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The Russian Orthodox Church Refines Its Human Rights Conception in the Run-up to the Bishops Council Moscow, June 20, Interfax - The Moscow Patriarchate reprocess the document on human rights position of the Church, which is to be adopted at the coming Bishops Council, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said. "Now are the last days to refine the document on the position of the Russian Orthodox Church on human rights, problem of freedom and dignity. We will try to answer the question if right are those who say that a person is originally good and if he is entirely liberated, the society itself will come to a normal life," Fr. Vsevolod said at a round table in Moscow. However, according to him, "not everything the man likes is good." The priest considers false any talks about possible happiness of people suffering from various vices and governed by sin. "The sinner is always unhappy. All talks about happy life of prostitutes, drug-addicts, homosexuals, promotions of sin as something bringing joy and pleasure are deceitful, while closely connected sin and unhappiness are real," the representative of the Russian Church believes. According to him, all people who suffer from such diseases usually come to a priest "with deep spiritual wounds and complain on the destroyed relations with relatives." "Liars are those who claim that a man should be released from morals and other "complexes" and it will do him good. Morality isn't a dull invention of outdated people, it bases on facts and historical experience," Fr. Vsevolod said. According to him, "the idea of moral values in legislation, mass media and culture is "legitimate" and justified. Public forces both in Russia and in the West should unite "to say clearly to the society that it's impossible to live without moral values," the Moscow Patriarchate representative believes. Source : http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4819 Constantinople Provocation Forces the Russian Orthodox Delegation to Leave a Rhodes Session of the Inter-Orthodox Commission Moscow, June 20, Interfax - A new conflict is kindled between the Moscow and the Constantinople Patriarchates because of the latter's decision to invite representatives of its non-canonical church structure in Estonia in inter-Orthodox commission on Rhodes. "Such manifestations of unilateral dictate from Constantinople representatives make it extremely difficult to find mutually satisfactory decision of the question on canonical settlement of the situation with Orthodoxy in Estonia," the statement of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations reads as published by the Russian Church's official website. It further mentions that such actions "bear grave threat to real implementation of Orthodox unity which is one of the main tasks of the Russian Orthodox Church." "Representatives of the Constantinople Patriarchate are fully responsible for such actions," the DECR stressed. The Moscow Patriarchate delegation had to leave the commission's session on Thursday and informed that this case would be reported to the members of the Bishop's Council of the Russian Church which was to open on June 24. The commission's session had to work out a draft message to the primates of the local Orthodox Churches. The document was to be adopted at the meeting of Orthodox leaders, which is expected to take place in October in Istanbul when the Constantinople Church will declare 2008 a year of St. Paul. Earlier Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople invited Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia to participate in the autumn meeting. In his response of June 3, Patriarch Alexy expressed hope that when preparing the inter-Orthodox commission, Bartholomew would mind the resolution of the Russian Bishop's Council of 2000 saying that the Moscow Patriarchate's representatives could not participate in inter-Orthodox forums with representatives of the unrecognized Estonian autonomous Church (the Constantinople Patriarchate) as official delegates. "The letter went unanswered," the DECR noted. The same Constantinople's provocation forced the Moscow Patriarchate delegation to leave a session of the Mixed Orthodox-Catholic Theological Commission in Ravenna in October 2007 as among its participants were representatives of the so-called "Estonian Orthodox Church" established in 1996 by the Constantinople Patriarch on canonical territory of the Russian Church. Source : http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4815 The Chukotka Orthodox Bishop Against Mobile Phones Anadyr, June 19, Interfax - Bishop Diomid of Anadyr and Chukotka spoke against Orthodox believers using mobile phones. "I don't admit mobile phones. I think it's a chip that a man carries with him voluntarily," he has told an Interfax-Religion correspondent on Thursday. Last year Bishop Diomid urged Orthodox believers not to use Russian passport as the "number of the beast" was secretly put on its pages and not to take individual tax number, as the ruling bishop of Chukotka believed it led to the state's total control. "This passport didn't get through the third Duma hearing, it's illegal while the old (Soviet - IF) passport is legal," Bishop Diomid has told the agency today. He confessed that he had a new Russian passport. "I live in the boarder zone! One can't make a step without a passport here - you'll get arrested and imprisoned at once." Source : http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4813 The Moscow Patriarchate Urges the State to Give Moral Evaluation of Tsar Family Shooting Moscow, June 19, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church believes that the Russian state should give moral evaluation of Nicholas II and his family shooting in the year of its 90th commemoration. "Until the state says that the tsar family's murder was a crime, until it gives moral evaluation to the actions of those who gave, approved and executed the command to shoot them, those who took the tsar family into custody, who kept them under arrest, until it is done on the level of symbolically important state decisions and on the level of clarifying this question in public mind, Russia will be moving to the future with difficulty if it doesn't get rid of historical blurs on its conscience, " deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said answering the questions of journalists in Moscow. He disapproved of those who urged Russians to repent in the sin of regicide. "I am against ceremonies of national repentance," the priest said. " Man bears the impress of original sin that is washed out when he gets baptized, but any talks of family or national sins which we have to repent in contradict the teaching on salvation." Fr. Vsevolod is convinced that "the wound from executing the tsar family in public conscience should be healed." He regrets there is "reticence" in the question of attitude to the shooting of the tsar family and "there are people who say openly: no need to return Nicholas II his good name, no need to condemn Bolsheviks." According to the priest, these people "are losing arguments because society comes to know the truth that the Bolshevik leadership was a criminal organization and it were not people who brought them to power." The more society learns, the more questions arise such as "how to treat this criminal organization and everything it did and how to treat its heritage," the Church's representative noted. "Perhaps, Russia had to correct many mistakes: World War I, social and economical problems... But the Red Terror didn't improve anything, there's no problem that can justify Bolshevik's criminal activities in Russia," Fr. Vsevolod stressed. Summing up he said, "Russia can't go to the future with free conscience, if we think that what Bolsheviks did is normal." Source : http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4812 Bishop Diomid Suggests the Russian Church Suspend Its Dialogue With External World But the Moscow Patriarchate Considers It Dangerous Moscow, June 19, Interfax - The Chukotka diocesan council headed by Bishop Diomid has urged to give up the dialogue with authorities and adherents of other teachings, but the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations believes it harmful. Chukotka clerics have recently come up with this initiative as they protest against the DECR's dialogue with authorities and other confessions and religions. According to Chukotka priests, it negatively influences the purity of Orthodox faith. DECR Deputy Chairman Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin believes such views are deeply ignorant, Interfax-Religion has reported. "Isolation is always a sign of weakness while rejection of professional dialogue always means defeat and death. If you step back and retreat to isolation, you will become an easy pray for those you are hiding from." Fr. Vsevolod confessed that he would have experienced "great joy" if the DECR had been abolished as it would give him more time for pastor work, for reflections and actions that could help solve many church problems of the 21st century. Perhaps, he could try to educate youth and organize his own theological school. "However, I can't imagine how people who suggest abolishing the Department for External Church Relations will act if they become responsible for building relations of our Church with external forces the DECR try to cooperate with." According to Fr. Vsevolod, "if we don't build relations with these forces, our Church would soon face the hardest strike: inner explosion, subordination to secular authorities and conversion of some believers in other religions and confessions - this scenario is more than real." "It's incautious to think that there's a chance to hide from the necessity to build relations with external world in a cave. It's impossible to hide, anyway they will reach you and worm into your soul," the priest stressed. According to him, if the Church doesn't lead dialogue with authorities of various countries, with other confessions, religions, with political and public world "it will soon become helpless." Bishop Diomid of Anadyr and Chukotka became notorious last year after his introduction to the unpublished book was issued. It contained sharp criticism of Patriarch Alexy II and other clerics for the their contacts with authorities and ecumenical dialogue. Source : http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4811 Alexy II Believes It Impossible to Lead the Dialogue with Christians Blessing Homosexual Marriages Moscow, June 19, Interfax - Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia considers church blessing of homosexual unions unacceptable though it becomes wide spread among Protestant communities in the West. "Blessing of the marriage urges God to bless childbearing and giving birth," Alexy II said at his meeting with general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance Neville Callam in St. Daniel's monastery in Moscow. "We have every reason to think that the majority of Baptists share our concerns for today's state of Christian communities in the world and together we can oppose these destructive tendencies," the patriarch said. The Baptist World Alliance's general secretary believes "militant secularism has become the highest and the strongest challenge" Christians face today. "We, Baptists, also oppose this cancer of secularization and we seek to spread the good news of Jesus Christ like you do," Callam said. He hopes that friendly relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian Baptists will develop and it will let both parties "denounce the monster of secularism." The patriarch reminded that the resolution of the last joint seminar of the Moscow Patriarchate and Russian Baptists held in 2006 "expressed deep concerns with alarming tendencies in some Protestant communities which revise Biblical norms of morality and ordain women." The resolution further stated "the necessity to reach harmonic unity between human rights and moral values." The Russian Orthodox Church suspended contacts with the Lutheran Church of Sweden as it "not only blessed homosexual "marriages," but even worked out the text for blessing them in the church," Alexy II noted. The Moscow Patriarchate had to suspend relations with the Episcopal Church of the USA as its leaders ordained an open homosexual. Source : http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4810 The Constantinople Patriarchate Discredits Orthodoxy before non-Orthodox world, the Russian Church Abroad Believes 06/20/2008 Moscow, June 19, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad severely criticized the Constantinople Patriarchate. "It seems to me that here (in relations with the Moscow Patriarchate - IF) Constantinople leads a kind of fight that is unhealthy and contradicts the spirit of Orthodoxy. They discredit Orthodoxy before non-Orthodox world. No one profits from it. They do it for their own reasons," Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany said in his interview published by the NG-Religii paper. He believes that a Pan-Orthodox Congress should have discussed Constantinople's juridical claims. "We have to clear out if Constantinople has any special rights in the Church, what are the bases for its claims to govern over the entire Orthodox diaspora and play the role of "the Eastern Pope" in Orthodox world," the foreign hierarch said. He also called it "an outrage upon justice" that Constantinople decided to welcome under its jurisdiction former head of the Sourozh Diocese of the Moscow Patriarchate in Great Britain Bishop Basil (Osborne). Commenting on actions of certain Constantinople representatives who back up Ukrainian schismatics, Archbishop Mark said that "even if one doesn't understand anything in church politics, it's easy to come to the conclusion: a race for power is underway." The archbishop stated that the Church Abroad, both in Western Europe and America, lived in peace with Constantinople and expressed hope that this tendency would be preserved. Source : http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4809 The Russian Church Considers the Constantinople Patriarchate's Policy One of the Main Threats to Orthodox unity 06/20/2008 Moscow, June 18, Interfax - The Constantinople Church's actions in church politics is one of the main challenges to Orthodox unity, the Moscow Patriarchate believes. "One of the main threats is Constantinople's aggressive policy as it may lead to the schism of Orthodox world," Russian Orthodox Church Representative to European International Organizations Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria said in an interview published on Wednesday by the NG-Religii paper. He points out that the Constantinople Patriarchate has recently "intensified its efforts to secure their primate's role as "the Eastern Pope," the supreme arbiter and head of the entire Orthodox diaspora." "Main opponent of Constantinople and the only Church capable to contest its claims for hegemony in Orthodox world is the Russian Church. For this reason, Constantinople seeks to weaken, divide and deplete it in all fields," the bishop said. Source : http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4808 Preconciliar Commission Confirms Boston Town Hall Meeting Date- OCA 06/20/2008 SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] -- Earlier today, the Preconciliar Commission of the Orthodox Church in America, charged with planning the Church's 15th All-American Council, confirmed that a Town Hall Meeting has been schedule for Boston, MA, on Thursday, August 21, 2008. The meeting will be held at Holy Trinity Cathedral from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. With the Boston date, the Town Hall meeting schedule is as follows. TOWN HALL MEETING SCHEDULE Amended June 20, 2008
Gevorkian Theological Seminary and Vaskenian Theological Academy Accepting Applications for 2008-2009 Enrollment 06/20/2008 The application process for 2008-2009 candidates for the Gevorkian Theological Seminary and the Vaskenian Theological Academy (six-year educational program) is now open. The Gevorkian Theological Seminary was recognized as a institution of higher learning on March 18, 2005 by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia. Students completing the program receive a Bachelor’s degree in General Education and are a candidate of Theology. Applications are available at Diocesan Headquarters and on-line. Admission Requirements To be considered for admission an applicant must be male, between the ages of 17 and 21, of Armenian ethnicity, and a faithful member of the Holy Apostolic Armenian Church. He must have completed his secondary or higher education. All applicants for admission are required to complete and submit an application packet. The documentation must include:
All documents must be originals with original signatures unless noted. Applications will be accepted at the Office of the Secretariat of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary, July 10 to August 20, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Enrollment is limited and applicants must successfully complete interviews and entrance exams. Candidates not accepted for consideration will be contacted prior to August 25th. All other candidates accepted for testing and interviews will be expected to report to the Gevorkian Theological Seminary on the grounds of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at 9:00 a.m. from August 25 through August 30, 2008. An interview will be conducted with each candidate on the following topics:
Entrance examinations are administered on the following subjects:
Source : http://www.armenianchurch.org/ Romanian Orthodox Church Has A News Agency 06/20/2008 Basilica News Agency was launched yesterday, in the attendance and with the blessing of His Beatitude Daniel, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The agency is part of the Romanian Patriarchy's Basilica Press Center, along with Radio Trinitas, Trinitas television, ‘Ziarul Lumina' daily and the Press Office. Its task is to present, in the form of news and press documentaries, the institutions, activities and attitudes of the Romanian Orthodox Church, as well as those of other Churches, in various current issues. The news and information are organized electronically on the basilica.ro website and include information on the Church life in Romania and abroad: the activity of the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the decisions of the Holy Synod, the activities of dioceses and parishes, those of theological schools and church associations, the Church's dialogue with civil society, as well as inter-faith and inter-religious dialogue. The information published on basilica.ro website contains Romanian, English, French and Russian versions and can be used freely by individuals and institutions, provided it is for professional purposes and is done by pointing out the source. Source : http://www.basilica.ro CONSECRATION OF THE HOLY MYRON IN ANTELIAS 06/17/2008 The Consecration of Holy Myron is an occasion of unique importance for the Armenian Church. June 7, 2008 thus became a historic day for the Catholicate of Cilicia, which was filled with waves of joyful and excited believers who had come to witness this ceremonious event. The Blessing of the Holy Myron was performed by His Holiness Aram I on the platform built for this purpose at the entrance of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. Representatives from all the dioceses of the Catholicate were present at the ceremony: Archbishop Norvan Zakarian (Head of the Diocese of France), Bishop Yezras Nersisian (Primate of the Diocese of Russia) represented the Catholicate of All Armenians in Etchmiyadzine. The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem was represented by the Grand Sacristan of the Saint Hagop Cathedral, Archbishop Nourhan Manougian. Patriarchal Vicar Arch. Shahan Sevadjian attended on behalf of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. He headed a delegation formed of Rev. Fr. Tatoul Anoushian and Father Vagharshag Serovpian. Alongside him on the platform, the Pontiff had also the Diocesan heads of the Cilician See, who participated in the Holy service. Thousands of pilgrims, who had flocked to Antelias from all over the world, filled up the Catholicate’s headquarters to attend this ceremony, which occurs only once every seven years. This phenomenon is itself a testament to the love and commitment of our people towards the Armenian Church. Also sharing this majestic occasion with the Armenian Church and nation were the representatives of various Christian communities in Lebanon: Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Chaldonean Protestant and Armenian Protestant churches were present. The Nuncio Apostolic in Lebanon and government officials were also present. His Holiness received on this occasion letters from heads of churches and ecumenical organizations expressing their spiritual love and fellowship. The service started when the Pontifical Procession, led by Bishops followed and the Armenian Pontiff, proceeded from the Veharan towards the altar built on the platform outside the Cathedral especially for this occasion. The Godfather of the service was Mr. Vrej Armoyian, a community leader of the Prelacy of Canada. The Catholicate’s “Shenorhali” Choir performed the hymns. Members of the Cilician Brotherhood brought out the historic Cauldron of the Holy Myron from the Cathedral carrying it on their shoulders and placed on the platform outside, in front of the Pontiff. While the lid of the Cauldron was being lifted, it seemed as though the doors to the souls of believers were also laid open. Reciting prayers, the Catholicos added to the Cauldron the main ingredient of the Myron, the Balsam, and the old Myron, which according to tradition contains samples of the oil that the Apostles used to cure patients. The Apostle who evangelized Armenia, Saint Thaddeus (Thaddai), is said to have brought a part of this oil to Armenia. Amid the excitement of the faithful, Catholicos also mixed in the Cauldron a sample of Holy Myron blessed in St. Etchmiyadzine as a symbol of the unity of the Armenian Church. During the service, the representative of the Supreme Catholicos of All Armenians read out His Holiness Karekin II’s address on this occasion, in which he welcomed the blessing of Myron in Antelias and expressed his brotherly affection for His Holiness Aram I. At the most sacred moment of the service, Catholicos Aram I stirred the new Myron with the Holy Right Hand of Saint Gregory the Illuminator sanctifying the new Myron with the blessings of the Patron Saint of the Armenian Church. In his address to the thousands of pilgrims, His Holiness conveyed the meaning and symbolism of the Holy Myron. His Holiness summarized his thoughts in the following four points:
His Holiness then dedicated the new Holy Myron to the new generation: We express gratitude and satisfaction to God that this is the third blessing of the Myron that we perform. We dedicate the blessing of this Holy Myron to our new generation, the generation that is called upon to build the future of the church. He continued: In the globalized world, faced with new lifestyles, new viewpoints questioning our Christian faith, out spiritual truths and moral values, it is not easy to be true Christians. It is also not easy to stay Armenian in a context of a culture of globalization, which destroys nation and culture, identity and tradition. Therefore, stay alert. Let the winds blowing around you not push you away from your roots. Be proud of your spiritual and national values, for the preservation of which your ancestors shed blood. You have the Armenian Myron on your forehead. Keep your faith strong, the Armenian Myron pure and in front of the current world’s storms transform your life into one stamped with spiritual and national values. The faithful remained in Antelias until late at night, approaching the Muron pot with great awe and kissing it. A committee formed by the Catholicate especially for this event had prepared several souvenirs, which were distributed to the faithful at the entrance of the Catholicate. Particularly impressive was the presence of students, who were wearing special shirts with the theme of the blessing of the Myron. Source : http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/English/cathcilnewseng.htm#1 Flock of Antarctica's Orthodox Temple Celebrates Holy Trinity Day 06/17/2008 The only Orthodox temple in Antarctica had a Holy Trinity Day service on Sunday, a source at the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of the Federal Hydro-Meteorological Service told Itar-Tass on Sunday. "Not only Russian polar explorers but also their colleagues from other Antarctic research stations attended the service," he said. "The place for the Orthodox temple was selected so that it could be seen from afar. The Holy Trinity Church is the first site tourists see on their way to Antarctica from Terra del Fuego," the source said. The wood for the Antarctic temple was supplied from Altai. Palekh craftsmen did the iconostasis. Thirty people can simultaneously visit the Siberian cedar church with the height of 15 meters. The church opened on May 29, 2004. A representative of the Holy Trinity - St. Sergius Lavra consecrated the temple. Nowadays, the church has a permanent priest. There are about 45 round-the-year research stations in Antarctica. Russia has five active stations and one field base: Mirny, Vostok, Novolazarevskaya, Progress, Bellingshauzen and Druzhnaya 4. Three stations - Molodyozhnaya, Russkaya and Leningradskaya - are mothballed. All other former Soviet stations have been closed down permanently, he said. Russia resumed comprehensive research in the Pacific sector of Antarctica after a 16-year pause. The crew of the research vessel installed automatic meteorological and geophysical equipment at the previously mothballed stations Leningradskaya and Russkaya. The institute' s forecast center is regularly receiving reports from the Antarctic Pacific coast. The Russkaya station, which closed down in the end of the 20th century for the lack of funds, received automatic weather and geophysical gadgets this winter.| Source : http://www.spc.yu/eng/flock_antarcticas_orthodox_temple_celebrates_holy_trinity_day SCOBA Hierarchs Convene For Spring 2008 Session 06/17/2008 New York, NY [SCOBA] -- The Spring Session of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) met on June 12, 2008 from 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. This session was attended by all Hierarchs of SCOBA: Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Philip, Vice-Chairman (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Christopher, Secretary (Serbian Orthodox Church), Metropolitan Nicholas (Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese), Metropolitan Herman (Orthodox Church in America), Metropolitan Joseph (Bulgarian Orthodox Church), Archbishop Nicolae (Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese), Archbishop Antony (proxy, Ukrainian Orthodox Church) and Bishop Ilia (Albanian Orthodox Diocese). In attendance as well were Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Methodios of Boston (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), and Bishop Antoun of Miami (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese). Also present were the General Secretary and thirteen members of the SCOBA Study and Planning Commission representing all the SCOBA member Churches. The Hierarchs held a fraternal and open discussion related to SCOBA Agencies, dealing with communications, education and mission. The formal request of the Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, who is also the Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchal parishes in the USA (33 in number), Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk to be included on SCOBA was presented by the Chairman, Archbishop Demetrios. He noted that the Moscow Patriarchate, through its Exarchate, had been one of the original signers of the SCOBA Constitution. After the Archbishop's presentation of the matter, there was immediate unanimous agreement, in a spirit of fraternal welcome, by all SCOBA Hierarchs to welcome the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the United States, in the person of Bishop Mercurius, to full membership in SCOBA. In addition, both Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Philip shared with the other SCOBA Hierarchs the positive results of their individual meetings with Metropolitan Hilarion, the newly enthroned (May 18, 2008) First Hierarch of the Russi an Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). The Co-Chair of the Orthodox-Roman Catholic Theological Consultation, Metropolitan Maximos, gave a presentation on the status of the various Inter-Christian Dialogues. The meeting closed with an open and fraternal discussion of ecclesiastical issues that need attention. Source : http://www.oca.org/News.asp?ID=1566&SID=19 Ottawa's Annunciation Cathedral Hosts the First Town Hall Meeting 06/17/2008 OTTAWA, ON [OCA Communications] -- The first town hall meeting in preparation for the Orthodox Church in America's 15th All-American Council was held at Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral here on Saturday, June 7, 2008 His Eminence, Archbishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada and His Grace, Bishop Nikon of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese and chair of the Preconciliar Commission, attended the gathering, at which the Archpriest Andrew Jarmus, OCA Director of Ministries and Communications, served as facilitator. Cathedral Dean and Preconciliar Commission member, Archpriest John Jillions, served as a recorder for the meeting. Twenty-five clergy and laypersons from the Ottawa area, Montreal, upstate New York, and Wisconsin participated. In his opening remarks, Archbishop Seraphim commented on the value of gathering for dialogue. He shared his hope that the day would be positive with everyone taking part. "Participants engaged in an open and frank discussion about the impact that the crisis in the OCA over the past several years has had on them," said Father Jarmus. "Some spoke of broken trust in the leadership of the Church, of feeling neglected and abused, and of feeling that their voices and concerns had not been heard or valued. Others expressed the opinion that such incidents are not new to the life of the Church and that, while the issue of mismanagement in the OCA central administration must be addressed with due diligence, it is not a 'crisis' as such. All shared the feeling that this situation offers the Church an opportunity to witness how Christians deal with adverse situations, both as individuals and as a collective body." "In their closing remarks on Saturday, both hierarchs expressed their appreciation for the participants' candor during the meeting," Father Jarmus concluded. "Many who took part on the meeting expressed their satisfaction with the process, saying that it allowed them to express their feelings and concerns in a civil and open manner, even when opinions were divergent and in opposition." On Sunday, June 8, Bishop Nikon concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Archbishop Seraphim, the cathedral's clergy, and guest clergy. In his sermon, Bishop Nikon spoke of the value of listening to others and defined true listening as taking an "active interest" in the other. He also reminded those gathered that one's limitations are not excuses for inaction when called to serve God. The proceedings of the Ottawa town hall meeting may be reviewed in more detail through the notes taken during the sessions, which are now posted on the 15th All-American Council blog. The next town hall meeting will be held in Dallas, TX during the Assembly of the Diocese of the South, June 24, 2008 Source : http://www.oca.org/News.asp?ID=1565&SID=19 The Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation Holds Its 74th Meeting 06/17/2008 NEW YORK, NY [SCOBA] - The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation examined how the two church bodies understand ecclesial authority and the sacramental nature of the Church at their 74th meeting at Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, from June 2-4, 2008. Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati and Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh chaired the meeting. At the first theological session, Father Paul McPartlan of The Catholic University of America offered an analysis of the October 2007 document of the international Orthodox-Catholic theological dialogue, "Ecclesiological and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church: Ecclesial Communion, Conciliarity and Authority." Also known as "The Ravenna Document," this text examines the canonical structures that serve the understanding of koinonia (community) in the Church at the local, regional and world-wide levels. Father McPartlan is himself a member of the international dialogue. A Catholic reaction to the document was then presented by Father John Galvin and an Orthodox reaction by Robert Haddad, Ph.D. At the second session, Father Joseph Komonchak, from Catholic University, presented a select bibliography on synodality and commented on a number of the sources. Jesuit Father Brian Daley of the University of Notre Dame, presented an overview and commentary of the Cyprus Agreed Statement, the 2006 document of the Anglican-Orthodox theological dialogue, titled "The Church of the Triune God." This was followed by brief presentations by Father David Petras and Father McPartlan on how the two churches might function were there reestablishment of full communion. At the third session, Metropolitan Maximos presented the paper, "Will the Ecclesiology of Cardinal Ratzinger Influence the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI?" This was followed by discussion of the Consultation's efforts exploring primacy and synodality so far. The discussion continued at the fourth session. While at Holy Cross, the members also shared in the spiritual life of the seminary, attending Vespers on Monday evening and a celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the seminary chapel on Tuesday morning, presided over by Metropolitan Maximos. Father John Erickson of Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, who had been an Orthodox member before he was named seminary dean in 2002, was welcomed back to the Consultation. He takes the place of Dr. John Barnet, also of Saint Vladimir's Seminary. The next meeting is slated for October 23-25, in Montreal, Quebec. It will be sponsored by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has been an official participant in the North American Consultation since 1997. In addition to the co-chairs, the Consultation include Orthodox representatives Father Thomas FitzGerald (Secretary), Father Nicholas Apostola, Susan Ashbrook Harvey, Ph.D., Father James Dutko, Paul Meyendorff, Ph.D., Father Alexander Golitzin, Robert Haddad, Ph.D., Father Paul Schneirla, Father Robert Stephanopoulos, Father John Erickson, Father Theodore Pulcini, and Father Mark Arey, General Secretary of SCOBA (staff). The additional Catholic members are Jesuit Father Brian Daley (Secretary), Thomas Bird, Ph.D., Holy Cross Father Lucien Coutu, Father Peter Galadza, Chorbishop John D. Faris, Father John Galvin, Father Sidney Griffith, Father Joseph Komonchak, Father Paul McPartlan, Father David Petras, Sister Susan K. Wood, Vito Nicastro, Ph.D., and Paulist Father Ronald Roberson, who serves as staff. The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation is sponsored jointly by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), the Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Since its establishment in 1965, the Consultation has issued 22 agreed statements on various topics. All these texts are now available on the SCOBA Website at http://www.scoba.us/resources/orthodox-catholic.html and at the USCCB website at http://www.usccb.org/seia/orthodox_index.shtml. Source : http://www.oca.org/News.asp?ID=1564&SID=19 "FAITH" Funds Fellowships for Ionian Village 06/17/2008 NEW YORK – Ionian Village, the travel abroad summer camp program of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, announced today that FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism will generously fund a limited number of Archdiocese travel fellowships for high school students to participate in the Ionian Village program this summer. As part of the Archdiocese’s ongoing effort to make Ionian Village accessible to more families, FAITH will be offering both partial and full fellowships for deserving teens who demonstrate financial need. The Ionian Village program aims to provide a vibrant, first hand experience of Orthodox Christianity and Hellenism to its participants. Participants spend three weeks at the Ionian Village camp site, making guided excursions to some of the most important cultural and religious sites of Greece. Ionian Village destinations include the church of St. Dionysios on the island of Zakynthos, Ancient Olympia, the monastery of Ossios Lukas, and Delphi. In addition to excursions, participants are offered an educational program that includes athletic events, catechetical discussions, and sessions focusing on Greek culture. The last three days of the program are spent in Athens, where participants stay at an Athenian hotel, have the opportunity to get to know the city and take excursions to the Acropolis and the nearby island of Aegina. Those wishing to apply for a FAITH/Ionian Village fellowship may download and print an application packet from the Ionian Village web site, www.ionianvillage.org. Applications must be received by Ionian Village no later than June 30, 2008. Fellowship recipients will be responsible to meet the group at JFK International Airport in New York on July 26. For details or questions, please call the Ionian Village office at (646) 483-5378. Contact: Stavros H. Papagermanos Tel.: 212.570.3556 Source : http://www.goarch.org/en/news/NewsDetail.asp?id=2012 ARMENIAN YOUTH AND TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE TO BE ORGANIZED IN ANTELIAS THIS SUMMER 06/15/2008 A conference of teachers of Armenian Language, Armenian history and religion will be convened in the Catholicate of Cilicia in Antelias on July 17-19 on the initiative of the Catholicate’s Armenological-educational department. The “Armenian Education Today” conference convened in Antelias in 2004 had decided to continue discussions on issues and concerns related to Armenian education with further depth and professionalism and to devise projects in line with these discussions. The Armenian school, with its mission of formation-both of people and Armenians- is one of the important fields of the Catholicate of Cilicia’s mission. With this in mind, Catholicos Aram I continues organizing initiatives, in cooperation with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s Armenian Department, that bring to the fore issues related to the Armenian school. It is in this context that the conference of Armenian history, Armenian Language and religion teachers will be convened as a follow-up the above mentioned pan-Diaspora conference four years ago. The conference will comprehensively discuss issues related to all three subjects: language, methodology, teachers, textbooks, curriculum, etc. Teachers in these subjects in Armenian schools throughout the Diaspora will participate in the conference. Those interested can contact the director of the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Armenological-Educational Department, Mr. Sarkis Giragossian. On August 14-16, 2008 a pan-Diaspora youth conference will be held in Antelias. The conference was planned two years ago but was postponed at the time due to the unstable political situation in Lebanon. Under the theme “The Armenian youth in front of the challenges of the 21st century” the conference will feature lectures, round tables and group discussions. Over 100 youths from the various Dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia will participate in the conference. Those interested can contact the director of the Catholicosate’s Youth Department, Rev. Father Sahag Yemishian. Source : http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/English/cathcilnewsarchiveseng.htm#20 Meeting With the Youth at the Monastery of Penteli Greek Orthodox Church 06/15/2008 His Beatitude had his 1st meeting with the youth of the local churches, on Saturday 7-6-08 at the Monastery of Penteli. Child Psychologist father Vassilios Thermos and Theologist Thanassis Papathanassiou opened a fruitful dialogue with their speeches. Some of the children’s questions that were posed to the Archbishop are the following:
His Beatitude was also asked on the issue of the cohabitation agreement and answered that the Church has its beliefs, its rules, its Gospel and its tradition. Therefore it has its space and boundaries imposed to its members in order to lead a Christian life. Those who wish to follow this path cannot trespass these boundaries according to which deviation is not allowed. He also added that we must not forget that people are free. This freedom is respected by the Lord who himself allowed man to sin. Therefore, everyone who is baptized continues to be a member of the Church. The Archbishop underlined that the Church must care about these people and that the only thing that we can do is to respect their choice. One’s decision is one’s own choice and responsibility. He also added that we must catch the general message of the gospel and beware of its absolutist interpretation because this constitutes heresy. He then referred to the parable of the prodigal son underlining that the Church respects man and expects him back no matter his faults. He added that Jesus Christ talks of justice not in man’s terms. What is just in the eyes of man is different from what is just in the eyes of Jesus. He continued by saying that the Church is not the priests; it is the faithful crowd. No decision of the Holly Synod was even taken without the agreement of the people and concluded by saying that many have different views. We respect this fact and this is the beauty of the Church and of Orthodoxy. Source : http://www.ecclesia.gr/englishnews/default.asp H H Pope Shenouda III Flown for Treatment in United States after Fall 06/17/2008 CAIRO, Egypt: The leader of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church was flown to Cleveland on Wednesday for treatment after breaking his thigh in an accident, the church announced. Pope Shenouda III, 84, fell in his bedroom on Monday evening and was later diagnosed with a fractured thigh, according to a statement issued by the church, saying he required surgery. President Hosni Mubarak ordered his government to provide a special ambulance plane to fly the patriarch to the United States, reported the official MENA news agency. "He has high morale and we pray to God for his cure," said Health Minister Hatim el-Gibly at the Cairo International Airport. A close associate said Shenouda fell as he was trying to go the bathroom late Monday night. "He slipped on a carpet and fell," said Tharwat Bassily, a member of the Coptic Council. In 2006, the pope had spinal surgery at the Cleveland Clinic and last year he made several trips to the U.S. for further back surgery. Shenouda has long suffered from chronic cholecystitis, or gall stones, that can cause a high fever and severe pain, and was hospitalized in November in Cairo. The Coptic Church is one of the Middle East oldest churches. Like the Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox churches it has no theological links with the Roman Catholic or the Anglican churches. Shenouda has led the church since 1971. Copts are believed to make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 77 million, making them the largest Christian community in the Middle East. Under his leadership, the church has established congregations in the United States, South America, New Zealand and Australia. It has more than 100 North American congregations, up from four in 1971. Source : http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/11/africa/ME-GEN-Egypt-Copts-1st-Ld-Writethru.php SCOBA Hierarchs Convene For Spring 2008 Session - Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas 06/13/2008 New York, NY - The Spring Session of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) met on June 12, 2008 from 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. This session was attended by all Hierarchs of SCOBA: Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Philip, Vice-Chairman (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Christopher, Secretary (Serbian Orthodox Church), Metropolitan Nicholas (Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese), Metropolitan Herman (Orthodox Church in America), Metropolitan Joseph (Bulgarian Orthodox Church), Archbishop Nicolae (Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese), Archbishop Antony (proxy, Ukrainian Orthodox Church) and Bishop Ilia (Albanian Orthodox Diocese). In attendance as well were Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Methodios of Boston (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), and Bishop Antoun of Miami (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese). Also present were the General Secretary and thirteen members of the SCOBA Study and Planning Commission representing all the SCOBA member Churches. The Hierarchs held a fraternal and open discussion related to SCOBA Agencies, dealing with communications, education and mission. The formal request of the Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, who is also the Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchal parishes in the USA (33 in number), Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk to be included on SCOBA was presented by the Chairman, Archbishop Demetrios. He noted that the Moscow Patriarchate, through its Exarchate, had been one of the original signers of the SCOBA Constitution. After the Archbishop’s presentation of the matter, there was immediate unanimous agreement, in a spirit of fraternal welcome, by all SCOBA Hierarchs to welcome the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the United States, in the person of Bishop Mercurius, to full membership in SCOBA. In addition, both Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Philip shared with the other SCOBA Hierarchs the positive results of their individual meetings with Metropolitan Hilarion, the newly enthroned (May 18, 2008) First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). The Co-Chair of the Orthodox-Roman Catholic Theological Consultation, Metropolitan Maximos, gave a presentation on the status of the various Inter-Christian Dialogues. The meeting closed with an open and fraternal discussion of ecclesiastical issues that need attention. Demetrios Welcomes Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of ROCOR - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America 06/17/2008 New York, NY -- On Monday June 9th, Archbishop Demetrios of America welcomed His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, the newly enthroned First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) at the Archdiocese Headquarters in New York City. This meeting between the two Primates follows on a new relationship between the Churches occasioned by the reunification of ROCOR with the Moscow Patriarchate in May of 2007. Archbishop Demetrios had already sent a congratulatory letter to Metropolitan Hilarion after his election as First Hierarch (Primate) of ROCOR, which also invited him to the Archdiocese. Metropolitan Hilarion was accompanied by the Very Rev. Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff, Secretary of Inter-Orthodox Relations. During the 90 minute meeting with the Archbishop, who is also the Chairman of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), the discussions focused around the new reality of ROCOR in the Pan-Orthodox environment of America. Also present at the meeting were the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Bishop Savas of Troas, Father Mark Arey, Director of Inter-Orthodox Relations and Archdeacon Pandeleimon Papadopoulos. Archbishop Demetrios Receives Senator John McCain, Presumptive Nominee of Republican Party for President - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America 06/17/2008 NY – Today, Archbishop Demetrios of America welcomed Senator John McCain back to the Archdiocese Headquarters in New York City for a visit with the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party. Senator McCain visited the Archbishop last year on June 27, 2007, when he was running for his Party’s nomination. At that time, the Archbishop had raised issues surrounding the religious freedom and legal protections for the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other human rights concerns. Today’s meeting continued their dialogue. During their meeting, they discussed issues of common concern to all Americans, e.g., the economic hardships that many are facing and respect for all life. The Archbishop emphasized the importance of education in empowering economic opportunity for all citizens. As for issues specific to the Greek-American community, Senator McCain was fully prepared to speak on religious liberty and human rights issues for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the issues of a solution for Cyprus and the naming questions surrounding FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia). In a comment after the meeting, the Archbishop said: "As Saint Paul says in his First Letter to Timothy, 'let supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all people: kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.' Well, in America we have no kings, but we do have elected leaders and representatives of government. As Archbishop, I feel a responsibility to pray for all our leaders and to encourage our Greek Orthodox Faithful to do likewise, as they participate in the political process granted to all Americans by our Constitutionally protected freedoms. Senator McCain is an honorable American who has demonstrated his heroism and love for this country." Enquiry Sent to Romanian Church Over Reports that One of Her Bishops Took Holy Communion at Catholic Liturgy 06/11/2008 There were reports in the mass media that the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Nicolae of Banat took Holy Communion during the liturgy which took place on 25 May 2008 at the Greek Catholic Church in Timisoara, Romania, and which was attended by the Apostolic Nuncio to Romania, Francisco-Javier Lozano. On 6 June 2008, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, sent a letter to Bishop Ciprian of Campina, vicar of His Beatitude Patriarch of Romania and head of the Romanian Patriarchate’s external relations section, asking him to explain whether the prominent hierarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church really had sacramental communion with those who do not belong to the Orthodox Church and if he did, how this incident is treated by His Holiness Patriarch Daniel of Romania and the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. DECR Communication Service Source : http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?page=41256 Christian Churches Hold Consultations in London on Christian-Muslim Relations 06/11/2008 One-day consultations were held in London on the initiative of Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury to discuss the open letter of 138 Muslim theologians to Christian leaders and heads of Churches and to outline possible responses. Archpriest Mikhail Dudko of the Surozh diocese, who represented the Russian Orthodox Church, voiced fundamental provisions expressed in the letter from Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia to the Muslim leaders. He stressed in particular that the dialogue, which is so necessary today, “should not seek to define a certain minimum in order to fix our convergences in faith, but Christian-Muslim practical cooperation should rather undertake to defend the role of religion in public life, to combat the defamation of religion, to oppose intolerance and xenophobia, to protect holy places, to maintain the place of religious veneration and to promote joint peace initiatives. DECR Communication Service Source : http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?page=41254 Estonian Orthodox Church Holds Her Council 06/11/2008 On 3 June 2008, the Day of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and Commemoration Day of Sts Constantine and Helen Equal-to-the-Apostles, the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate held her regular council, at the Pukhtitsy Convent of the Dormition. Traditionally, the council’s sessions were preceded by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. It was led by Metropolitan Kornily of Tallinn and All Estonia. Almost all the clergy of the Estonian Orthodox Church concelebrated and many lay people, who were delegated from parishes, communicated. In accordance with the EOC/MP statute, the council was chaired by Metropolitan Kornily, with Archpriest Boris Merlin and Rev. Aleksiy Kolosov co-chairing. Metropolitan Kornily made a key report presenting an extended overview of the life of the Estonian Orthodox Church in the pre-council period and pointing to certain pastoral and administrative problems facing the Church. He said that church problems should be resolved in the spirit of peace and conciliarity in an open discussion, without clandestine actions or offences and intrigues. Everything in our church life should have the liturgical basis, and it is inadmissible to ignore common conciliar worship services conducted by the primate of the Church, he said. A parish should be a united solid family in which everything is decided by agreement rather than the unilateral wish of its rector. There was also a certain criticism of the supernumerary clergy who have a secular job or a business of their own. The archpastor urged them not to rely too much on their secular income since it leads to negligence in the service of God. According to the website of the Estonian Orthodox Church, there was also a special mention of positive examples in the work of rectors and parish activists who helped to provide necessary facilities in churches and to look after graves of the deceased clergy. Attention was also given to the need to make timely contributions for the support of the Church Administration. The report was unanimously approved. The council members heard a report of the Church Administration’s lawyer Sergey Churkin, who spoke about the transfer of church buildings and possible amendments to the statute of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. He also pointed to the importance of a legally correct definition of donations. The Church Administration’s accountant Tatyana Miroshnikova made a report about the figures and structure of the administrative expenses. The Church Administration’s secretary, Rev. Andrey Kolosov, answered questions from the council members. Deacon Yevgeny Startsev, EOC/MP representative in the commission distributing given by the state for restoring religious facilities of historical and architectural value, informed the council of the application procedure for participating in these programs and the results achieved in this area. He pointed to both positive examples of this cooperation and insufficient efforts of rectors in making such applications. The council also discussed problems involved in religious education. Archpriest Igor Prekup, head of the department for religious education and catechism, informed the council about the situation in this area and the progress made in implementing the decisions taken by the previous council, especially in developing and launching the department’s website and in the work of the group responsible for developing the principles and methods of catechization. The catechism commission members made some specific proposal for this work. The council took a vote on the results of the session and concluded its work with a common prayer and repast. DECR Communication Service Source : http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?page=41245 Patriarch Alexy Receives the New Romanian Ambassador to Moscow 06/11/2008 His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia met with the new Romanian ambassador to Moscow, C. M. Grigorie, on 3 June 2008 at his working residence in Chisty Lane. Welcoming the ambassador, Patriarch Alexy expressed hope that his work in his new office would contribute to the development and deepening of relations between the two countries. In this connection, they noted a special importance of the Orthodox faith common to the two nations. Mr. Grigorie thanked the patriarch for the high appreciation of his work in his previous office and pointed to the fact that he had happened to be ambassador to both Rome and ‘the New Rome’ - Constantinople (now Istanbul). ‘Now I am to represent the interests of my country in Moscow, the Third Rome’, he said. Mr. Grigorie conveyed to Patriarch Alexy a personal message from the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Source : http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?page=41225 Moscow Patriarchate Representative Takes Part in International Seminar on Human Rights and Dignity 06/11/2008 An international seminar on Human Rights and Dignity took place on 26-31 May 2008 at Bossey, Switzerland. It was attended by representatives of Christian Churches and traditional religions as well as experts in human rights from South-East Asia, North and South America and Europe. The seminar focused on such problems as correlation between rights and obligations especially as applied to various social groups, women’s rights in the Church, practical realization of Christian approaches to human rights on major inter-state platforms, especially within the existing international mechanisms; the rights to protect women and children in situations of armed conflicts; the right to the freedom of expression and faith. Among the participants was Archpriest Alexander Abramov, secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate representation in the USA and representative of the World Russian People’s Council in the UN. He presented the Russian Orthodox Church’s vision of the basic aspects of the human rights concept, making a special emphasis on the theoretical foundations of some elements in the Orthodox teaching on personality and human inalienable rights as reflected in the works of the 19th-20th century Russian philosophers, especially N. Berdyaev and S. Frank. He stressed the dynamic nature of the human dignity notion and a special significance of collectivity in the understanding of human rights as reflected in the idea of communality and conciliarity. Father Alexander noted that interreligious and inter-cultural dialogue played a prominent part in implementing the Orthodox conception of human rights and dignity. He also made an overview of the human rights initiatives set forth by the Russian Orthodox Church in the UN and its specialized agencies, including the Human Rights Council. DECR Communication Service Source : http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?page=41208 Graduates of the Trinity Church Parish School in Brussels Granted Russian State-recognized Graduation Certificates 06/11/2008 The Russian language school at the Church of the Life-giving Trinity in Brussels is the only one among over ten private Russian-speaking schools in Belgium whose graduates have passed exams at the Russian Embassy and have been granted state-recognized graduation certificates. The graduates received only good and excellent marks thanks to the support from the embassy, which had provided the school with curricula and educational aids. Besides, the teachers of the parish schools took a study-course at the embassy. The Russian school at the Trinity church has existed since 2002. Its curriculum is that of a regular comprehensive Russian school, which makes it possible for graduates to enter universities in Russia. DECR Communication Service Source : http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?page=41252 Russian North Fleet Acquires A Cruise Icon of the Holy Warrior Fyodor 06/11/2008 A prayer service was conducted at the Icon of the Holy Warrior Fy |