the text of the greeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia SV Lavrov ; Minister of Tourism and Historic Monuments of the State of Palestine Rula Maaya, who read out the greeting of the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas; The head of the Russian and Novo-Nakhichevan diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Ezras Nersisyan, who read the greetings of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II ; representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East at the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia , Metropolitan Filippopolskiy Nifon ; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the IOPS N.P. Tokarev; Deputy Head of the Department of National Policy and Interregional Relations of Moscow, K.L. Blessed are they who read the greeting from the mayor of Moscow SS Sobyanin ; Chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the IOPS, General Director of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky; Hero of Russia cosmonaut S.A. Volkov. A video greeting was also shown to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, S.V. Lavrov. Deputy Chairman of the IOPS, IOPS representative in the Holy Land, I.R. Ashurbeyli donated a part of the relics of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Queen Helena to the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society. The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Financial and Economic Department, Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky , Chairman of the Synodal Committee for Interaction with the Cossacks, Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssky , Metropolitan of Tver , Bishop of Taurus of Barnaul and Altai , head of the Moscow Patriarchate by foreign institutions Bishop Bogorodsky NTON , deputy chairman of the DECR MP Archpriest Nikolai Balashov , the hierarchs and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church. The meeting was also attended by state and public figures, friends and partners IOPS, delegates and guests from more than 40 Russian and foreign representative offices IOPS. At the end of the official part of the event, a concert and reception took place. The Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society was established on June 3, 1882 by decree of Emperor Alexander III on the public initiative of state and church figures and representatives of the Romanov House. The first chairman of the Society was the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, and after his death the Society was headed by his wife Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna. Throughout its history, the Palestinian society has been carrying out humanitarian, educational, peacekeeping and scientific missions aimed at preserving Russia's spiritual ties with the Holy Land, the heritage of Russian Palestine, strengthening Russian Orthodox presence in the biblical region, and developing friendly relations with countries and peoples inhabiting such Important for the destinies of the world region. Historical traditions are preserved and multiplied in modern conditions, IOPS action program is being successfully implemented in the Middle East. The Society carries out humanitarian and educational projects, returns the once-lost Russian property, defends the rights of Christians, renders humanitarian assistance to the suffering population of Syria, is engaged in pilgrimage, scientific and publishing activities.

The Opening of the Relics of Our Father Among the Saints Mardarije in midwest US

The Opening of the Relics of Our Father Among the Saints Mardarije With the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America, the relics of St. Mardarije, which have laid in the Church of St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Illinois, since his internment in December 1935, were uncovered. The opening revealed St. Mardarije’s holy relics to be incorrupt. On Thursday, May 4, 2017, His Grace Bishop Longin served Divine Liturgy at St. Sava Monastery with Sindjel Serafim (Milojkovic), Priest Nikolaj Kostur and Hierodeacon Nektarije (Tesanovic), in preparation for uncovering the relics. Following the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Longin and the other clergy served a Moleban with the Akathist written to St. Mardarije. Upon completion, the crew organized to remove the tombstone and flooring in order to exhume the relics arrived, under the guidance of Mr. Dusan Djordjevic of Sveta Gora Funeral Home in Chicago. After removal of the stone, it was revealed that the casket of St. Mardarije was in a cement vault. This caused the opening to be delayed one additional day in order to organize a team to open the vault. On Friday morning, May 5, 2017, the workers broke the seal of the vault, while Priest Nikolaj Kostur and Heirodeacon Nektarije (Tesanovic) served a Moleban to St. Mardarije at the tomb in the presence of Bishop Longin and Hieromonk Serafim (Milojkovic). Throughout the entire process of exhumation, “Christ is Risen” and other Paschal hymns were sung, both in Serbian and Russian tones, knowing St. Mardarije’s deep love and dedication to both Slavic traditions. Once the seal of the vault was broken, every effort was taken to lift the cover. During this process, the cover of the vault shifted and fell on the casket, breaking its cover. At this moment, a sweet smelling fragrance arose from the tomb, quickly dissipating. However, it became evident that the Saint was buried facing the west instead of east. This in and of itself is miraculous. It manifested the Providence of God. Had St. Mardarije been buried in the proper direction, the vault cover would have fallen on the side of the casket where his holy head rested. It was visible that his feet had decayed and were bones. Frs. Serafim and Nikolaj lifted the relics out of the tomb during the singing of “Christ is Risen.” The relics were light in weight and easily placed in a temporary metal coffin. Hereupon the feet were examined, which at this point were the only visible part of the remains. The bones of the feet were goldish-yellow in color. Then, Fr. Nikolaj Kostur proceeded to examine the mid-section of the body. St. Mardarije’s Holy hands were holding the cross which was firmly in place and immovable. As Fr. Nikolaj pulled back the sleeve of the saccos, it was revealed that the hands of St. Mardarije were completely intact. Clearly visible were his skin, fingernails and hair. At this point, it was evident that the relics were more than just bones. The holy relics of St. Mardarije were lifted out of the metal coffin and placed on two tables which were prepared for the examination and washing of the holy relics. All of the vestments and clothing were carefully removed, cutting that which could not easily be taken off in order to not disturb the holy relics. Most reverent and diligent care and utmost attention were given to the work that was being done; the clergy continuously sang the troparion to St. Mardarije and other Paschal hymns. After all the vestments were removed, it was revealed that the holy relics, from the knee upward, were intact, although very fragile. The Saint’s anatomy was intact with his skin and hair visible. When the mitre was removed, his long, dark hair flowed out, confirming his continued monastic struggle until the end of his days. The hair on his head and beard looked as though he had just reposed; it was very soft. The eyebrows and eyelashes of his closed eyes were visible. Also, his ears were still intact. The body was easily lifted and moved. There was a great deal of dust which had accumulated in the grave from the nearly eighty-two years since the burial. Upon the removal of the dust from the entire body, the holy relics were washed with warm water and white wine. Hereupon spikenard oil was was used to anoint the body, according to the instructions received from the Holy Monastery of Hilandar. After the anoninting, the color of the skin changed from tan to a dark brown. After the washing and anointing, the legs, hands and torso were all wrapped in cotton and linen, making the holy relics more easily movable. Following this process, the holy relics were temporarily vested in a stiharion until his vesting takes place before his Glorification in July 2017. His face was covered with linen, and he was returned to the temporary metal coffin and covered. Truly, God is wondrous in His Saints, showing us all His Divine power and that nature is subject to God’s grace. All of those that partook in this experience, from the clergy to the workers, were moved with the joy and spiritual peace that filled the church during the uncovering of the holy relics. St. Mardarije lives on, not only in his legacy, but now through his incorrupt relics which will be a renewed rudder for the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, guiding us to move into the future, being directed by the past. May we follow St. Mardarije on the path of St. Sava, which lead him to sanctity. Our Holy Hierarch, Father Mardarije, pray unto God for us! Christ is risen! Priest Nikolaj Kostur Chairman of the Liturgical Sub-Committee for the Glorification of St. Mardarije

On the Feast of the Cathedral of the New Martyrs, in Butovo, the Primate of the Russian Church performed the Liturgy on the Butovo landfill mp

On the Feast of the Cathedral of the New Martyrs, in Butovo, the Primate of the Russian Church performed the Liturgy on the Butovo landfill mp On the Feast of the Cathedral of the New Martyrs, in Butovo, the Primate of the Russian Church performed the Liturgy on the Butovo landfill В праздник Собора новомучеников, в Бутове пострадавших, Предстоятель Русской Церкви совершил Литургию на Бутовском полигоне print version May 13, 2017 14:42 On May 13, 2017, on the Feast of the New Martyrs' Council in Butovo, the victims (a passing celebration on the 4th Saturday after Easter), His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the open air at Butovskiy polygon - the place of mass shootings and burial of victims of political repressions , Including many clerics and laity, now glorified in the congregation of the New Martyrs. On the Butovo landfill was brought the ark with particles of the relics of all the new martyrs and confessors of the Russian Church, whose remains were found in the years of the revival of church life. In the year of the 100th anniversary of the 1917 revolution, the ark with the relics of the New Martyrs and Confessors will be brought to all the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia. During the Liturgy His Holiness was co-served by: Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna , Patriarchal governor of the Moscow diocese; Metropolitan Istra Arseny , First Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in Moscow; Archbishop Evgeny Vereisky , Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church; Archbishop Feghnost of Sergiev Posad , chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism , governor of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra ; Archbishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk , head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate; Bishop Ilyan (Vostryakov) ; Bishop Guri (Shalimov) ; Bishop Vidnovsky Tikhon ; Bishop Dmitrovsky Theophylact , governor of St. Andrew's Stauropegial Monastery ; Bishop Jerome (Chernyshov) ; Bishop Tikhon of Podolsky ; Bishop Orekhovo-Zuevsky Panteleimon , chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service ; Bishop of the Resurrection Savva , first deputy administrator of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, governor of the Novospassky stauropegial monastery ; Bishop Nikolai of Balashikha ; Bishop Constantine of Zaraisk ; Bishop Bronnitsky Paramon , governor of the Don Stavropigial Monastery ; Bishop Peter Lukhovitsky ; Protopriest Vladimir Divakov , secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in Moscow; Archimandrite Alexy (Polikarpov) , the governor of Danilov, a stauropegic monastery ; Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev , key-holder of the cathedral church of Christ the Savior of Moscow; Protopriest Nikolai Balashov , Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations ; Protopriest Mikhail Egorov, Secretary of the Moscow Regional Diocesan Administration ; Archimandrite Nestor (Zhilyaev), Dean of the Odintsovo District of the Moscow Diocese; Protopriest Alexander Ageykin , rector of the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow; Protopriest Dimitry Smirnov , Chairman of the Patriarchal Commission for Family, Maternity and Childhood Protection ; Protopriest Kirill Kaleda, Rector of the Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia at Butovo Range ; The clergy of Moscow and the Moscow region. The divine service was attended by: Chairman of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, M.A. Fedotov; Head of the Leninsky Municipal District of the Moscow Region O.V. Khromov. Liturgy was prayed for by the abbesses and inhabitants of a number of women's monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church, numerous pilgrims from Moscow and the Moscow region. Liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Orthodox St. Tikhon Humanitarian University (regent TI Koroleva). Divine service was broadcast live on Soyuz . After a special litany, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church offered a prayer for peace in Ukraine. Then, there were petitions for the repose of the souls of the deceased servants of God, "for the faith and the truth, terrible suffering and torture during the years of persecution and persecution of the Church of Christ endured, afflicted and killed, from disease, grief and cold, in dungeons and bonds and in this martyrdom Their deceased archpastors, pastors, monastics and laity, their names are You, Lord, are weights. " Preacher before the communion spoke abbot Peter (Eremeev) , the governor of the High-Petrovsky stauropegial monastery . At the end of the Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill performed a moleben to the holy new martyrs and confessors of the Russian Church and the funeral litany for all those who died and were buried at the Butovo landfill. The rector of the church on the Butovskiy proving ground, Protopriest Kirill Kaleda, greeted His Holiness and presented His Holiness with a red miter. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia addressed the believers with the First-Hierarchal Word . As a gift to the rector of the Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, the Primate of the Russian Church handed over the Easter egg.

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

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

Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky): on the 3 Hierarchs

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

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

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

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

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