Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk in Kazan
METROPOLITAN HILARION OF VOLOKOLAMSK VISITS KAZAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
On 28 March 2015, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, rector of Ss Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies, who had arrived in Kazan to take part in the celebrations marking the millennium of the demise of the Holy Prince Vladimir, celebrated the All-Night Vigil at a church of the Kazan Orthodox Theological Seminary. At the entrance to the Church of St John of Kronstadt, Metropolitan Hilarion was met by Hegumen Yevfimiy (Moiseyev), rector of the Theological school.
Concelebrating the All-Night Vigil with Metropolitan Hilarion were Metropolitan Anastasy of Kazan and Tatarstan, Bishop Mefody of Almetyevsk and Bugulma, Hegumen Evfimiy (Moiseyev), as well as the DECR staff members, Rev. Dimitry Safonov and deacon Alexander Karzan, and ordained members of the faculty of the Kazan Theological Seminary.
After the service, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk met with students and faculty of the seminary. In his address, the DECR chairman dwelt on educational standards of modern theological schools, as well as on the activities of the working groups compiling new course books for different disciplines. For instance, Metropolitan Hilarion told about the work of the group compiling a course book on the New Testament.
To conclude the meeting, the archpastor answered questions from the students and faculty of the Kazan Theological Seminary.
METROPOLITAN HILARION OF VOLOKOLAMSK CELEBRATES LITURGY AT MONASTERY OF NATIVITY OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN KAZAN
On 28 March 2015, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, celebrated with Metropolitan Anastasiy of Kazan and Tatarstan the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Kazan. The monastery was built in the 16th century at the place of the finding of the miracle-working icon of the Heavenly Queen. Kept at the abode is the copy of the Kazan Icon which was stored in the Vatican for a long time and was presented to the Russian Orthodox Church in 2004.
After the Liturgy and a thanksgiving before the venerated copy of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Anastasy greeted Metropolitan Hilarion on behalf of the worshippers and noted that the Kazan diocese began the celebrations marking the millennium of the blessed demise of St Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles.
Metropolitan Hilarion conveyed to all those present blessings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, saying in particular:
“In 2015, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch, all metropolias of the Russian Orthodox Church will hold celebrations dedicated to the millennium of the demise of the Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles.
“All Russian people keep sacred memory of St Vladimir. It is difficult to imagine what would have been the fate of our homeland had it not been for Prince Vladimir’s choice made first for himself and then for the Russian people. The Baptism of Russia was a turning point in the history of our motherland. From that time onwards Orthodoxy was being preached at the great spaces of the Holy Rus’.
“For centuries, the Orthodox Christians have been living in various regions of our country side by side with representatives of other religions, such as Islam, Judaism and Buddhism, traditional for our homeland. Yet, Orthodoxy was the spiritual power which helped those dwelling in our land become the Russian nation. Thinking of the journey that our homeland and our Church have made for these thousand years, we feel gratitude to the Holy Prince Vladimir who had committed the heroic deed: living among pagans and idolaters, he had made a courageous for those days choice by embracing Christianity.
“The Holy Prince Vladimir shows us an example of a man who converted to Christ and devoted all his life to Him. That is why we glorify him as equal to the Apostles: he accomplished the feat, akin to that of the Apostles who had been travelling about the lands of the gentiles and enlightening them with the light of Christ’s faith.”
METROPOLITAN HILARION OF VOLOKOLAMSK SPEAKS AT FORUM HELD IN KAZAN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY
On 28 March 2015, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, rector of Ss Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies, delivered a report at the concluding plenary session of the All-Russian Research and Application Conference “Civilizational Choice of the Peoples of Russia”, which took place at the Kazan Federal University as part of the celebrations marking the millennium of the demise of the Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles.
Metropolitan Hilarion spoke on the topic “Faith as Shaping Power and Basis of Civilizational Stability of the State”.
On the sidelines of the forum, the DECR chairman met with Mr. Ilshat Gafurov, rector of the Kazan Federal University. The participants in the meeting noted the importance of the younger generation’s formation in faith and discussed the prospects of cooperation between the Kazan University and Ss Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies.
METROPOLITAN HILARION MEETS WITH FARID MUKHAMETSHIN, CHAIRMAN OF TATARSTAN STATE COUNCIL
On 28 March 2015, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk met with Farid Kh. Mukhametshin, Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan. They were joined in the meeting by Metropolitan Anastasiy of Kazan and Tatarstan and Mr. Razil Valeyev, chairman of the Tatarstan State Council Committee for education, culture, science and national affairs.
They discussed the relationship between the Muslim and Orthodox communities in Tatarstan and noted the unique experience of cooperation between them, as well as the high level of inter-ethnic relations.
Metropolitan Hilarion underscored the importance of educating the young generation on the basis of traditional moral values and in the spirit of mutual respect. The necessity of consolidation was noted to meet the challenges and stand up to threats of extremism which disguises itself under national and religious slogans. The DECR chairman shared his vision of the role of the Church in the modern Russian society.
Chairman Farid Mukhametshin showed the guests the conference hall, the museum of the State Council and told them about the work of the bodies of state authorities in Tatarstan.
Source: Patriarchate of Moscow
