Orthodox Churches

DECR chairman’s condolences over the death of Metropolitan Ioann of Zagreb and Ljubljana

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, in the following letter to His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, expressed condolences over the demise of Metropolitan Ioann of Zagreb and Ljubljana:

To: His Holiness IRINEJ

       Archbishop of Pec

       Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovcy

Your Holiness,

Kindly accept the expressions of our profound condolences from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church and me personally over the demise of His Eminence Metropolitan Ioann of Zagreb and Ljubljana, an outstanding hierarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

An Interfaith Paschal Marathon Has Begun in Moscow

On the eve of the Annunciation, the interfaith Paschal Marathon “Holiday Traditions, Holiday Tastes, Holiday Music” opened in the memorial synagogue on Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow.

Throughout the marathon, lectures will take place on the traditions and customs of Pascha, master classes on holiday cooking will be held, as will concerts, exhibitions, and tours, the official website of the Diocesan Commission for Missionary Council in Moscow states.

A Monument to St. Sergius of Radonezh Will be Erected in the Crimea

The St. Sergius of Radonezh Fund, a part of the Russian Historical Society, plans to erect a monument to St. Sergius.

Sergei Naryshkin, Speaker of the State Duma, who is also the chairman of the Russian Historical Society, announced plans to erect a monument to St. Sergius in the Crimea, the news portal Interfax-Religion reported.

DECR delegation visits Vatican and meets with Pope Francis

On March 30-April 4, 2014, hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations, and Rev. Alexey Dikarev, a DECR staff member, paid a working visit to the Vatican with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the DECR.

Cross set up, prayer said in North Pole

Members of the Association of Heroes of the Soviet Union and Heroes of Russia, polar researchers, statesmen, public figures and businessmen arrived at the North Pole on Sunday.