Orthodox Churches

Serbian Patriarch Irinej celebrates Divine Liturgy at the Kazan Cathedral in Saint Petersburg

On Sunday, 21 July 2013, on the feast of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan, Serbian Patriarch Irinej officiated the Divine Liturgy at the Kazan Cathedral in Saint Petersburg.

On this feast day following Russian and Serbian hierarchs concelebrated to the Patriarch: Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladosh, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Bishop Ambrose of Peterhof, Bishop Sava of Voskresensk, Bishop Mstislav of Tikhvin and Lodeynoye Pole, Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Bishop Longin of New Gracanica-Midwestern America, Bishop Irinej of Backa, Bishop Teodosije of Raska-Prizren and Bishop Antonije of Moravica.

Delegation of Orthodox Church of America to participate in 1025th Anniversary of Baptism of Rus’

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, will lead the delegation representing the Orthodox Church in America at the celebration of the 1025th Anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ July 21-31, 2013.

It was in AD 988 that Saint Prince Vladimir of Kyiv embraced Orthodox Christianity and oversaw the mass baptism of his people in the Dnieper River. This year’s anniversary is unique inasmuch as celebrations will be held in Moscow, Kyiv, and Minsk.

His Grace Archbishop of Cyprus will visit Russia

His Grace Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus said that he would visit Russia on the occasion of 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of the Rus' 

As it was announced, the head of the Church of Cyprus will visit Moscow first, where he will meet with the highest church and state officials. Within the celebration of this jubilee, besides visit to Moscow, His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II plans to visit Ukraine and Belarus as well. There His Beatitude will also meet,along with other heads of the Local Orthodox Churches who are visiting the Russian Orthodox Church, with the highest church and state officials of Ukraine. 

In Shrines of Saint Petersburg

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, who is in the irenic visit to the ROC, venerated shrines of the North Russian capital on 20 July 2013 accompanied by president of  the Office of External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of Novospasky stavropegial monastery Bishop Sava of Voskresensk, rector of the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy Bishop Ambrose of Peterhof and dean of the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow Bishop Antonije of Moravica, dean of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Belgrade protopresbyter Vitaly Tarasyev.

Delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Saint Petersburg

Serbian Patriarch Irinej with his high delegation, within the irenic visit to the Russian Orthodox Church, came to St. Petersburg on 19 July 2013

On his trip to the city on the Neva River he was accompanied by president of  the Office of External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of Novospask stavropegial monastery Bishop Sava of Voskresensk, dean of the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow Bishop Antonije of Moravica, dean of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Belgrade protopresbyter Vitaly Tarasyev, as well as chairman of the Protocol department of the Diocese of St. Petersburg  I.N. Sudosa.

Feast of the Royal Martyrs solemnly celebrated in Yekaterinburg

According to different estimates, 40 to 50 thousand people gathered in Yekaterinburg to honor the memory of Royal Martyrs at the night service commemorating their murder.

The night-time service of Divine Liturgy was opened by Metropolitan Kirill of Ekaterinburg and Verkhotury, as he addressed the thousands in attendance. In his sermon, Vladyka explained the spiritual significance of the Royal Family’s heroic deed, especially emphasizing the historical meaning of that place. He also encouraged every Orthodox citizen to understand and fulfill his responsibilities to his country.