Orthodox Churches

Patriarch Kirill announces statistical data on the life of the Russian Orthodox Church

The Russian Orthodox Church unites 303 dioceses, that is, 10 more than in 2016 and 144 more than in 2009. This was reported by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in his remarks at the opening of the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on November 29, 2017.In the inter-council period, 3 metropolias were established, now their number has reached 60.

Positive tendencies in church-state relations in Moldova are noted in the report of His Holiness the Patriarch at the Bishops’ Council

It is gratifying to see positive tendencies in cooperation between the church and the state in the Republic of Moldova,” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said in his report at the Bishops’ Council-2017. For instance, President Igor Dodon’s attention to the ministry of the primate, bishops and clerics of the Orthodox Church of Moldova.

His Holiness specifies pressing problems of the Orthodox Church in Tajikistan

“Relations between the Church and the state in Tajikistan are characterized by stability, mutual respect and a smooth-running cooperation in solving many important problems,” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted in his report at the Bishops’ Council-2017. “The state authorities on the territory of the Diocese of Dushanbe many time helped with the construction of church buildings, with charity actions, with the implementation of cultural and educational programmes, and other important initiatives,” the Primate of the Russian Church noted.

Russian Council of Bishops opens with moleben before relics of St. Tikhon, transferred to Christ the Savior for the event

The Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church began their work today in the Hall of Church Councils in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. The council’s program includes centenary celebrations of the restoration of the patriarchate to the Russian Church and the enthronement of St. Tikhon as the first new patriarch, which occurred on December 4, 1917 in the Kremlin’s Dormition Cathedral.

In this vein, the hierarchs’ work began with prayer before the relics of the great St. Tikhon of Moscow which were transferred from Donskoy Monastery to Christ the Savior Cathedral specifically for the council, reports patriarchia.ru.

Before the start of the morning’s Divine Liturgy, a new reliquary for the honorable relics of the Holy Hierarch Tikhon, made especially for the centenary celebrations, was placed in the center of Christ the Savior Cathedral. The reliquary had previously been blessed by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at Donsky Monastery on November 18, the centenary of St. Tikhon’s election as patriarch.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the meeting of the honorable relics of St. Tikhon, transferred from Moscow’s Donskoy Monastery, was celebrated, his coffin being borne by several bishops and placed into the new reliquary.

His Holiness notes positive dynamics in Church-state cooperation in Uzbekistan

Speaking at the Bishops’ Council the Primate of the Russian Church said: “Positive dynamics can be observed in cooperation between the Church and the state in the Republic of Uzbekistan which I visited last autumn.

“Dialogue of the Diocese of Tashkent with state authorities is bringing results conducive to the formation and preservation of the climate of peace and mutual understanding in both national and religious spheres.”

Opening of the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church

After the Divine Liturgy and a thanksgiving at the relics of St. Tikhon the Patriarch of Moscow, the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church has begun its first plenary session at the Church Councils Hall of the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. It is chaired by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.