China and Japan were added to the Official List of Countries that Form the Canonical Territory of the Russian Orthodox Church
11. February 2013 - 14:35
According to the revised constitution of Patriarchate of Moscow, China and Japan are part of its canonical territory.
The document was adopted by the Bishops’ Council, which took place in Moscow on February 2–5 and was published on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church on Tuesday.
Russia, the Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan, the Baltic States and the States of Central Asia are also included as countries forming its canonical territory (all these countries, except China and Japan, had been included in the previous version of the constitution).
Hear about the 500,000-member Orthodox Church in Guatemala!
7. February 2013 - 13:22
Did you know that there are 338 Orthodox churches in Guatemala, with 500,000 faithful and catechumens? Did you know that a former UN Ambassador is now a priest in that community? Did you know that hundreds of Latin Americans continue to leave the Roman Catholic Church on a daily basis, seeking other religious experiences, including worship within the liturgical services of the Orthodox Church?
A book in Chinese for the newly-baptized is published in Hong Kong
7. February 2013 - 11:23
A book on the Orthodox Liturgy for newly-baptized Orthodox adults and children has been published in Chinese. Ivan Shchelokov, a student of the Moscow Theological Academy studying Chinese at Jinan University translated "Tomorrow is Sunday", a book by the Greek author, Mrs. Gregoriadi-Sureli, about an Orthodox family preparing for the Divine Service on Sunday.
This publication was prepared by the Brotherhood of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Hong Kong. It explains in simple terms, especially for children, the meaning and significance of this Divine Liturgy, as well as the preparation for it.
Over twenty pictures representing a Chinese Orthodox family illustrate the Chinese edition. The book is dedicated to this year's celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Russian Spiritual Mission in China.
Russian Patriarch urges church presence in social networks
6. February 2013 - 12:31
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on Saturday lamented a high number of antichurch internet posts and said the Russian Orthodox Church he leads should be present in social networks to tell the truth to its audience.
“Blogs and social networks give us new opportunities for the Christian mission” at a time when the Church comes under attacks more often than before, the patriarch said. “Not to be present there means to display our helplessness and lack of care for the salvation of our brothers.”
Patriarch Kirill on four years as Patriarch: a lot has been done, a lot remains to do
1. February 2013 - 11:59
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia served a liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on the fourth anniversary of his enthronement as patriarch.
“These four years were full of so many events that would be enough for forty years and even more,” the Patriarch said after the liturgy.
A lot was done by the entire church during his tenure as Patriarch.
“We are not summing up the results and we are not making any joyful reports on what we have done. We realize with humility that a lot has not been done yet. But we thank the Lord for these four years, for the joys and sorrows, but above all for the mercy that our Lord, the head of our Church, has given all of us,” Patriarch Kirill said.
