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4/29/2010 Outcome of the World Summit of Religious Leaders(Baku, 26-27 April 2010)26-27 April 2010 in Baku hosted the World Summit of Religious Leaders. The work of the first plenary session was headed by His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill. *** We, the members of the World Summit of Religious Leaders - heads and representatives of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu communities from 32 countries - have gathered in Baku to discuss topical issues of our time, among which we at this meeting highlighted the theme of the impact of globalization on religion and traditional values. Globalization of the economy, politics, law, culture remains ambiguous process. She brought a lot of practical use for the development, production, trade, science and education, for answers to common challenges in the field of security and environmental protection. International contacts to help protect the rights of believers in modern multi-ethnic and polireligioznyh societies. However, the impact of global processes in the spiritual sphere of many critically evaluated. In the context of globalization often made calls to abandon the identity and integrity of cultures and religions, to come to a syncretic system of views, to the "confusion of faith. However, history late last year and the beginning of this century has shown that this approach does not lead to unification, but an even greater separation of people. Knowing this, we consider it essential to preserve the opportunity for a person free route to his world view, even if they do not like the world's elite, but for the people - their way of life, even if someone finds it insufficiently "progressive." New information technologies facilitate the relationship between people and gave them new opportunities for self-expression. Thus, believers become easier to communicate with co-religionists from other countries. Contacts, which previously required several months of travel, now installed in seconds. Virtually every religious community today can tell about myself in the global network. On the other hand, the common information space more and more voices of extremists, fanatics, lzhemissionerov, heralds of war and terror, those calls to hatred and violence, insults, or general feelings inakoveruyuschih all believers. Globalization has not eliminated threats to the security of States, peoples and individuals. In today's world do not overcome such challenges of the past centuries, such as hunger, social inequality, environmental pollution, armed conflicts on ethnic and religious grounds. Moreover, these problems add new ones. Rich countries are getting richer and the poor - poorer. Unfair allocation of world income is becoming more critical. In the dominant political and economic value of human culture and the people leveled greedy pursuit of material well-being, comfort, entertainment. In a small number of countries built a high-society, and sometimes excessive consumption. Many believe that this is due to long-standing and current exploitation of the "second" and "third" world. Today, religious communities are able to give an adequate response to this challenge by proposing alternative models of economic development, based on common for many people the spiritual values - justice, solidarity, love and respect for the man to the centuries-old traditions and culture of our peoples. Religious leaders can make an important contribution to solving the world's economic and social problems at both the macro-level international contacts, and at the level of their country and a particular community. Terrorism, once tied to specific regions, now acquired an international character, and fight with him much more complicated. People who sow death and destruction, trying to use religious slogans to conceal their objectives. Some of them call themselves "religious leaders" and have created entire alternative "theological theory" to justify the killing of people based on religious and ethnic grounds. Even more cynical behavior by those who finance terrorism or ensure distribution of the associated ideology. Religious leaders have repeatedly stated that acts of terror - it is a crime under any traditional doctrine. But we should not think that the leaders of religions in a position to fix the world only on their own. Their calls are only for people that are open to the arguments of faith and reason. Hardened criminals are the same, unfortunately, much better understand the language of force. That is why the religious-political doctrine, justifying aggressive violence against innocent people should be banned throughout the world, as prohibited in many countries of Nazism. At the same time, we know: the idea may win only an idea, so it is the traditional religious communities are designed to resist the distortion of religious values in favor of extremists and terrorists. For this purpose, in particular, must not only maintain or revive the tradition of religious education and education, but also fill it with the spirit of peace and tolerance. A major problem for the whole world is addiction, which annually kills millions of human lives. International drug cartels operate like terrorist organizations, constantly expanding the circle involved in the drug use of people and billions of profit from their suffering and death. As in the case of terrorism, the fight against drug trafficking must be carried out consistently and without compromise, by the entire international community. Many in the modern world are trying to oust religion to the periphery of public life. These people insist on secularism of public space, except there any expression of religiosity. At the same time deny that the presence of man and society unchanging moral precepts. This opens the way to full moral nihilism. If moral standards and will continue to erode, and vary according to fashion, the benefits of practicality, humanity would die. No knowledge or technical achievements, nor the laws will not save the world in which there is no moral dimension of life, not eternal and immutable moral law, given to people by the Creator. In the current context as more important than ever collaboration of traditional religious communities. Responsibility for the future of the world encourages us to work together to declare the inadmissibility of compromises in the choice between sin and virtue, to stand together against selfishness, greed, hostility. We call for a world in which each state would have preserved the integrity of its territory. At the same time in this world, every nation should develop freely and without constraint, deciding their own destiny and taking adequate participation in the adoption of all international instruments affecting his life. Emerging conflicts should be resolved fairly, taking into account the interests of all participants, based on norms and principles adopted by the international community. Over the past century, believers were able to make spiritual values of inspiring, even for diplomacy. On the political summits are increasingly invited religious leaders, many countries are promoting interfaith dialogue one of the priorities of its policy. Yes, calls for peace are heard much less often appeals to fight. However, it is thanks to people of goodwill to the planet is engulfed a new world war. In this light, highly commendable recent initiatives by UN and UNESCO to promote cooperation between religious communities and their dialogue with politicians. We support the proposals for the religious dimension of the panel of the UNESCO Peace and Dialogue of Cultures ", which were adopted by a high level in partnership with UNESCO, held at the present summit. We believe that an effective mechanism for dialogue with the international community will contribute to finding ways to overcome the negative effects of globalization, changing to a better world political, economic and legal order. We encourage the development of interfaith cooperation at all levels and in all formats - in particular, we consider useful to establish in our countries and their regions of inter-religious councils. Joint action can be practiced in the field, especially in the field of social work and education of youth. More than half a century of regular meetings between religious leaders demonstrated how much they can do together. Alternatives to interfaith dialogue was not in the XX century, there is none now. And we, the religious leaders, must do everything in our power to maintain peace between nations and peoples. Source: http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/ Armenian Church Leader Meets Azerbaijani PresidentYEREVAN -- The leader of Armenia's
Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, met with Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev and prayed in an abandoned Armenian church in Baku at the
end of his landmark visit to Azerbaijan, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports. Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ UOC Primate Presided at Celebrations of the 20th Anniversary of Metropolitan Niphont’s Episcopal ConsecrationUkrainian Orthodox Chruch On April 21 the Orthodox
Church commemorates the Holy Hierarch Niphont, Bishop of Novhorod. This
day is also the name day of the ruling bishop of the UOC Diocese of
Volyn - Metropolitan Niphont of Lutsk and Volyn. On these days Vladyka
Niphont celebrated 20th anniversary of the
beginning of his service to the Church in the rank of a bishop.
Source: http://orthodox.org.ua/eng/ His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev Vladimir Made Lithium for Those Who Died in WWIIUkrainain Orthodox Church On April 26 in a wooden church
in honor of All Saints, that the construction site of the Holy Resurrection
Cathedral Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv, rail road, 3), UOC sosluzhenii
clergy in the church and in the presence of veterans sent lithium for
victims in the World War and victims of the Chernobyl tragedy. During the holidays the opening of
the exhibition "War through the eyes of soldiers and the personal
exhibition of paintings" Source spirituality '95-year veteran of
the war, artist Vladimir Yatsenko, who said this day Arhipastyr Order
"1020 years of the Baptism of Kievan Rus. Also on the occasion
of religious credentials were: World War II veterans Archpriest Roman
Kosovo, as well as "All-Ukrainian Union of participants of war,"
Kiev Regional Association of War Veterans "and" Kiev Union
veterans. All were veterans of the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church and the Foundation "Future Road" holiday gifts. Source: http://orthodox.org.ua/uk/ “Notes on Ecumenism” by Holy Father Justin (Popovich), Prepared by Bishop Atanasije, Published by Tvrdoš Monastery, 2010With the blessing of Bishop Atanasije, we wish to inform our readers that a new book by Holy Avva Justin has been printed, NOTES ON ECUMENISM. This book, comprised of 35 pages with 12 facsimiles of Holy Avva Justin's notes, is an important complement to his book, "The Orthodox Church and Ecumenism". The new book was prepared by Bishop Atanasije and published by Tvrdoš Monastery. Ecumenism is a movement that in itself swarms with many questions. And all those questions, in fact, spring from one wish and recede into one wish. And that wish wants one thing: the True Church of Christ. And the true Church of Christ provides, and should provide, answers to all the questions and sub questions posed by Ecumenism. For if the Church of Christ does not resolve the eternal questions of the human spirit, then it is wholly unnecessary. Avva Justin (one of the notes of Holy Avva Justin from the newly published book) Source: Holy Assembly of Bishops of the SOC Begins with Holy Hierarchal Liturgy26. April 2010 A regular session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops has began with the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Belgrade Cathedral church led by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia with the concelebration of all Bishops of our Holy Church. Source: http://www.spc.rs/eng/news_ The Patriarch Of Romania Re-Consecrated The Episcopal
Cathedral Of Giurgiu Thousands of faithful
of the whole Diocese of Giurgiu attended today, 23 April, the re-consecration
service of the Episcopal Cathedral of Giurgiu city, and Divine Liturgy
celebrated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, together with a group
of 14 hierarchs as follows: His Eminence Neofit, Metropolitan of Ruse
– Bulgaria, His Eminence Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Targoviste
and Patriarchal Exarch, His Eminence Teodosie, Archbishop of Tomis,
His Eminence Calinic, Archbishop of
Arges and Muscel, His Grace Vicentiu, Bishop of Slobozia and Calarasi,
His Grace Ambrozie, Bishop of Giurgiu, His Grace Galaction, Bishop of
Alexandria and Teleorman, His Grace Visarion, Bishop of Tulcea, His
Grace Gurie, Bishop of Deva and Hunedoara, His
Grace Mihail, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Australia and New Zealand,
His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, His
Grace Andrei Fagarasanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Sibiu,
His Grace Paisie Lugojanul, Assistant Bishop to Archdiocese of Timisoara,
and His Grace Emilian Lovisteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese
of Ramnic. 125 Years
since the Recognition of the Autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church
by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople On 25 April 1885, the Ecumenical
Patriarchate of Constantinople recognised the autocephaly of the Romanian
Orthodox Church. The Patriarchal Synod met on 25 April 1885 took notice
of the letters received from Romania and drafted the answering letters,
which they sent to the country through Gheorghe Ghica, the Romanian
representative in Constantinople. The Ecumenical Patriarch Ioachim IV
sent the autocephaly Tomos to the Primate Metropolitan Calinic Miclescu,
President of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, by which
“it blesses the Romanian Orthodox Church, with spiritual joy, recognising
its autocephaly with its own leadership”. It was also now that the
Ecumenical Patriarch Ioachim IV communicated, by an encyclical letter,
the recognition of the autocephaly granted to the Romanian Orthodox
Church, to all the sister Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, namely to
the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, as well as to
the Russian, Greek, Serb Churches and to the Archdiocese of Cyprus. Source: Bishop Daniel of Erie Reposes In the Lord Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia On the morning of April 26, 2010, at the age of 79, His Grace Bishop Daniel of Erie, Vicar of the President of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia for the Old Believer Community, reposed in the Lord. In a statement published on the official website of the Diocese of Eastern America and New York, His Grace Vicar Bishop Jerome of Manhattan called upon the clergymen and laity to lift their prayers for the repose of Vladyka Daniel. The late hierarch’s funeral
will be held on Wednesday, April 28, on the Mid-Pentecost, in the Cathedral
of the Nativity of Christ in Erie, PA. His Grace Bishop George of Mayfield
will participate in the service. Source: http://www. Russian Church Outside Russia According to reports by parishioners of Resurrection of Christ Cathedral in Buenos Aires (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia), a decision handed down on April 15, 2010, by Argentina’s Civil Appellate Court rejected an appeal made by a group of schismatics who had earlier seized control of the “Russian Orthodox Congregation in Argentina” (Congreraci?n Ortodoxa Rusa de la Argentina). The schismatics appealed an earlier ruling made by the Inspector General’s Office of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Argentina of September, 2009, in which all the decisions made at the “general assemblies” and “council meetings” of the Congregation that the Congregation itself and all church property allegedly no longer belonged to ROCOR were entirely invalid. The Civil Appellate Court (Camara civil de apelaciones) rejected as unlawful the attempts made by the schismatic group to seize the legal structure and church property belonging to ROCOR in Argentina, and fully supported the decision of the Inspector General. The Court based its decision on a series of findings in principle. Firstly, the court recognized the specifics of the original decisions laid out 60 years earlier by the founders of the Congregation outlining the primary goal of this legal entity: to administer the properties of ROCOR in Argentina. The Court stressed that the Regulations [Ustav] of the Congregation unequivocally designated that ROCOR is headed by the Synod of Bishops and specified its address in New York. This original fundamental determination by the founders of the Congregation cannot now be retroactively amended by a chance majority of present members, the Court found, since this would amount to the creation of an entirely new organization with different goals. Pursuant to this, the Court confirmed the Inspector General’s prior ruling that all the decisions made by the schismatics during their general assemblies and council meetings were not only utterly invalid but are deemed never to have been made and non-existent. In conclusion, the Court decreed that all legal expenses in this matter must be paid by the appellants. Buenos Aires, April 25, 2010 Source: http://www. SINGAPORE: Coptic Bishop Blasts Episcopal Church at Global South Encounter Homosexuality
is an abomination. Purify the sanctuary of the Lord, says monk A Coptic Orthodox Church
observer to the Fourth Global South to South Encounter ripped into the
Episcopal Church, stunning some 130 archbishops, bishops, clergy and
laity, urging them to say "no to ordination of homosexuals, no
to gay marriage, no to such immorality, and that it is time to purify
the sanctuary of the Lord from this abomination that causes our God
to suffer, bleed and be crucified again everyday."
Source: http://www.virtueonline.org/ 4/20/2010
Elderly Woman, 92, Becomes Nun in Greek Orthodox Church
Her Childhood Dream Realized at Last, 92 Year Old Woman Becomes a Nun
Episcopal Ordinations in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
On April 18, episcopal ordinations for three new bishops of the Armenian Church were conducted in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians celebrated a Pontifical Divine Liturgy and thereupon consecrated, ordained and elevated Rev. Fr. Artak Tigranian, Dean of the Monasteries of the Mother See, Rev. Fr. Mkrtich Proshian, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Aragatsotn and Rev. Fr. Hovakim Manukian, Director of the Inter Church Relations Office of the Mother See. His Grace Bishop Ararat Kaltakjian and His Grace Bishop Vertanes Abrahamian, Head Chaplain of the Republic of Armenia Armed Forces Ministry, assisted His Holiness during the holy Celebration. The intercessor for the three candidates was His Grace Bishop Markos Hovhannisian, Primate of the Diocese of Gegharkounik. During the Pontifical Divine Liturgy a public examination of the orthodox faith of the three candidates took place before the Altar of St. Stephen the Protomartyr in the Mother Cathedral. Representatives of each ecclesiastical and hierarchal rank – acolytes, deacons, priests and laymen representing different classes of society approached His Holiness and publicly bore witness on behalf of the candidates. The Divine Liturgy then continued before the Main Altar of the Mother Cathedral. Under the singing of the hymn "divine and celestial grace" the three Archimandrites faced the faithful and raised their hands as a sign of rejection of all that is worldly. Then His Holiness consecrated the candidates’ foreheads and thumbs of their right hands with Holy Chrism, solemnly brought from the Holy Basin, and called the candidates to the rank of episcopacy. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the symbols of episcopacy – the Episcopal staff and ring, were presented to the newly consecrated bishops, as well as the Holy Bible as a sign of their preaching authority. Following the consecration, the Armenian Pontiff conveyed his message to the newly consecrated bishops and the faithful. His Holiness introduced the ordained Bishops and reflected on the rank of episcopacy, "A bishop is the spiritual servant of the faithful and Christ, who is assigned to serve God, the nation and the homeland with increased responsibility and devotion. The Apostles of Christ always encouraged the spiritual servants, and the ordained bishops in particular, to serve with vigor and dedication. The Apostle Paul (who saw God) talked about the significant mission of bishops and through Timothy (whom Paul ordained as bishop) encouraged all bishops, "do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" (2 Timothy 4:5). "Throughout Armenian history, our clergymen of blessed memory, graceful bishops who were the outstanding figures of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church, brought their service to our faithful and Christ with love, devotion and zeal inspired by the words of the Apostle, and spread the Word of Life of the Gospel. They supervised the service of the clergy in Church life with vigilance, and served as examples with their pure faith, exemplary lives, worthy merits and noble deeds",- stated His Holiness Karekin II. His Holiness continued and reflected on the important mission of the episcopacy in modern times: "Today, when the spiritual-ecclesiastical life of Armenians worldwide is reborn, new communities and dioceses are established, new churches and parishes are built, the episcopal rank of our Holy Church is greatly necessary for the prosperity of its God-pleasing mission, the management of ecclesiastical-administrative responsibilities and for facing the basic challenges and questions that need solutions. "Glory to Almighty God for strengthening our Church with newly ordained bishops… Before the Holy Altar of Descent, the newly ordained bishops pledged to continue their unshaken path based on the love, doctrines and commandments of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church, for the Glory of God and the vibrancy of our Church and people. ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28).", stated His Holiness. The Catholicos also joyfully noted that Bishop Mkrtich and Bishop Hovakim were the first bishops ordained who were graduates from the Vaskenian Theological Seminary at Lake Sevan, which was founded by His Holiness in 1991. During "the Kiss of Peace" all the clergy ascended to the Holy Altar to receive "the Kiss of Peace" from the newly ordained, and congratulate them on the occasion of their consecration. Following the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, a reception was hosted in the Mother See during which the Armenian Pontiff presented Panagias to the newly ordained Bishops. Present for the service were Diocesan Primates of the Armenian Church, Members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See, Mr. Aghvan Hovsepian, Chief Prosecutor of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Liova Khachatrian, Mr. Artak Zaqarian, Mr. Aram Safarian and Mr. Armen Martirosian, Members of the National Assembly, government officials, official representatives of the communities in the Aragatsotn Diocese, benefactors, family members of the newly ordained Bishops and pilgrims. Following their ordinations, the newly ordained bishops will each celebrate Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral. His Grace Bishop Artak Tigranian His Grace Bishop Artak Tigranian was born on April 12, 1971 in the village of Dimitrov in the region of Artashat, Armenia. He received his primary education at the secondary Russian school of the village starting in 1978. He graduated in 1988. In 1988, he entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. On December 28, 1993 he was ordained to the diaconate on the Feast of St. Stephen the Protodeacon, by His Grace Bishop Anania Arabajian. On May 26, 1994 he successfully defended his thesis entitled "The Tradition of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross" and received a mark of good. Upon his graduation, he was appointed to serve as Director of the Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury-Museum of the Mother See, where he served from 1994-95. On July 23, 1995 on the Feast of Transfiguration, he was ordained as a celibate priest by His Holiness Karekin I, Catholicos of All Armenians and given the priestly name of Artak. From 1995 to 1999 he served in the Pontifical Residence as the Secretary and Staff Bearer to the Armenian Pontiff, His Holiness Karekin I. On October 8, 1999 he presented and successfully defended his doctoral thesis entitled "Catholicos Karekin I Hovsepian; His Life, Spiritual and Research Works". On October 10 of the same year he received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) at the St. Mesrop church of Oshakan by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Pozapalian. In 1999, Father Artak departed Armenia to serve as the spiritual pastor in the Church of St. John the Baptist in Paris, in the Armenian Diocese of France, where he served until 2000. He returned to Armenia in 2000 where he was assigned to serve as the Assistant Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. In 2001, by Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, he served as the Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral until 2005. From 2006 to 2008 he was the Deputy Primate of the Diocese of Gugarq serving as the Abbot of the Monastery of Haghpat. In 2008 he returned to the Mother See, and was re-assigned to serve as the Assistant Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. On June 15, 2009 he was appointed to serve as the Dean of the Monasteries of the Armenian Church, where he serves today. His Grace Bishop Mkrtich Proshian His Grace Bishop Mkrtich Proshian (baptismal name Hayk) was born on August 13, 1975 in the town of Vagharshapat in the Republic of Armenia. He received his primary education at the Khachatur Abovian School #4 starting in 1981 and graduated in 1992. From 1985-1990 he studied at the Tadevosian School of Art in Vagharshapat. He served as the Chairman of the local Vagharshapat Armenian Church Youth Organization from 1991 to 1993. He entered the Vaskenian Theological Academy at Lake Sevan in 1993 and transferred to the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1998. On May 23, 1999 he was ordained to the diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Voskan Galpakian. Upon his graduation, he was assigned to serve in the Christian Education Center of the Mother See as the Training Director of religion teachers, where he worked until 2001. In 2000, he successfully defended his thesis entitled "Interpretation of the Liturgy" by Khosrov Andzevats" and received a mark of good. He was ordained as a celibate priest on January 14, 2001 by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians and given the priestly name of Mkrtich. He departed Armenia to continue his education in the United Kingdom. From 2001 to 2003 he studied at the University of Leeds, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors. During his studies, he also served as the visiting spiritual Pastor of the Armenian Community of Manchester, England. He continued his advanced education in 2003 at the University of Cardiff, and upon successful defense of his thesis entitled "Classical Redemption and Feminist Theology" received a Masters of Theology with distinction in 2004. He returned to Armenia and in October 2004 was appointed to serve as the acting Dean of the Vaskenian Theological Academy at Lake Sevan. He was appointed to serve as the permanent Dean of the school in 2005, and served there until 2008. During this time, he also taught "Doctrine Theology" at both the Vaskenian Academy and the Gevorkian Seminary. He presented and successfully defended his doctoral thesis entitled "Attempt to Analyze Feminist Soteriology" in 2006 and received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) at the St. Mesrop church of Oshakan by His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian. In 2007 he studied at the Yerevan University School of Political Studies and graduated in 2008. In March 2008, he travelled to the United States, where he was appointed to serve as the acting Parish Priest of the Sts. Sahak and Mesrop Armenian Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. He returned to Armenia in September 2009, and by Pontifical Order of the Catholicos of All Armenians was appointed to serve as the Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Aragatsotn where he continues to serve today. Bishop Mkrtich has published several works including a translation from Classical Armenian of the theological work "Interpretation of the Divine Liturgy" by Khosrov Andzevats and the sermon study "Precept to All Priests" by Vardan Aygektsi. His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukian His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukian (baptismal name Vardkes) was born on October 19, 1976, in the village Voskehat, Republic of Armenia. He received his primary education at the secondary school of the village starting in 1983 and graduating in 1993. He entered the Vaskenian Theological Academy at Lake Seven in 1994 and 1999 transferred to the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and graduated in 2000. He also took a course at the Bossey Ecumenical School, Geneva, Switzerland in 1998 and a course in Social Theology at the Diaconal School in Aarhus, Denmark in 2001. He was ordained to the diaconate on July 16, 2000, by His Eminence Archbishop Mesrop Grigorian. Upon his graduation in 2000, he was assigned to serve in the Inter Church Relations Department of the Armenian Church. On October 22, 2001 he successfully defended his thesis entitled "Extracts from the History of the Coptic Orthodox Church " and received a mark of very good. He was ordained as a celibate priest in November 2001, by His Eminence Archbishop Voskan Galpakian and given the priestly name of Hovakim. He departed Armenia for further study, and from 2002-2004, studied at the Spiritual Academy in Sergiev Posad, Moscow. He returned to Armenia in June, 2004 and was reappointed to serve in the Inter Church Department of the Mother See. He was appointed to serve as the Director of the Inter Church Office in August, 2005, where he still serves today. He presented and successfully defended his doctoral thesis entitled "Ecumenism in the 20th Century and the Armenian Church" and on April 23, 2006 received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) at the St. Mesrop church of Oshakan by His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian. From 2008-2009 he attended classes at the Yerevan University School of Political Studies. He is a lecturer at the Gevorkian Seminary and the Vaskenian Academy on the History of the Universal and Armenian Churches. Since 2005 he has served as member of the Trustee Committee of the Armenian Round Table Charitable Foundation. He served as a member of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) from 2004 to 2009. He was appointed to serve as a member of the Central Committee of the CEC in 2009. Since 2004, he has served as the Ecumenical Officer of the Armenian Church to the World Council of Churches. He is the author of several scientific, public and apologetic articles. Source: http://66.208.37.78/index.jsp?sid=3&nid=1504&y=2010&m=3&d=18 95th anniversary of Armenian Genocide To Be Marked on Kharkiv
April 20, 2010 - 10:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian community of Kharkiv will hold a number of events dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide from April 23 to 26. On April 24 morning, people will be laying flowers to the memorial plate. Afterwards, a service will be held in Surb Harutyun Church and flowers will be laid at the khachkar in the churchyard. The events are organized by the Armenian Consulate in Kharkiv and Sumy regions, the Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian NGOs, Analitika.at.ua reported. Source: Strategic Planning Committee Meets in Washington DC Area, Identifies Goals and ObjectivesOrthodox Church in America
04/16 MCLEAN, VA [OCA] -- Members of the Orthodox Church in America's Strategic Planning Committee met at Saint Luke Church here April 13-15, 2010 to develop an initial draft of special goals and objectives for the Church as it moves into the future. In the absence of the committee's chair, Archpriest Robert Arida, the meeting was chaired by Archpriest Alexis Vinogradov. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah participated in the summary session on the final day. The meeting opened with a review of the OCA's strengths and weaknesses for the purpose of identifying specific opportunities and needs. Objectives for accomplishing 11 major goals for witnessing within the local parish community, the "greater" Church, and the world at large were then identified. With regard to the local parish community, committee members stressed the importance of replacing a "business-as-usual" mentality with a vision rooted in the Gospel. The revitalization of parish sacramental, liturgical, and devotional life and ministry and the need to reenergize the bond between the hierarchy, the clergy and the laity, were also emphasized. "Investing" in the parish's young people was seen as critical to building up the community. In the area of witnessing on the Church-wide level, the organization of effective parish/diocesan/territorial interactions and administration was seen by committee members as critical. The establishment of personal working relationships with other Orthodox Churches with the intent of realizing a united Orthodox Church in North America also was seen as a key element in this regard. Intensifying continuing education for clergy and laity alike, coupled with addressing the needs and issues that preoccupy today's cultural and moral climate, were identified as central to witnessing to the Church's witness in the world. The importance of fostering evangelization, outreach, and ministry on all levels of Church life was seen as crucial in this area. Committee members concluded the meeting by outlining specific things that could be done to accomplish these and other identified goals. "This first draft of potential goals and objectives for the OCA is only a starting point for soliciting input from the Church as a whole -- the Holy Synod, the Metropolitan Council, the dioceses and parishes, and ultimately the All-American Council," said Archpriest Eric Tosi, OCA Secretary. "During the meeting we looked for 'early wins' -- objectives that can be accomplished quickly, say in the next year, or that could have a major impact. One example of this is telling 'Our Story'-- the story of each of our parishes and our forbearers who made them possible -- as well as completing a video project on the Alaskan saints. By looking at our past, we get a better understanding of who we are and of how with faith our forbearers were able to do things that to man would seem impossible, yet with God are indeed possible." In addition to Metropolitan Jonah and Fathers Alexis and Eric, Archpriests Theodore Boback and Michael Oleksa; Priest John Vitko; Protodeacon Peter Danilchick; Deacon John Zarras; and David Grier attended the meeting. Eleana Silk participated by phone, while Dr. Dmitri Solodow participated via e-mail.
Source: Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Alex ManojlovicSerbian Orthodox Church
In recognition of his contribution to and for the love he has shown towards the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand has issued a Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Alex Manojlovic, Managing Director of Sydney Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd. This certificate of appreciation extends also to the significant contribution Alex has made to the work in the Parish in Elanora and to the work completed at our Saint Sava College. Our Serbian Orthodox Church and community consider that they have been blessed with Alex's kindness and unforgettable gifts. Source: http://www.spc.rs/eng/certificate_appreciation_mr_alex_manojlovic
Hieromonk Metodije Elected for Heugomen of Chilandar MonasterySerbian Orthodox Church
Today on April 5/18 2010, on Sunday of the Myrrhgushers hieromonk Metodije (Markovic) was elected with a majority of votes by the brotherhood of the Chilandar Monastery for heugomen of the Nemanjic family. Father Metodije wa born in Cacak, on January 7,1970 by the parents Momchilo and Milka. Before he became the monk he had studed at the Electrotechnic Faculty in Belgrade. He has been in the monastery of Chilandar since 1994. The election of the Chilandar heugomen was done by the Constitution of the Mount Athos and was carried out in two rounds of voting.. Around the premises of the Mounth Athos, in a month since the election of heugomen, there will be the enthronement of hieromonk Metroije for heugomen of the Chilandar by the Sacred municipality of Mount Athos. The new Chilandar heugomen in the picture holds the imperial staff of the Byzanthian Emperor Alexy II Angel, which was given to St. Sava as a symbol of the presence of the Emperor during the election for heugomen, because Chilandar was in a rank the Imperial Lavra, and in the left hand in the picture he holds the scripture of the founder of the Chilandar family: Chilandar Tipik of St. Sava
Source: http://www.spc.rs/eng/hieromonk_metodije_elected_heugomen_chilandar_monastery Liturgical Commission Meetings
UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA
Following this year’s Annual St. Thomas Sunday Pilgrimage to St. Andrew Metropolia Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in South Bound Brook/Somerset, NJ, the Liturgical Commission of the Church gathered for its 2010 annual meeting at the Consistory offices – the spiritual and administrative center of the Church from 12-14 April, 2010. According to His Grace Bishop Daniel, who serves as the chairperson of the Commission, the work of the group is of extreme importance as it addresses the pastoral liturgical needs of the clergy and laity of the Church. The members of the Liturgical Commission are the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, representing all three Eparchies:
His Grace Bishop Daniel – His Eminence Archbishop Antony – president of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA and ex-officio member of the Commission – also participated in the meetings offering his advice and expertise as the members of the Commission reflected upon the three-volume work, which is to be released to public in the first part of 2011. The members of the Commission worked daily at the Consistory offices of the Church and attended daily liturgical services at St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary. The Liturgical Commission will release the following bi-lingual liturgical service books once they are approved and blessed by the UOC Council of Bishops:
Volume 1: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great. The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for the second part of summer of this year. His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr Completes His Visit to Holy Land
Ukrainian Orthodox Church
On April 11 - 15 His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr was on a visit to the Holy Land. UOC Primate Handed Prizes to Winners of Children’s Picture Competition “With God in Heart”
On April 17 His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr attended a children's picture exhibition "With God in Heart", organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church together with the International Public Organization "George Kirpa's Foundation".
http://orthodox.org.ua/eng/node/1283 His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr Blesses the Crew of AN-148 Plane to be Passed into Operation
On April 19 the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church received and blessed at his residence at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra the crew of passenger plane AN-148. Exhibition of Applied Creative Art by Persons Sentenced to Imprisonment Opens in Lavra
On April 15 at the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine the All-Ukraine exhibition of works of the applied creative art by the sentenced to imprisonment named "Passover, the Lord's Passover" was opened at the Kyiv Caves Monastery.
Addressing the visitors also was chair of the Synodal Department of the UOC for Pastoral Care of the Penitentiary System Rev. Victor Yatsenko: "Each work from this exhibition is a result of touching its performer's soul by the ray of Bright Resurrection of Christ, since a man, who presented his work, was getting ready beforehand and thought over all the details of preparation of his work. All that took place on the eve of Pascha, and was preparation for Pascha - a kind of fast for the convicts. And now, today we are looking over these works, and may feel the paschal joy on the victory of Our Saviour over death, sin and devil, the joy that inspired the authors in the places of detention. Roundtable discussion dedicated to the 10th anniversary of adoption of the Basics of Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church” held at Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary
On April 15, at the blessing of Archbishop Anthony, Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, and under the auspices of the State Committee on Nationalities and Religions of Ukraine, at the Church Archaeological Study of the Kyiv Theological Academy the roundtable discussion was held, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of adoption at the Jubilee Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church of the official ROC's document "The Basics of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church". The purpose of the roundtable discussion was consideration of the outcomes and prospects of the 10-year activity of the document "The Basics of the Social Concept" of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The assembly was opened by Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary Archbishop Anthony of Boryspil. Addressing the participants of the roundtable meeting with a greeting word, the Most Reverend Rector commented on the importance of ‘the Basics of Social Concept of the Russian orthodox Church", outlining the doctrine expounded in the Holy Scripture both for the believers and people outside of the Church fold. At the end of the greeting word Archbishop Anthony wished the participants to work fruitfully.
Then, according to the procedure, speaking on the issue of ‘Reception of Social Concept of the ROC in Modern Theology" was vice-rector for academic work of the Kyiv Theological Schools archimandrite Klement Vecherya. In his report V.Rev. Klement considered in what way the official document of the Russian Orthodox Church was received by modern orthodox theological science.
Archpriest Hennadiy Batenko, Chair of the Mission "Church and Medicine" made a report themed "Realization of the ROC's Social Concept in Spheres of Medicine and Bioethics". Fr. Hennadiy made a profound analysis of each provision spelled out in the Basics of the Social Concept and dedicated to the section Church and medicine, following which he considered modern problems related with medicine and bioethics. 4/12/2010 OCA Archivist Delivers Lecture Marking 40th Anniversary of AutocephalyPosted 04/07 BETHESDA, MD [OCA] -- The Orthodox Church in America's Archivist, Alexis Liberovsky, delivered a lecture titled "The Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America: From Historical Vision to the Present" at Saint Mark Church here March 24, 2010 marking the 40th anniversary of the OCA's autocephaly. Similar lectures will be presented by Mr. Liberovsky elsewhere in the coming months. The lecture was accompanied by a media presentation featuring nearly 200 images selected from the OCA Archives and other sources highlighting key people, events and documents that helped shape the OCA's life from the Alaskan mission in 1794 to the granting of autocephaly in 1970 and beyond, through the forthcoming North American Episcopal Assembly, slated to convene in New York in May 2010. Parishes, dioceses or other
Church organizations interested in scheduling a similar lecture and
media presentation are invited to contact Mr. Liberovsky at 516-922-0550
EXT. 121 or alex@oca.org. Archiepiscopal
Encyclical for the 5th year Memorial for Archbishop Iakovos Apr 8, 2010 ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL Christ
is risen from the dead, by Bright Wednesday CHRIST IS RISEN! Source: http://www.goarch.org/news/ad- Benefit Dinner for Special Needs Childrenin LebanonOn May 22, 2010, the Antiochian Archdiocese will hold a Gala Dinner to benefit children with special needs at The Al-Kafaŕt Foundation at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City (Park Avenue on Grand Central Station). Proceeds from the dinner will be used to complete construction of a new compound at Al-Kafaŕt, in The Village Center of the Foundation. This new compound will host population of 250 children with mental challenges. Excavations have already started in Beirut and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2011. The Gala Dinner will be prepared by Chef Ramzi, holder of the Lebanese Order of Merit, Author of “The Lebanese Culinary Heritage”, Host of The Chef Ramzi Cooking Show, Director of the Al-Kafaŕt Catering School, and two time recipient of the World Guinness Award. Chef Ramzi will also sign his bestselling book The Lebanese Culinary Heritage. The event will also feature presentations about Al-Kafaŕt and the services it offers in Lebanon, including a key presentation by founder Nadim Shwayri, which will focus on the reasons behind his Mission. Tickets are selling fast!
Reserve your space now! All sponsorships and advertisement requests
for Al-Kafaŕt's ad journal need to be placed by April 16. For further
information, please visit www.al-kafaat.org/ Source: http://www.antiochian.org/ His Beatitude the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Kyr Theodoros II in Official Visit to the Only Serbian Orthodox ParishMembers of the Serbian community and the faithful of the only Serbian Orthodox parish in Africa, were blessed with great blessing and spiritual support just before the holy days of Week of Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and the feast of feasts, the Resurrection of Christ. On Friday, March 26th, on the eve of St. Lazarus's Saturday, the Serbian Orthodox parish of St Thomas the Apostle in Johannesburg was visited by His Beatitude Theodoros II , the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. His Beatitude was accompanied by His Eminence Seraphim, Archbishop of Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Pantelejmon, personal secretary at the Office of His Beatitude in Alexandria, and our dear priest from Johannesburg, the Reverend Father Athinodoros Papaevripaides. The welcoming ceremony was attended, among many gathered members of our church community in Johannesburg and members of our parish, by President and Vice President of the Church Committee, Mr. Igor Marinkovic and Mr. Predrag Sarovic, and members of the Church Committee, Mr. Zivojin Jovanovic, Mr. Ivo Zecevic and Mrs. Mirjana Mihaljevic. His Excellency the Ambassador of Serbia in South Africa, Mr. Goran Vujicic also attended this ceremony, as well as Father Daniel, the Rector of the Russian Orthodox parish of St. Sergius of Radonez in Johannesburg, Hieromonk Seraphim (Van Niekerk), Deacon Stephen (Hayes) and student of the Orthodox Seminary of Patriarch Petros VII in Johannesburg, the brother Chrysostom, who comes from the African Orthodox family and whose immediate family members serve God as priests and monastic clergy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. All gathered, including many children, welcomed the Patriarch of Alexandria at the entrance to the church yard with a traditional Serbian custom - with bread and salt, and the clergy with the Holy Gospel and Holy Cross. After all present received Patriarchal holy blessing, they proceeded to St Thomas's church while singing a church prayer song in honour of the Most Holy Theotokos "Axion Estin". The Doxology was served in the church and then His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros, quite spontaneously (Seeing the big picture of late Serbian Patriarch Pavle in our church), knelt down in front of the photograph, kiss the photo and then served a memorial service for the Serbian Patriarch. Members of our church community had emotionally experienced this act of the Patriarch of Alexandria, an act full of love and deep respect for the Serbian people and Serbian Patriarch Pavle. After holy prayers, the Rector of the Church of St Thomas the Apostle , Archimandrite Pantelejmon welcomed the spiritual father of all Orthodox Christians in Africa, saying that today's visit of His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II to the Serbian parish in Johannesburg is a great honour and privilege and that it was a great blessing for the Serbian people in Africa and the Serbian Orthodox parish in Johannesburg. Through our parish, we can see indeed, brotherly love and an unbreakable connection between Alexandrian and the Serbian Church. He thanked Patriarch Theodoros for the great effort that he personally, together with members of the Holy Synod of the Alexandrian Church, have made in preserving and spreading the Orthodox faith on the African continent. Father Pantelejmon also expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Seraphim and Father Athinodoros for the support provided to our parish in spiritual and missionary work, and also thanked the other members of clergy present, Fathers Daniel, Seraphim and Stephen for brotherly love and spiritual cooperation and support. Archimandrite Pantelejmon then pointed out that among the gathered Serbs, who came to greet the Patriarch of Alexandria, are those who came to South Africa more than 50 years ago (Mr. Kosta Babic and Mr. Risto Andjelopolj), as well as those who arrived recently, and who with hard and honest work took place and gained reputation and respect in South African society. Father Pantelejmon also thanked Patriarch Theodoros for his Patriarchal blessing for a Serbian bishop from our homeland to visit the Church and School Community of Saint Sava in Johannesburg (which has an invaluable spiritual significance for the Serbian people in Africa) and he also expressed sorrow at the moving into eternity of our father, Patriarch Pavle of Serbia, who was our great comfort, joy and spiritual strength. At the end, Father Pantelejmon expressed happiness over the election of a new Serbian Patriarch, the experienced bishop Kyr Irinej, who with the Holy Spirit and the will of God has been elected to lead the entire Serbian Orthodox Church and who, we firmly believe and know, will continue to lead the Serbian Orthodox Church on the same path as Patriarch Pavle did. Then Archimandrite Pantelejmon asked kindly His Beatitude to pray to God for members of the Serbian community in Africa and around the world. His Beatitude Theodoros, Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa particularly expressed his gratitude to Father Pantelejmon and faithful people who help him, for the warm welcome and kind words. "I was born in Crete and I feel love and closeness with the Serbian people and Serbian Orthodox Church. Great credit for my love of the monastic life, holy altar and holy table, even from the time when I was a student in Athens, are due to the Serbian bishops Amfilohije Radovic, Artemije Radosavljevic and Irinej Bulovic." Saying that he brought us the blessings of St Mark the Apostle of Alexandria, Patriarch Theodoros said that we are at the beginning of a passion week in which the church services quote a lot of biblical events that happened in Egypt. "When here, in your holy church, I saw photograph of the late Serbian Patriarch Pavle, I reacted emotionally because Patriarch Pavle did a lot for Orthodoxy throughout the world. I thank God for the election of a new Serbian Patriarch Kyr Irinej and I look forward to meeting him and being his host in Alexandria." His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros thanked father Pantelejmon for excellent cooperation that he has with Archbishop Seraphim, and told him that the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Diocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria are always there to help him in pastoral and missionary work. The Patriarch said that the Greek and Serbian people were passing and are still going through similar problems; that through all the ages together they will witnessing the Orthodox faith worldwide, and these two peoples are therefore very close. His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros, as he was blessing the people present one more time, expressed gratitude for the hospitality and welcome and as he had seen icon Mother of God "three hands" in our church, said that the holy icon causes in him special feelings because that icon is the feast day of his family's patron saint. After everyone sang "Many years" to His Beatitude, Archimandrite Pantelejmon gave gifts to distinguished guests: from the Serbian monastery a beautiful icon of St. Sava, the book "History of the Serbian Orthodox Church" (in Greek) and "Christ the Alpha and Omega" (in English) and drawing of seven year old girl Anastasia from Serbia (niece of father Pantelejmon), who drew church of St. Thomas in Johannesburg and Father Pantelejmon with joyful African children in the front of the church. The drawing had the message: "Lots of love to children in Africa from children in Serbia". Patriarch Theodoros sincerely thanked Father Pantelejmon for the beautiful and precious gifts, and then handed over to Father Pantelejmon beautiful gift (for the Serbian Orthodox church of St Thomas the Apostle in Johannesburg) which was made by the Egyptian monks - a Holy Cross with a box for the holy gifts. Then Patriarch Theodoros and Archbishop Seraphim wrote messages in the holy Gospel, set on holy table in altar and in the book of mourning established on the occasion of passing of Serbian Patriarch Pavle. Upon exiting the church, attracted by the beautiful smell, the Patriarch Theodoros noticed a handful of basil planted in the church gardens and joyfully picked small bunch for himself. After taking a group photograph in front of the church, by traditional Serbian custom and hospitality, the hosts had prepared a lunch according to the rules of Great Lent. The atmosphere on the table was close and friendly, full of brotherly love and mutual respect. We all felt like members of one family. Parishioners jointly prepared lunch and again testified that on our church property in Johannesburg we gather in Christian love, contributing to the progress and spiritual benefit of each other and jointly working with faith in our Lord. Lunch was prepared by: especially Milivoje Milovanovic, then Ognjen Bulatovic, Pedja Turnjanin and the families Ristovic, Marinkovic, Mihaljevic, Sarovic, Djokic, Zecevic, Jovanovic, Colic, Lazic, Popovic, Tucakovic, Belovic, Mihic... While sitting at the table the parishioners sang the Hymn to St. Sava and one song from Kosovo. His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros congratulated Father Pantelejmon for his commitment and effort in promoting the spiritual life in the Serbian parish, helping Archbishop Seraphim in missionary work and for taking good care of church property, noticing a great improvement of the church property compared with his first visit five years ago. Father Pantelejmon thanked the Patriarch of Alexandria for fatherly words of support and love and reminded the parishioners present of the great blessing that all felt and that great spiritual strength is given to us by having gathering with God's holy people, to whom Patriarch Theodoros certainly belongs. While Father Pantelejmon was addressing parishioners at the table in the Serbian language, Patriarch Theodoros spontaneously took the role of interpreter to Greek language (as he himself lived over long period of time in Russia and knows Slavonic languages) for the Greek-speaking clergy present. Father Pantelejmon, surprised, said to everyone that he thinks that no one has ever had such an interpreter as His Beatitude Patriarch of Alexandria, which caused honest applause and laughter of all present, as well as of the Patriarch Theodoros, who felt as though he was among his closest and dearest. We, all the members of the Serbian Orthodox community that, together with our children, gathered on this day in our Church of St Thomas the Apostle in Johannesburg, are thankful to God for the great gift and blessing during a visit of Alexandrian Patriarch Theodoros II to our Church-School community of St. Sava. We are proud that our Church-School community undoubtedly became an unbreakable bond of most sincere brotherly love and cooperation between the Alexandrian Patriarchate and the Serbian Patriarchate, between our Patriarchs Theodoros and Irinej, and between the Holy Synods of both Orthodox Churches. We are also grateful to our Father Pantelejmon, who in his work, openness and devotion to the Church and people during last seven years (unlike the previous period of passing through the various temptations and challenges), greatly contributed to even greater closeness and strengthening of fraternal ties between the two Orthodox Patriarchates. We pray to God for him to continue on this path and for our only Serbian Orthodox parish in Africa to be in the future dignified place that truly witnesses and shows the love and closeness between the Alexandrian and the Serbian Patriarchates. Members of the Church Committee Source: His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel: “The Healing Spring is Jesus Christ, Who Healed Us of the Disobedience of Sin” Romanian
Orthodox Church 9 April, on the Bright
Week, the Orthodox Church celebrated the feast of the Healing Spring.
His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church was
at Techirghiol, county of Constanta, on the occasion, where he explained
in the sermon delivered at the end of the Divine Liturgy that this feast
refers to the thanksgiving of emperor Leon the Great who had a church
dedicated to the Healing Spring built after a blind man got his sight
again while the voice of the Mother of God told emperor Leon the Great
to go and wash himself with the water from a spring close to Constantinople.
UOC Primate Attended Charitable Exhibition “Temple of Soul”On April 8, His Beatitude
Volodymyr, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine called to the National
Museum of Book and Book-Printing (Kyiv-Pechersk Museum Reserve), where
on these days the exhibition Temple of Soul is held. Source: http://orthodox.org.ua/eng/ UOC Primate Celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church Dedicated to the Icon“Life-Giving Spring”On April 9, Bright Friday,
the Orthodox Church commemorates the icon of the Mother of God "Life-Giving
Spring". Ilia the
Second – A Person Becomes A Beast Without Belief Patriarch Kirill Given Alexandrian Church's Highest Award11/04/2010 The head of the Russian Orthodox Church was on Sunday given the highest award of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria - the star of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark. St. Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark, was the founder of the ancient Church of Alexandria. The award is a gold star with a crown. It carries the image of a lion symbolizing St. Mark. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, on a visit to Egypt, received the award from the head of the Alexandrian Church - Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa. The Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria is officially known as the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa to distinguish it from the Coptic Orthodox Church, with which it is not in communion. The awarding ceremony was attended by the Russian ambassador and Alexandrian consul, clergy and Alexandria's public figures. Kirill said Russian nationals living or working in Africa have found a "loving and caring patron" in the person of Patriarch Theodoros and wished Orthodox Christianity to spread on African lands. Christians in the mainly Muslim Egypt account for six to 20 percent of the country's population. Most of them belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church. Patriarch Kirill arrived in Egypt on a three-day visit on Saturday. There are 15 local Orthodox Churches in the world, and when the new head of one of them is elected, he traditionally visits the other 14 in line with the "order of honor." Kirill, who was crowned as Russia's new Church leader in February 2009 replacing the late Patriarch Alexy II, visited the Constantinople Patriarchate last summer, and the Alexandrian Patriarchate in Egypt is the second on his list. The Constantinople Patriarchate, whose headquarters is in modern-day Turkey, and the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa are part of the bigger Greek Orthodox Church but are considered to be autocephalous churches. The Russian patriarch is also to present bells cast in Russia to a monastery in the Egyptian capital Cairo. The two Orthodox patriarchs earlier today held a liturgy in Alexandria's Annunciation Cathedral. The churches' leaders' discussion agenda was to include increasing the number of Russian parishes in Egypt where many Russians come to spend vacation. ALEXANDRIA (Egypt), April
11 (RIA Novosti) Source: 4/7/2010 Maestro Valery Gergiev WinsPatriarchal Award6.04.2010 Valery Gerigiev, a Russian conductor and general and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, has been awarded the Medal of St. Sergius of Radonezh in recognition of his work for the benefit of the Holy Church. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, presented the award to the outstanding conductor and cultural worker at the opening of the choral part of the 9th Easter Festival on 5 April 2010 at the Church of Christ the Saviour. Maestro Valery Gergiev is the artistic director of the festival. Greeting the audience, Russian Minister of Culture A. Avdeyev said that this year the 9th Easter Festival is devoted to the 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The festival will cover almost 100 cities in Russia. Russian and visiting teams will perform symphonic, liturgical and choral music. ‘In these days we seek to think about the most important things – our values, our history and our future. Our today’s concert just as the spiritual part of the festival is devoted to precisely these themes’, the minister said. He expressed special gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia for his support of the festival and greeted Byelorussian minister of Culture P. Latushko, composer Rodion Shchedrin and ballerina Maya Plisetskaya, who were present in the audience. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk greeted the audience on behalf of Patriarch Kirill and said in particular, ‘The Easter Festival has become a very important event in the cultural life of not only Moscow, not only Russia but also near-abroad countries. This festival is unique in that it unites the best musical teams while giving to people a very clear idea of Orthodox spirituality’. It is very important, he said, that the Church encourages the recital of not only liturgical but also symphonic music to introduce it to the public at large, including young people. The propaganda of classical music is a common task for all those who are concerned for the future of our people. It is no secret that many young people today prefer pop music, often very superficial and sometimes even harmful and destructive for the state of mind and health. Speaking about the work carried out by Valery Gergiev, Metropolitan Hilarion said, ‘The noble cause pursued by Valery Gergiev is also aimed to inculcate in our youth the taste and love of classical music because through it people get in touch with the beautiful. This music helps to form a human personality, speaking about good and uplifting and purifying the soul.’ He thanked Valery Gergiev ‘for all you do for our culture, for your everyday feat of concertizing at home and abroad, conducting sometimes two concerts a day, which seems to be beyond human power. But when one listens to you and watches you at the conductor’s stand it seems there is no task impossible for you’. Maestro Valery Gergiev in his response expressed gratitude for the award and stressed that the Easter Festival was a festival ‘of Moscow and All Russia’. He thanked Patriarch Kirill for his support of the festival and made a special mention of the contribution made by the Mariinsky Theatre team to this large-scale musical and educational project, saying, ‘I hope that this festival will outlive us all and will never lose its educational meaning’. DECR Communication Service Metropolitan Hilarion’s Symphony ‘A Song of Ascents’ Performed at the Church of the Christ the Saviour’s Church Councils Hall6.04.2010 The symphony for a choir and orchestra ‘A Song of Ascents’ was performed on 5 April 2010 at the Church of Christ the Saviour’s Church Council Halls as part of the 9th Easter Festival. Composed by Metropolitan Hilarion, it was rendered by the Patriarchal Choir, the Chamber Choir of the Smolny Cathedral in St. Petersburg and the Mariinsky Theatre choir and orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev. ‘A Song of Ascent’ was composed by Metropolitan Hilarion in August 2008. Its libretto is based on seven psalms in the concluding parts of the Psalter. Two of these psalms have the subtitle ‘A Song of Ascents’, which has given name to the whole composition. The symphony consists of five parts. Its general dramatic concept is ascension from the depths of despair to the heights of prayerful jubilance and exalted praise to God. The first part of the symphony resounds with words from Psalm 129: ‘Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord’ (Ps. 130). It is one of the most sorrowful psalms expressing the spiritual state of a person on the edge of despair who appeals to God with a prayer for salvation. The first part is composed in the form of passakalia, a variation on the theme invariably repeated in bass. The second part is based on Psalm 121: ‘I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?’ Its main theme is trust in God Who protects a believer from every evil. This part is composed in the form of a fugue on the theme weaved out of a C-minor triad. The third part written to the words of Psalm 136 ‘By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion’ is a lyrical culmination of the symphony. Psalm 137 is about the tragic fate of the Jewish people during the Babylonian captivity. The main themes are nostalgia, oath of allegiance to the homeland, remembrances of home songs. The third part is composed in a couplet form with its characteristic sharps in every new couplet. In keeping with the psalm verse ‘There on the poplars we hung our harps’, a harp is added to the orchestra. Beginning from the fourth part, the emotional pitch of the symphony changes, moving from a sorrowful and lyrical mood to that of a solemn praise expressed in Psalm 135 ‘Praise the name of the Lord; praise him, you servants of the lord, you who minister in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God’. While in the first two parts the orchestra prevails, the forth one is dominated by the choir, with the orchestra only rear-filling it. The male and female voices sound in antiphon. The final part is written to the words of the three last Psalms, 148, 149 and 150. The choral voices merge into a recitative sung by men and women in close harmony. The choir as if chants the words of the psalm going a half-tone higher with each phrase. Psalm 150 mentions musical instruments, which enter at the moment when they are mentioned. The symphony is concluded with a repeated solemn and triumphant ‘Alleluia’ (Heb. ‘God be praised’) DECR Communication Service 05 April 2010, 17:22 Renowned Siberian Pastor Converts His Community to OrthodoxyIrkutsk, April 5, Interfax
– Pastor Igor Zyryanov from the Irkutsk Region after 18 years of working
at Protestant meetings and two years of pastoral missionary work converted
to Orthodoxy together with his family and community. Source: http://www.interfax-religion. His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr Greeted Children with Functional Disabilities on Radiant Feast of PaschaUkrainian
Orthodox Church On April 4, the feast
of Holy Pascha, in the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (in front
of the administrative block of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary)
the paschal action of social aid to children with functional disabilities
and their parents was held. Source: http://orthodox.org.ua/eng/ UOC Primate Laid Capsule into Foundation of Resurrection Cathedral of Ukrainian Orthodox ChurchOn April 4, in the
construction site of the Resurrection Cathedral (Zalizhychne shosse
3) His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr performed Paschal Vespers in
concelebration of archbishops Pavel of Vyshgorod, Anthony of Boryspil,
Bishops Hilary of Makariv, Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyy, Bishop
Panteleimon of Vasylkiv and all the clergy of Kyiv. It should be noted
that this day in the capital city the evening service is performed only
in the place of construction of the Christ's Resurrection Cathedral.
Source: http://orthodox.org.ua/eng/ The Vespers
Service of the Resurrection of the Lord Celebrated by His Beatitude
Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, at the Patriarchal
Cathedral Romanian
Orthodox Church On the first Easter day
the Vespers Resurrection was celebrated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel
together with His Grace Mihail, Orthodox Bishop of Australia and New
Zealand, His Grace Ciprian Campineanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch,
His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch and
His Grace Varsanufie Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese
of Bucharest, assisted by a group of priests and deacons.
Source: Pope Shenouda Celebrates Easter Monday at Wadi el-Natron6/4/2010 Amr Bayoumi Pope Shenouda III celebrated Easter Monday yesterday with bishops and monks from the Coptic Church at the Father Bishoy Monastery in Wadi el-Natron. Father Marcos, head of the media committee and bishop of Shubra el-Kheima, said members of the Holy Synod and Coptic families sat on the ground in the garden with Shenouda to have breakfast. The group chanted hymns written especially for the pope and ate eggs, cheese and meat for breakfast. According to Father Marcos,
the festivities began at 6 AM and included a speech by the pope. The
pope urged the bishops and priests to take care of the poor, ill and
elderly, especially given the high cost of living in Egypt. Marcos said the pope also met with 60 girls from the Shubra el-Kheima’s Virgin Mary orphanage and gave them and their supervisors feast gifts. The pope told the girls a story and advised the older ones to obey their husbands especially in the first few months of marriage when the husband and wife are not yet used to each other. Source: http://www.copts.com/english/? Stolen Cross Returned to Church7/4/2010 A valuable, gold cross that was stolen from the premises of the Russian Orthodox Church in Helsinki last month has been found. Police recovered the cross with help from a tipster. Helsinki Police located the cross a couple days ago. They also nabbed the suspects, who have had run-ins with police previously. One person has been remanded in custody. The cross is valued at over 10,000 euros. Other ornaments were also taken by the thieves. Most of the objects have been returned. The accused are suspected of aggravated theft. YLE Belarus
President Pledges Support for Orthodox-Catholic dialogue MINSK, 6 April (BelTA) – The state supports and will keep supporting the dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox churches, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, Metropolitan of the Minsk and Mogilev Archidiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus, at St Mary Cathedral in Minsk on 6 April, BelTA has learnt. The head of state underlined that it became a good tradition to discuss topical issues with the heads of the Catholic Church. “I think this is a good signal to our society. However, I would not want this meeting to be purely formal; we should discuss specific issues that accumulated over the last year. We will also talk about the overall situation with the religious communities,” the President said. “I should say that your coming to an Orthodox church on Easter and our joint congratulations were properly received by the society,” the Belarusian head of state said. “I am glad that the Catholic and Orthodox churches are developing really good relations, it is very important for me and I will support it,” Alexander Lukashenko added. http://law.by/work/EnglPortal. Europe's Largest ChurchTo Be Built in KievConstruction has begun
in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, of what will
be Europe’s largest Orthodox temple. The Church of Resurrection, 120
meters high and capable of housing 5,000 worshipers, will belong to
the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate.
It will have three altars and a four-level belfry. The future church
compound will include a residence for the Metropolitan of Kiev and All
Ukraine, a seminary, a TV studio and a hotel for pilgrims. Source: http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/ Service of Easter Tuesdayin Vavedenje MonasterySerbian Orthodox Church His Grace Bishop Atanasije of Hvosno, Vicar of Patriarch of Serbia, served the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on Easter Tuesday, in the Vavedenje Monastery, on Senjak, on behalf and with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia. During the Holy Liturgy
His Grace was concelebrated by three priests and two deacons. On the
Liturgy many children partook of the Holy Bread. After the Liturgy Very
Reverend Heugomene Mother Anastasija with sisterhood prepared a rich
table of love. Bulgarians
Mark Sunday 150 Years Since the Historic
“Bulgarian Easter” Which Has Been Seen as a Crucial Victory in Their
Fight for an Independent Church. 4/4/2010 The so called Bulgarian Easter (“Balgarskiyat Velikden”) was the culmination of the campaign of the Bulgarians in the Ottoman Turkish Empire to set up a national, Bulgarian Orthodox Church that would be independent of the Constantinople Patriarchate. After it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in the late 14th century, Bulgaria lost its own patriarchate, and was made part of the diocese of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople. The last partially independent Bulgarian church entity, the Ohrid Archbishopric, was shut down in 1767. The fight for church independence from the Constantinople Patriarchate was an important part of the Bulgarian National Revival in the 19th century, and was seen as the first step to the creation of a liberated sovereign nation state of the Bulgarians. It sought to curb Greek cultural influence over the Bulgarians in the 18th and 19th century. On April 3, 1860, Easter, Ilarion Makariopolski, the Bulgarian priest serving in the Bulgarian church St. Stefan in the Ottoman capital Istanbul, did not mention the name of the Constantinople Patriarch in his prayer, substituting it with the name of the Ottoman Turkish sultan. Makariopolski and the two bishops who supported him, Avkseniy Veleshki and Paisyi Plovdivski, were jailed by the Patriarchate in a monastery on the Mount Athos Peninsula. Nevertheless, the campaign for an independent Bulgarian church continued and succeeded on February 28, 1870, when the Ottoman sultan allowed the creation of an independent Bulgarian Exarchate. A hundred and fifty years later, the Bulgarian Easter was marked again in the St. Stefan Church in Istanbul with a service performed by an emissary of the Bulgarian Holy Synod, Bishop Sioniy. About 1 000 Bulgarians flocked to the historic church for the Easter service, according to the Bulgarian National Radio. The service was held at
the initiative of Foundation
“Bulgarian Orthodox Temple St. Stefan",
which has been working for the preservation of the St. Stefan Church,
an iron church built in 1849, specially for the Bulgarians in Istanbul. Source: http://www.novinite.com/view_ Renowned Siberian Pastor
Converts His Community to Orthodoxy http://www.johnsanidopoulos. |