Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II Has Left for Gori

His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II accompanied with Metropolitan Daniel (Datuashvili) of Tskhum-Abkhazia Diocese and a large group of priests and nuns left for Gori. The Catholicos Patriarch is expected to meet the local population in Gori and Nikozi, and if it is available to go to Tskhinvali as well. The Patriarchate of Georgia has been delivering humanitarian assistance through IDP's and injured population.

Source: www.patriarchate.ge

Head of Orthodox Church in Czech Lands and Slovakia visits St. Sergius’ Laura of the Trinity and Moscow Theological Academy

His Beatitude Christopher, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, visited St. Sergius' Laura of the Trinity and the Moscow Theological Academy on 13 August.

According to the MTA press service, Metropolitan Christopher was welcomed by Archbishop Yevgeny of Vereya, MTA rector, and Bishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, father superior of the Laura. His Beatitude said a prayer at the shrine of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the founder of the Laura, and was invited to a reception given in his honour. The head of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia is in Russia on a pilgrimage. During his previous visits, he never failed to come to the Laura and the Academy, his alma mater.

Source: www.mospat.ru

Patriarch urges nation to pray

Georgian Catholicos Patriarch Illia II spoke about the political crisis in Georgia in His Sunday Preachment today. The Patriarch expressed his concern that Orthodox Russians were bombing Orthodox Georgians and that such aggression had never occurred in the history of two nations. ''Indeed, we are facing very serious peril, but don't be afraid of anything, God is with us and Virgin Mary is protecting is, but one thing concerns us very deeply that Orthodox Russians are bombing Orthodox Georgians. This is unprecedented act of relations between our countries. Reinforce your prayer and God will save Georgia. There is a saying ''Water will flow up and down and will return to its weir. So, believe that God will not separate Georgia into peices,'' Patriarch declared.

Appeal by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia

Having learnt about the hostilities in Tshinvali and its outskirts, I call upon the warring parties to cease fire and return to the path of dialogue. Blood is being shed in South Ossetia and people are being killed and this makes my heart to grieve profoundly. Among those who have lifted their hand against each other are Orthodox Christians. What is more, those who have come into conflict are Orthodox nations who are called by the Lord to live in brotherhood and love. I am aware of the appeal to peace made by His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Iliya of All Georgia. I also make my ardent appeal to those who have gone blind with hatred: stop! Do not let more blood be shed, do not let today's conflict be expanded many times over! Show common sense and virtue: sit at the negotiation table for talks with respect for the traditions, views and aspirations of both the Georgian and Ossetian peoples. The Russian Church is ready to unite efforts with the Georgian Church and help in achieving peace. May our God, Who ‘is not a God of disorder but of peace' (1 Cor. 14:33), be our Helper in this endeavor.

+ ALEXY
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

Visit of the Venerable Primate of the Alexandrian Church to the Patriarchate of Georgia

On 1st August 2008, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiated at the Divine Liturgy which was conducted by the Great Ecclesiarch of the Throne, Archim. Isidore Salakos.

Accompanied by His Beatitude Ilia II, Patriarch of the Georgia Church, His Beatitude then visited His Excellency Prime Minister Vladimir Goyrgnidze at the Prime Ministerial Mansion in Tbilisi .

His Excellency welcomed the two Patriarchs with respect and emotion and led them into the Meeting Hall of the Prime Ministerial Council, where he addressed the Alexandrian Primate, saying: “Your Beatitude, we joyfully welcome you to Georgia . I wish to emphasize that your visit is very significant for us, as we are going through difficult times. I know that you visited Georgia 22 years ago. You will have noted the different Georgia from that time.

Concerning an inaccurate article for the relations with the Greek-Catholics (Uniates)

With respect to the recently published articles reporting that allegedly His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew believes that it is possible for the Greek Catholics (Uniates) to have a "double union", in other words, full communion with Rome as well as with Constantinople, the Ecumenical Patriarchate refutes this inaccurate statement and affirms it was never made. The Ecumenical Patriarchate repeats its position that full union in faith is a prerequisite for sacramental communion.

At the Patriarchate, the 5th of July 2008
From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy Synod