Preparations to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the birth of St Sergius Of Radonezh
30. April 2013 - 12:53
On December 6, 2010, in connection with the anniversary in 2014, the President of the Russian Federation D. A. Medvedev gave his approval to set up a workinggroup attached to the President to prepare celebrations for the 700th anniversary of the birth of Saint Sergius of Radonezh. Responsibility for the groupwas assigned by the President to the then Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Administration A. D. Beglov (now the executive representative of the Presidentof the Russian Federation for the Central Federal District). The first meeting of the group took place on March 16, 2011 in the Red Hall of the Cathedralof Christ the Savior in Moscow under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and A.D. Beglov. During the meeting the group’s scheme of workwas approved. It included:
Monks of Athos oppose gold-mining in the vicinity of the Holy mountain
30. April 2013 - 12:49
Representatives of Athonite Monasteries have joined the struggle of residents of the neighboring town of ierisos against gold-mining in this region, reports Sedmitza.ru with references to the Romfea and Amen agencies.
It was reported by Father Nicodemus on behalf of the Holy Epistasia. He also informed that a delegation of Athonite Monks would pass a letter from the Holy Epistasia to the prime-minister of Greece Antonis Samaras with the request to free two detained local residents who committed an arson in the locality of Skuries where the "Greek gold" company was planning to do its work. Their actions were recognized as "terrorist and political".
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Primate of the Polish Orthodox Church
24. April 2013 - 9:58On April 16, 2013, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, visited Poland. He was accompanied by Hegumen Philaret (Bulekov), DECR vice-chairman, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, Hierodeacon Ioann (Kopekin) assistant to the DECR chairman, A. Churyakov, a staff member of the DECR, and Orthodox laymen I. Savvidi and A. Sevastyanov.
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk visits Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos
19. April 2013 - 11:34
On 13 April 2013, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR) arrived in the Holy Mountain of Athos as head of a group of pilgrims, which consists of hegumen Philaret (Bulekov), DECR vice-chairman; archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; hieromonk Antoniy (Sevryuk), secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate’s parishes in Italy; hierodeacon Ioann (Kopeikin), assistant to the DECR chairman; and four laymen, including Anatoly Churiakov, a DECR staff member.
Raising aid to suffering Syrian people continues
19. April 2013 - 11:22
With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the collection of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people has begun through the efforts of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society (IOPS). Muscovites have met this initiative with a quick response. People are bringing in dressings, foodstuffs, children’s food and stationary as well as monetary donations to help those who suffer from war in remote Syria. In monasteries, which have become aid collection stations, boxed have been installed for money. The humanitarian aid collected in Russia will be handed over to His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and to Syria’s Supreme Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun.
