Metropolitan Hilarion's Passion According to St. Matthew to be performed in Constantinople
10. March 2010 - 9:13Concert of Russian spiritual music is to take place in ancient Agia Eirini museum church on March 26. Oratorio for soloists, choir and orchestra The Passion According to St. Matthew by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk will be performed at the concert. "Idea of holding such a concert was discussed at Patriarch Kirill's meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew during his visit to the Constantinople Church on July 4-5, 2009. The Primate and other prominent hierarchs of the Constantinople Patriarchate backed it up," a source in the Synodal Department for External Church Relations told Interfax-Religion correspondent.
Reminding of the fire in Chilandar monastery - March 4, 2004
4. March 2010 - 13:00
On March 4, 2004 one hour after midnight Chilandar Monastery on the Mount Athos was caught by a catastrophic fire. There were no casualties, and the firefighters, monks and workers in the monastery managed to keep the fire under control. The fire, which spread by the rooftop, completely destroyed a part of the monastery complex from the heugomen's cell, through the hospitality rooms all the way to the Tower of Saint Sava. The Church of King Milutin, the treasury, archives and monastery library remained out of the reach of the fire.
Religious Freedom Mission to the European Union in support of Ecumenical Patriarchate
4. March 2010 - 9:58
With the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a delegation from the Order of St. Andrew, led by Archon Ambassador George L. Argyros and National Commander Anthony J. Limberakis, MD, participated in a Religious Freedom Mission to the European Union in pursuit of human rights and religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate from January 26-February 7, 2010. The delegation traveled to Madrid, Spain, which currently holds the EU presidency; Brussels, Belgium, the headquarters of the EU and ended in Athens, Greece where they joined His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. They were guided by His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, Director of the Liaison Office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the European Union. Together with Archons Argyros and Limberakis, the delegation also included Archon Christopher Stratakis, Legal Counselor; Fr. Alex Karloutsos, Archon Spiritual Advisor; and Mr. Robert Lapsely, former assistant Secretary of State for California.
Fr John Behr’s Homily at Westchester Pan-Orthodox Vespers
1. March 2010 - 12:36
Members of the St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary community attended the Pan-Orthodox Vespers on the Sunday of Orthodoxy (2/21/10), celebrated this year at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, Yonkers. The SVS contingent very much appreciated the hospitality showed by V. Rev. Jaroslav Sudick and his parish community. V. Rev. John Behr (SVS Dean) gave the Homily this evening. This is what he said...
"Today, the first Sunday in Lent, is known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy. This isn't just a general reference to orthodoxy, and it is not a congratulatory pat on the back after getting through the first week of Lent!
Russian Patriarch blesses Yanukovich ahead of inauguration ceremony
1. March 2010 - 12:34Ukraine's next president Viktor Yanukovich has received a blessing from Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia at the Kiev Laura of the Caves ahead of the official inauguration ceremony. "May God bless you in your accession to power," the Patriarch told the president-elect. The Church Primate stressed the importance of establishing friendly relations between "component parts of Kievan Rus." "God grants, your undertakings will be aimed at Ukraine's prosperity," the Patriarch said after reading in Ukrainian several lines from the Prayer for Ukraine and giving Yanukovich an image of the Savior as a present.
