Patriarch Kirill baptized many Communist officials in Soviet times, a friend of his youth says

Metropolitan Kirill, elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia baptized many members of the Communist Party in Soviet era, Vadim Melnikov, who was his friend for more than twenty years, says. "He himself told me that he baptized almost all secretaries of regional committees in Leningrad," Melnikov said in the interview published by the Moskovsky Komsomolets daily.

His Beatitude Theodoros II of Alexandria in Moscow

On Thursday 29th January 2009, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Russia, flew from Cairo accompanied by His Grace Gabriel of Mareotis, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, destined for Moscow , to attend the enthronement ceremony of the newly elected Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

The Prayer of the Heart in Patristic & Early Byzantine Tradition - J.A. McGuckin

‘Guard your heart with all care, for it is the spring of your life.’ [LXX. Prov. 4.23.]

1. Biblical Archetypes.

1a. Introduction

The concept of a doctrine of prayer tells much about the theology of the person articulating it. It is the purest Christian expression of theology and, historically speaking, one of the rare examples of a non-controversial theology. Almost all of the patristic dogmatic formulations from antiquity were, after all, beaten out in the heat of strong confrontations and show the signs of innumerable scorch marks.

Unchanged position of the Russian Church regarding Kosovo and Metohija

The new Russian Patriarch Kyrill confirmed during the discussion with the delegation of the SOC, led by Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, the position of the Russian Church regarding Kosovo and Metohija.  The position bases on respect of the territorial integrity of Serbia and international treaties .

Enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

The enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia took place at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on 1 February 2009. He was elected to the Moscow Patriarchal Throne by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on January 27. The bells started ringing fifteen minutes before the Divine service; as the nominated Patriarch arrived, festal peeling began. At the entrance to the cathedral, the elected Primate of the Russian Church was met with bread and salt. The archpastors, pastors, monastics and thousands of laymen gathered at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria Theodore, His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, His Beatitude Metropolitan Christopher of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and delegations of all Local Orthodox Churches attended the enthronement. His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije, His Beatitude Archbishop of Ohrid Jovan and His Eminence Bishop Vasilije are represented Serbian Orthodox Church.

The Past and Future of Liturgical Theology: Celebrating the Legacy of Father Alexander Schmemann

Ancient Faith Radio (AFR), in partnership with St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVS), is offering podcasts of the lectures from the international academic symposium titled "The Past and Future of Liturgical Theology: Celebrating the Legacy of Father Alexander Schmemann," held on the seminary campus January 30-31, 2009. Fr. Alexander served as the dean of SVS from 1962 until his death in 1983, and his seminal work in the field of liturgical theology is recognized throughout the globe.