Thanksgiving with Many Years to the Patriarch was celebrated after the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Ignatius the God-Bearer – Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus. Archimandrite Alexander (Yelisov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Antioch, sent a congratulatory address to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on behalf of the Russian Orthodox faithful living in the canonical territory of the Patriarchate of Antioch. Reception on the occasion was given after the divine service.

Thanksgiving was celebrated at the Church of St. Alexandra of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. Hegumen Feofan (Lukianov), deputy head of the mission, officiated. The worshippers sang Many Years to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

Hegumen Filipp (Vasiltsev), rector of the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia and archpriest Nikolai Neshkov celebrated the Divine Liturgy and moleben with Many Years to His Holiness.

Clergymen and laymen offered up prayers at the St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York, thanking God for the election and enthronement of Patriarch Kirill. Many Years was sung to His Holiness and his flock saved-by-God children of the Russian Orthodox Church living in the Fatherland and beyond its borders.

Thanksgiving and Akathistos “Glory be to God for all things” in Church Slavonic and Icelandic were sung at Church of St. Nicholas stavropegic parish in Reykjavik.

On February 1, the 3rd anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was celebrated in many parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in different countries.

On February 1, 2012, the 3d anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of Christ the Saviour.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was assisted by Metropolitans Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldavia, Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Hilarion of the Volokolamsk, head of the department for external church relations; Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside Russia; Agafangel of Odessa and Izmail, Gerasim of Zugdidi and Taishi (Georgian Orthodox Church); Bishop Nektarios of Karpasia (Orthodox Church of Cyprus), representatives of Local Orthodox Church to the Moscow Patriarchate including Metropolitan Athanasios of Kyrenia (Orthodox Church of Alexandria), Archbishop Niphon of Philippopolis (Orthodox Church of Antioch), Archimandrite Stephan (Dispirakis) (Orthodox Church of Jerusalem), Archimandrite Feoktist (Dimitrov) (Bulgarian Orthodox Church), Archpriest Alexy Yuschenko, rector of the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, as well as high-ranking church officials, abbots of patriarchal monasteries and Moscow clergy.

Among worshippers were Protopresbytor Matfey Stadnyuk, rector of the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Moscow, abbesses of convents, clergy and members of parish councils in Moscow.

Present at the service were Mr. Lupu, acting president of Moldova, Mr. A. Beglov, deputy head of the Presidential Administration, Mr. L. Slutsky, vice-chairman of the State Duma committee for international affairs, and Mr. A. Negutsa, Moldovan ambassador to Russia.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin extended congratulations to His Holiness in the sanctuary.

After the liturgy, Metropolitan Juvenaly led a thanksgiving.

Then Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg read out a congratulatory address from the Holy Synod and presented Patriarch Kirill with an icon of Our Lady of Kazan, the Patriarchal Press Service has reported.

The Primate of the Russian Church delivered a primatial homily.

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It is the second attack committed against Christians in Syria comitted in the recent days. Fr. Basil Nassar of the Antiochean Orthodox diocese of Epiphany was shot down by bandits on January 26 at the town of Ham while giving aid to the wounded.

Archimandrite Alexander Yelisov, Moscow Patriarchate’s representative to the Patriarch of Antioch, called to the head of the Orthodox Church of Antioch, who is on a visit to Lebanon at present. Fr. Alexander shared with His Beatitude Ignatios IV, Patriarch of Great Antioch and All the East, his concern and assured him of the prayerful support of the Russian Orthodox Church in the hardships experienced by the church people in Syria today.

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Discussed were questions pertaining to the difficult socio-political and economic situation in Greece. Ambassador Spinellis expressed gratitude to the Russian Orthodox Church for its decision to participate, together with the Archbishopric of Athens, in arranging soup-kitchens for the disadvantaged sections of the population.

Among the worshippers was Bishop Kliment of Krasnoslobodsk and Temnikov.

After the service, His Eminence Hilarion delivered an archpastoral homily, saying:

‘Today, dear brothers and sisters, we heard the Gospel’s story about the Lord Jesus Christ who passing by a fig tree noticed the tax collector Zacchaeus who climbed up the tree in order to see the Saviour (see, Lk. 19:1-10). The Lord said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today’. And Zacchaeus, full of joy because the Lord himself would come to his house, answered, ‘I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Then the Lord uttered these words, ‘Today salvation has come to this house’.

This story can serve as a lesson in many matters but it reminds us in particular of our house and that the Lord should be present in our house. Indeed, we do not doubt that the Lord is present in church. We come to church; our hearts seeks Him because we feel the presence of God here especially strongly. Here the Lord Jesus Christ offers us His Own Self in the sacrament of the Eucharist, and we take in His Body and Blood.

The church is a special place of God’s presence, and it should not be forgotten that our house should be a continuation of the church and that God’s presence we feel here should remain in our life also at the time when we are at home or in another place where the Lord ordains us to be. Be it in a house or in a flat, an office or other place where we live, work, rest and where there are other people with us, the Lord will be present if we ourselves, like Zacchaeus, accept Him with open hearts. The Lord wants to be present in our life and He does not shun any human dwelling, be it a mansion of a rich man or a modest communal flat shared by several families, be it an office of a large company president or a modest office of, by a human measure, a third-rate, civil servant.

The tax collector Zacchaeus was not a great man. He was short and his profession was disdained. However, when the Lord saw his faith and that he was not shy to climb a tree, though those around him laughed at him because they were taller and could see the passing-by prophet, the Lord did not shun him and addressed to him His saving word and came to his house. This is how the Lord visits people who, with pure and open heart, come to meet Him. For the Lord, there are no rich or poor, short or tall, well-off or unsuccessful people. For Him all are equal. And even when in our country there were estates, nobility and base estate, both worshipped together in church because for the Church and God all are equal.

God sometimes opens His grace in a special way to those who, by earthly measures, are so despicable that people do not even notice them and pass them by. But the Lord never passes by a person. He always looks at his heart because for the Savior each human being is precious.

Let us think today about bringing God’s presence we feel in church to our home, to our working place, to our family and our colleagues. Let us think of making our life a continuation of the Liturgy and our home a continuation of church. And then the Lord will always and everywhere be with us and will help us in our family and professional life, in our relations with our superiors and subordinates and with our relatives with whom it is so difficult to find a common language.

The Lord will come Himself and put everything in its place if only our heart is open to Him. Let us ask the Lord to give us the open heart, to be always with us and help us wherever we are, in our homeland or in a journey, in church or at home, in office or at rest. Amen’.

Metropolitan Hilarion told the parishioners that the icon of Sts Peter and Febronia with part of their relics would henceforth be kept in their church. In summer 2011, the relics of the saints were handed over to Metropolitan Hilarion by Mother Superior Tavifa of the Convent of the Holy Trinity in Murom. Their icon as patrons of family life was executed at the initiative of the church’s youth club. The shrine will be kept at the side-chapel of St. Varlaam of the church of Our Lady the Joy to All the Afflicted.

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The Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia departed from Moscow for Prague on January 28, 2012. At Sheremetyevo airport His Beatitude was seen off by Bishop Savva of Voskresensk, Archpriest Sergiy Nikitin, dean of the Deanery of All Saints in Moscow, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Department for External Church Relations secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, and A. Khoshev and S. Selivanov, DECR. There was also Archpriest Alexy Yuschenko, rector of the Moscow representation of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

Metropolitan Christopher was on a visit to Russia from January 20 to 28 at the invitation of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

On January 21, Metropolitan Christopher visited St. Sergius’ Laura of the Trinity to venerate the monastery’s shrines.

On January 22, the commemoration day of St. Philip of Moscow, Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa and Metropolitan Christopher celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Christ the Savior.

On the following day Metropolitan Christopher attended the opening of the 20th International Christmas Readings and presented a paper on ‘The present state of religious education and Czechia and Slovakia’.

After that he had a brotherly talk with Patriarch Kirill in the patriarchal residence in Chisty Pereulok. They discussed various aspects of bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

In the evening of that day Metropolitan Christopher was present at the closing concert of the 2nd Christmas Festival as an honorary guest.

From January 25 to 27, the delegation of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia visited the diocese of Khanty Mansiysk. Assisted by Bishop Pavel of Khanty Mansiysk and Surgut, Metropolitan Christopher celebrated the liturgy at the church of the Holy Transfiguration. After that he had a meeting with the city mayor and visited the Orthodox school.

On January 26, Metropolitan Christopher had a talk with Mr. D. Mizgulin, honorary consul of the Czech Republic in the Khanty Mansy autonomous region. They discussed cooperation in the sphere of religion, culture and education.

On January 27, the Czech church delegation met with Ms. Komarova, governor of the Khanty Mansy Autonomous Region. They discussed the religious education of young people.

Metropolitan Christopher also visited the University of Yugra and the Yugra TV Company.

On January 28, the delegation led by Metropolitan Christopher visited the Novospassky Monastery in Moscow.

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The concert crowned the Russian-Greek memorial action ‘From Nativity to Resurrection’ aiming to introduce as many as possible people in Russia to the feat of Greek new martyrs and people in Greek to the feat of Russia’s new martyrs. The action will continue in Rostov-on-Don, Alma Ata and Holy Mount Athos.

As part of the media project of the same name, the Moscow Patriarchate Publishers together with the Constantinople studio is working on an audio-book relating the lives of holy martyrs and confessors and stories about the Greek Crypto-Christians. The project was launched eight years ago with the blessing of the late Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

Present at the concert were Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Dimas, Greek Ambassador M. Spinnelis, Patriarch of Antioch’s representative Metropolitan Athanasios of Kyrenia, Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamasos and Orini (Orthodox Church of Cyprus), Mr. S. Popov, president of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy, Mr. A. Samaras, leaders of the New Democracy Party in Greece, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, a DECR vice-chairman, Fr. Simeon (Manakos) of the Dionysiou Monastery on Mount Athos, representatives of the Greek diasporas in Russia and Kazakhstan and the public in Greece and Cyprus as well as diplomats from the countries of Orthodox tradition.

The audience was welcomed by Archpriest Vladimir Solovyev, editor-in-chief of the Moscow Patriarchate Publishers, who underscored that ‘we are united by Holy Orthodoxy, we are united by new martyrs’. He noted the interest the Greek people show in the feat of Russian new martyrs who suffered martyrdom in the 20th century and stressed that ‘Russians should and want to know about the long-standing feat of Greek Orthodoxy, the feat of new martyrs through which the Church is asserted’.

Participating in the concert were the Greek Chorus ‘Ergastiri Psaltikis’ the Zykina Orchestra ‘Russia’, the Kelli Ali team of Pontic folk music, and Russian performers. There were also speeches made by clergy, governmental officials and public figures.

The central spiritual symbol of the action was an icon painted on Holy Mount Athos. It was brought to Moscow on January 22, by a delegation of the Dionysiou Monastery led by Fr. Simeon. Depicted on the icon are the most revered new martyrs and confessors in Greece, Asia Minor and Pontus.

In the morning of that day, Fr. Simeon, who was Protos of Mount Athos in 2009, and the action leaders, film producers K. Charalampidis and P. Navrazidi from Alma Ata, and C. Simeonidis from Moscow, were introduced to Patriarch Kirill at the church of St. Tatiana in Moscow State University. They explained the aim of the project ‘From Nativity to Resurrection’, which is to tell to as many as possible people in Russia about the feat of Greek new martyrs and about the feat of Russian new martyrs to people in Greece.

Presenting His Holiness with the icon of new martyrs in Greece, Asia Minor and Pontus and special video materials on them, the leaders of the action asked his blessing on their efforts. Accepting the gift, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said, ‘With joy I give my blessing on all the actions aiming to propagate the veneration of Greek new martyrs in Russia and Russian new martyrs in Greece since there is no spiritual bonds stronger then the shared veneration of saints’.

In response to the words of love for Holy Mount Athos expressed by Fr. Simeon, His Holiness said, ‘The Russian Church will do all that is possible for her to protect the Holy Mount against any attacks. Athos is a pillar of Orthodoxy. Without Athonite monasticism it is impossible to imagine the life of Orthodoxy and even of the whole world. Threats to Athos are coming from both outside and inside, the latter being more dangerous than the former’.

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Photos by Moscow Patriarchate Publishers

On 24 January 2012, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa at the Patriarchal residence in St. Daniel’s Monastery. The Primate of the Church of Alexandria arrived in Moscow at the invitation of His Holiness to receive the prize “For the Outstanding Activity in Strengthening Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations and for Consolidation and Promotion of Christian Values in the Life of Society” named after His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II.
Taking part in the meeting were Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR);
Metropolitan Athanasios of Kyrenaika, representative of the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Secretariat; archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR deputy chairman; archimandrite Panteleimon (Arathymos), secretary general of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria; archimandrite Leonid (Gorbachev) representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa; archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; and Rev. Mikhail Asmus, a DECR staff member.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church warmly greeted His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros, noting that the awarding is a momentous event. “You are caring as no one else for Orthodox Christians in fifty-four countries of Africa, thus consolidating unity of the Orthodox Church on the large African continent. You are making an important contribution to the unity of Orthodoxy as Primate of the Church of Alexandria, which has come from St Mark and is playing an important part in Orthodox affairs as it did in olden times,” His Holiness said.
He called relations between the two Churches “traditionally good and fraternal” and added that Patriarchs of Alexandria had been involved in momentous events in the life of the Russian Church. For instance, Patriarch Meletios Pegas, a deeply spiritual man of action and mighty intellect, played an important part in the establishment of the Patriarchate in Russia and extended substantive support to the first Patriarch of Moscow and to the Russian state. “It mattered a good deal to Russia as it was necessary to rely on the generally recognized Orthodox spiritual authorities; Patriarch of the Eastern Churches enjoyed prestige with Russian people,” His Holiness underscored.
Patriarch Kirill mentioned many bright events in relations between the two Churches which have always supported each other. “This is a part of our common Tradition,” he said and added: “The Russian Church will extend support to the Patriarchate of Alexandria by all available means defending the rights and freedoms of Christian minorities” at this hard time of oppression against Christians in Northern Africa.
Patriarch Kirill believes that the Representations of the Moscow Patriarchate in Cairo and of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Moscow play an important part in the development of bilateral relations: “They symbolize the living linkage between our Churches.” His Holiness assured Patriarch Theodoros that he was always happy to meet him. Having noted that after his visit to Moscow His Beatitude will visit fourteen African countries, he wished him God’s help in his missionary endeavours.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros thanked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for brotherly talk and added: “It is my fourth visit to Moscow in the eight years of my being Patriarch. This displays my respect for the Russian Church.” He said that he had warm recollections of his time spent in Russia, and the years of 1985-90 in particular, which he served in Odessa as Exarch of the Patriarch of Alexandria.
Patriarch Theodoros shared recollections of his meeting with Patriarch Kirill in Mozambique during his missionary visit to the country and said: “When I leave this world, I want people to remember me as a missionary Patriarch.”
He remarked that he would visit the King of Morocco on March 25 and then go to other African countries. “I will bring love there and remember that the Patriarch of All Russia is always with me.”
Also discussed were bilateral relations, pan-Orthodox cooperation, pastoral care for Russian Orthodox Christians living in African countries, and missionary work of the Church of Alexandria.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill described recent events in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church, including the establishment of new dioceses. His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros spoke of the three new dioceses of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and of missionary achievements in the tropical Africa.

They discussed various aspects of bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia and the problems involved in pan-Orthodox cooperation. Participating in the talk was Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations.

The head of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia was accompanied by Bishop Tikhon of Komárno and Archpriest Alexy Yuschenko, rector of the Moscow representation of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. Present at the talk from the Russian Orthodox Church were also Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s administrative secretariat, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman, and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations.

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On 22 January 2012, the 32nd Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday after the Epiphany, and the commemoration day of St. Philipp, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria and All Africa, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and Metropolitan Christopher of the Czech Lands and Slovakia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.
Concelebrating were the assembly of hierarchs, clergymen and participants in the 20th International Educational Christmas Readings who arrived in Moscow from the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia and abroad.
After the Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia greeted the Primates of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria and of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and all the worshippers.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II with an icon of the Saviour with border scenes of the Novospassky stavropegic monastery, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Christopher – with an icon of the Mother of God with the interceding saints.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II said in his address: “Your Holiness! In ten days I will begin my missionary journey during which I will encounter many difficulties. At these moments I will look at the icon and draw courage from the Saviour. I will go to place where people will hear my sermons about Jesus Christ for the first time in their life. I will baptize them, remembering that my brother Patriarch Kirill is with me.”
His Beatitude Metropolitan Christopher greeted His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and thanked him for common prayer. He underscored that the concelebration of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches strengthens the unity of Orthodoxy and spoke about the 1150th anniversary of the mission of Ss Cyril and Methodius in Great Moravia and invited the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church to take part in the celebration due to be held in Czechia on May 24 and July 5.

On 21 January 2012, in the Hall of Church Councils of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia officiated at the ceremony of awarding the prize ‘For the Outstanding Activity in Strengthening Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations and for Consolidation and Promotion of Christian Values in the Life of Society” named after His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II.
The prizes of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations (IFUOCN) are awarded annually to the heads of states, governments and parliaments, Primates of the Orthodox Churches, and major public figures for their contribution to the strengthening of economic and political ties among the states formed in the context of Eastern Christian tradition and for the consolidation of noble standards of Christian morals in the life of Orthodox community.
The IFUOCN-2011 prize-winners are His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa; Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority; and Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic.
Attending the ceremony were Metropolitan Varsonofiy of Saransk and Mordovia, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR); Metropolitan Athanasios of Kyrenaika, representative of the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Archbishop Nifon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Archbishop Arseniy of Istra; Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Secretariat; Bishop Tikhon of Podolsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Finance and Economics Management; archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church-State Relations; archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR deputy chairman; archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, sacristan of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour; members of the delegation of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria; Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Mufti Albir Krganov, first deputy chairman of the Central Spiritual Boards of Muslims of Russia; ambassador of the Arab and Balkan states accredited in Russia; members of the delegation of the Palestinian National Administration; and many guests.
A documentary film about the history of the IFUOCN was shown before the ceremony. The IFUOCN president, Prof. Valery Alexeyev gave an opening speech and asked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, president of the IFUOCN Board of Trustees, to open the awarding ceremony.
The Primate of the Russian Church welcomed the prize-winners and the guests and, together with Prof. Alexeyev presented diplomas and badges to the prize-winners-2011.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II noted the importance of awarding the ancient and glorious Church of Alexandria in the person of her Pope and Patriarch and expressed his confidence that this award reflects “our relations of cordial love in Christ, cooperation and unanimity to the glory of our God.”
His beatitude added that that the prize was recognition of the contribution of the Church of Alexandria to the shaping of Christian theology and of her missionary efforts undertaken for the spreading of Good News on the blessed African continent.
The President of the Palestinian National Administration Mahmoud Abbas underscored in his address that he highly appreciated the life and spiritual heritage of the late Patriarch Alexy II. He expressed his joy over receiving the prize from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill whom he considers a worthy successor of Patriarch Alexy II.
Mahmoud Abbas said that the prize would be an incentive for continuing his efforts directed to the spreading of the culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, religions and nations and to the support of the values of tolerance. He is convinced that the adherence to these values is particularly important in the period of the current structural transformations in the Arab world.
“We feel a particular and great responsibility for Palestine’s preserving its civilization role in the region and in the world, as Palestine is the land of Divine Messages. We continue our efforts focused on the achievement of peace with justice and establishment of the independent State of Palestine, living near Israel, within the borders of 1967,” he said.
In conclusion of his speech, Mahmoud Abbas thanked the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the IFUOCN leaders for the award and said that he would give prize money to Palestinian students who study in Russia.
Novak Djokovic, who could not attend the ceremony, said in his video address that an international award given to him in Russia is great privilege to him. “The Russian Orthodox Church gives a worthy example to the entire Orthodox world. There had been hard times in her history, she was persecuted, but no one managed to break it. At present it flourishes. This is an example for us, the Serbs, and we cherish hope that hard time for us will soon be over,” he said. He thanked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the IFUOCN on behalf of himself and the Serbian people for high award.
H. E. Jelica Kurjak, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Serbia to Russia, read out greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Irenej of Serbia to the participants in the ceremony.
The awarding ceremony was concluded by a concert.

On January 14, 2012, the liturgical singers of the Abbey of Sylvanes, France, conducted by Fr. Andre Gusa gave a concert at the International House of Music in Moscow as part of the 2nd Christmas Festival. They sang Gregorian chorals, old French folk songs and author compositions.

The artistic director of the team is a Dominican priest and composer who has served in the Sylvanes Abbey for over 35 years. He welcomed the audience in the Svetlanov Hall, singling out Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, who marked on that day the 10th anniversary of his episcopal consecration. Among the audience were also guests from Local Orthodox Churches who had come to Moscow for Metropolitan Hilarion’s celebrations.

‘Today’s event is a great joy for us’, Fr. Andre Gusa said, describing the concert as an expression of good and friendly attitude to the Russian people. He spoke about his abbey, which is one of the centres of Western church music, pointing to the importance of Russian spirituality. ‘To be closer to the Russian people, we have built a wooden church in Russian traditions. And we pray and sing in it’, he said.

The event took place with the support of the French Embassy and the French Institute in Moscow.

The next concert of the 2nd Christmas Festival will take place on January 17. The Greek choir ‘Ergastiri Psaltikis’ will perform.

DECR Communication Service