As was reported, on February 1^st, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill invited Vladimir Putin to meet with religious leaders and discuss socio-political life in the country.

The Prime Minister delivered an opening address. He was followed by the Patriarch.

Taking part in the meeting were Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Archbishop Yevgeniy of Vereya, chairman of the Education Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church; archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church-State Relations; Vladimir Legoida, chairman of the Synodal Information Department; Pandido Hambo Lama Damba Ayuseyev, head of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia; Mufti Ismail Berdiev, chairman of the Coordination Centre of Muslims of the North Caucasus; Alexander Boroda, chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia; Mufti Ravil Gainutdin, chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia; Bishop Ezras Nersesian, head of the Novo-Nakhichevan and Russian diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church; Rev. Igor Kowalewski, general secretary of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Russia; Metropolitan Korniliy of Moscow and All Russia, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church; Berel Lazar, chief rabbi of Russia (Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia); Mufti Muhammad Rakhimov, chairman of the Russian Association of Islamic Accord, chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Stavropol Territory; Sergey Ryakhovsly, chairman of the Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith; Vasiliy Stolyar, vice-president of the Euro-Asia division of the Seventh Day Adventist Church; Mufti Talgat Tajuddin, chairman of the Central Spiritual Board of Muslims of Russia; Mufti Ildus Hazrat Faizov, chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna spoke about the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia celebrated on February 5^th. He noted that nowadays the Church lives in the real religious freedom.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk thanked Vladimir Putin for attention to the life of compatriots abroad and to parishes of the Russian Orthodox abroad that play an important part in consolidating people who have come there from Russia.

“One of the major tasks of our Church is “the gathering of Holy Russia”, as His Holiness put it. It is not fortuitous that he often visits Ukraine and other countries of near abroad. We understand that the stronger Russia is, the more attractive it is for its neighbours, and we appreciate any success in Russia’s rapprochement with these countries,” the DECR chairman said.

Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin thinks that interconnection between social processes and religious life is becoming more effective. “Many religious believers with strong civic motivation need support… in upbringing the true young patriots able to take an active part on social life.”

Vladimir Legoida proposed to invite representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and other traditional religious communities to the elaboration of a concept of public TV.  Prime Minister Putin remarked that the involvement of religious organizations and of the Russian Orthodox Church in the first place, in establishing public TV, is increasingly in demand.

Religious leaders who took the floor highly appreciated the role that the Russian Orthodox Church plays in different social and educational projects and noted the importance of joint initiatives of religious associations under the auspices of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In conclusion of the meeting His Holiness Patriarch Kirill thanked Vladimir Putin and expressed his appreciation of the seriousness of discussion during which opinions were exchanged on the high level of accord on the development of spiritual, ethical, cultural, educational and other most important spheres of life of our state.”

In his introductory remarks, His Holiness presented the agenda of the meeting.

The Council, which is meeting at the Supreme Church Council Hall at the cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour, will consider the progress made in implementation of the Council’s earlier decisions. The leaders of the synodal departments will report on the work plans of their structures for 2012. As Patriarch Kirill has reported, the plans and reports of synodal departments, which used to be considered by the Holy Synod, will now be put on the agenda of the Supreme Church Council.

Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the Synodal Department for Church-State Relations, will make a report on ‘Celebrations to mark historical dates in 2012’. Mr. Demidov, head of the office for Basic Orthodox Culture of the department for religious education and catechism, will report on the results of the 20^th International Christmas Readings.

The meeting is attended by the following members of the Council:

Metropolitan Varsonofy of Saransk and Mordovia, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the department for external church relations

Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, chairman of the ROC Publishing Board

Archbishop Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol, head of the synodal mission department

Archbishop Yevgeny of Vereya, head of the Holy Synod’s education committee

Archbishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, head of the synodal commission for monasteries

Bishop Irinarch of Krasnogorsk, head of the synodal department for prison service

Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s administrative secretariat

Bishop Tikhon of Podolsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s financial and economic administration

Bishop Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomysk, head of the synodal committee for cooperation with the Cossacks

Bishop Panteleimon of Smolensk and Vyazma, head of the synodal department for charity and social service

Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov, executive secretary of the Patriarchal Council for Culture

Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the synodal department for church-society relations

Mr. V. Legoida, head of the synodal information department

Patriarchal Press Service/DECR Communication Service

Photos by Patriarchal Press Service

His Holiness and Ambassador Barrow exchanged greetings.

During the talk, His Holiness mentioned that the first person from abroad who paid an official visit to the Moscow Patriarchate after the Revolution was Archbishop Cyril Forster Garbett of York. It happened in 1943, during the Great Patriotic War. “Ambassadors accredited in Moscow did not visit the leaders of our Church, and that was the first contact with the Embassy of Great Britain. We remember it and appreciate good relations between the Moscow Patriarchate represented by the Department for External Church Relations and the Embassy of Great Britain,” the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said and continued by expressing his hope for the development of these relations with direct participation of Ambassador Barrow. He wished the diplomatic representative of the United Kingdom success in his mission “for the benefit of relations between our nations.”

The book in Russian written by the Patriarch, at that time Metropolitan, was first published in 2004. Translation into Estonian was timed to the celebration of the 3^rd anniversary of the enthronement of the Primate of the Russian Church. In his address to the readers His Holiness wrote: ‘Our Church performs her ministry not only in Russia and not only for Russian people. The Moscow Patriarchate undertakes canonical responsibility for many independent states with language, national culture and customs of their own. Estonia, certainly, is among them. It is a country with long European traditions, in which people belonging to different Christian confessions have lived as neighbours for centuries.’

The new edition was prepared by the St. George the Victorious Charity Foundation, Estonia, in cooperation with the St. Gregory the Theologian Charity Foundation, Russia. The Society of St. Isidore translated the book.

Speaking at the presentation were Yuri Polyakov, director of the Centre of Russian Culture; Tomas Vitsut, chairperson of the Tallinn City Assembly; and archpriest Iuvenaliy Kaarma, member of the Synod of the Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate.

Concluding the presentation, Metropolitan Korniliy of Tallinn and All Estonia told the participants about publication plans of the Estonian Orthodox Church.

Accompanied by His Holiness, the high guest made a tour of the recently-restored building of the Synodal Residence.

After the tour, the Primate of the Russian Church and the Chairman of the Government had a talk. Mr. Putin extended congratulation to His Holiness on the 3d anniversary of his enthronement and presented him with an icon of the Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow.

Mr. Putin thanked Patriarch Kirill for the enormous contribution he made to the reinforcement of the spiritual foundations of society and development of relation with the far abroad. According to Mr. Putin, for those who live there it is important to feel inseparable ties with the Russian Orthodox Church.

Patriarch Kirill expressed cordial gratitude to the guest for his warm words and pointed to the considerable contribution Mr. Putin made to the development of church-state relations.

The prime minister accepted Patriarch Kirill’s invitation to take part in the meeting of representatives and leaders of traditional religions in Russia to take place in the Church of Christ the Savior, the Patriarchal Press Service has reported.

DECR Communication Service

On February 1, 2012, after the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Christ the Savior, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with the acting president of Moldova, Mr. Marian Lupu, and his wife. They were joined in their talk by Metropolitan Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldova, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, and Mr. A. Negutsa, Moldovan ambassador to Moscow.

Mr. Lupu extended congratulations to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church on the 3d anniversary of his enthronement as patriarch, saying, ‘Your Holiness, for us it is a great pleasure and honor to be with you on this day joyful for all the Orthodox community. I would like to congratulate you, on behalf of our family, leaders of the Republic of Moldova and all the Moldovan people, on the 3d anniversary of your patriarchal enthronement’. He wished His Holiness sound health and strength for many years to continue the mission entrusted him by God.

This mission is important not only in Russia but also in other countries and in the entire Orthodox world, he said and stressed that he remembered the words of Patriarch Kirill that the Church is separated from the state but cannot be separated from society.

‘I hope that your visit to our country has left you with very good memories. I would like to inform you that, according to sociological polls, your visit rates as one of the most important events in the last year in the Republic of Moldova. It is the opinion of not only experts but the whole society, the opinion of our fellow citizens. With great love and honor we are looking forward to your visits to our country in the future’, he said.

Patriarch Kirill thanked Mr. and Ms Lupu for their participation in the celebrations. He said he remembered his visit to Moldova with warmth. Such visits involve various activities including festive services, meetings with the country’s leaders, talks with clergy and the people. If there are very many events in one’s life, their details may leave one’s memory after some time, he said, ‘but I will always remember the warmth of human hearts and sincerity’.

‘I experienced a surge of grace when I was in Moldova, and this grace is certainly a result of the life of the devoted and faithful people of Moldova. Through this inner existential experience of mine I would like to say that the difficulties encountered by a country on the political and economic levels cannot be permanent or eternal in the context of such people. The Lord leads us through hardships in order to make us stronger.

‘But the most important thing is that, while going through hardships, one should not destroy oneself by betraying one’s values, ideas and principles. The Moldavian people have really preserved their Orthodox faith as the highest value, and it is my profound conviction that, having gone through the difficulties of today, they will come out on a straight and bright path. I am convinced that the Church of Moldova and the whole Russian Orthodox Church will pray for it’.

Addressing his high guest, Patriarch Kirill said, ‘I would like you to convey to all the people of Moldova that I love them, that they are my people in the spirit, though not in the blood. These are the people with whom I speak in the same language of prayer and the same language of religious sentiments. This is the most important thing that I have brought from my visit to Moldova’.

Mr. Lupu on his part testified that ‘your visit has left a deep impression on the consciousness of the Moldavian people, our society and our country’.

Speaking about the crisis that has hit the Moldavian society, he expressed the opinion that ‘all these crises, both political and economic, cannot be compared with a crisis of morality, a crisis of common human values, because if a society is strong in its spirit, faith, culture, education, then it is strong enough to overcome all other crises. Your visit to our country has been a great contribution of the consolidation of the faith, as it gave a very important strategic message to our society, which makes ever more successful our common efforts to strengthen common human values in Moldova and to enhance their role in the development of our society’.

DECR Communication Service

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.

DECR Communication Service

His Majesty ABDULLAH II

King of Jordan

Your Majesty:

Please accept my heartfelt greetings with Your jubilee 50th birthday.

During the years You have been leading Jordan, You have won sincere love of Your people and have deserved deep respect and recognition in the entire Arab world and beyond it. It is gratifying to know that You are exerting many efforts aimed at the early diplomatic settlement of conflict situations in the Middle East countries.

There are many sites in Jordan which Christians hold sacred, and many pilgrims from all over the world come to them. The number of believers from the Russian Orthodox Church coming to venerate these holy sites has increased recently. It is a great pleasure to know that warm hospitality is always accorded to pilgrims coming to Your country. I hope that this good tradition will be kept up.

I would like to express to Your Majesty a particular gratitude for the handing over of a plot of land by the River Jordan to Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church highly appreciates the efforts of the Royal family to arrange a historical-religious reserve on the site. I am confident that this will bring a substantial contribution to the strengthening of friendly relations between our states.

On this festive solemn day I wish You, Your Majesty, spiritual and physical health, success in Your work and help from the Almighty, and to all people of Jordan – peace and prosperity.

With deep respect,

/+KIRILL/

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

Q. Your Holiness, as you know, Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija have recently appealed to President Medvedev to grant them Russian citizenship, and his answer is already known. The Serbs appealed to you as well, and their desire was dictated by despair and helplessness in the situation in which they have been caught. The recent initiatives of Serbs in Kosovo for Russian citizenship have given a powerful signal that should be heard not only in Russia but throughout Europe.

Your words have always been a great moral support for our people and country. What message could you convey to all the Serbian citizens, especially Orthodox faithful, and encourage them in this grave period of history?

A. The Serbs who live in Kosovo and Metohija have become hostages in a major political game. Given the indifferent attitude of many states, they are forced to stay in closed enclaves, experiencing everyday anxiety because of the hostile people around who are aware of their impunity. Our brothers in faith have a great courage not to abandon their much-suffering land and holy places and have to live like concentration camp inmates who are denied even the basic right to life. Here we see a glaring injustice, double standards and lies of the policy declaring commitment to the ideal of humanism and human rights protection while shutting its eye to the hell created by extremists with support from their foreign sponsors.

The Lord says to St. Paul, ‘My power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Cor. 12:9). When all the human resources are exhausted, when there seem to be no hope, then we see the help of God about which the Lord told to his apostle. In Russian history we see many examples when the country was on the verge of enslavement and destruction – in the Time of Trouble in 1612, and during the Polish intervention, in 1812 when Napoleon’s army invaded the country, and in 1941 when the Hitler’s armadas advanced with lightning speed in the territory of the Soviet Union. Not once the enemy was close to his aim but contrary to the logical development, Russia hurled back those invasions and rose from ruins and ashes. In this the believer sees God’s providence and His help.

I have no right to give any political advice to the Kosovo Serbs but will offer a counsel relevant in all times: turn to the Lord God with sincere prayer for help. And your brothers and sisters in faith in Russia will lift up their prayers together with you, and I believe the whole Universal Church will do the same. In the Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ repeats these words: ‘Do not be afraid!’ The fear of dangers and threats is a natural human feeling. But the Lord is always with us and He says to the Serbs in Kosovo today: ‘Do not be afraid!’

I am deeply thankful to the Kosovo Serbs for their letter to me and to the Russian state leaders, to ‘the Russian people and brothers’. Scores of thousands of people put their signatures under this letter. It has left no one of those who read it indifferent. Our hearts are deeply moved by the trust and love for Russia manifested in this letter. In response I would like to say: the Russian Church, the Orthodox Russian people will never turn away from you. No earthly gains, no changes in the current political situation will make us forget about our ages-old spiritual kinship.

Q. Russia, within her diplomatic and political resources, has given support to the Kosovo Serbs who have been caught in a difficult situation in all respects, socio-economic, legal, psychological. What support can the Serbs from Kosovo expect from the Russian Orthodox Church?

A. The Russian Federation has really given a considerable support to the Kosovo Serbs. For instance, by the decision of the Russian authorities, funds have been allocated through UNESCO for the restoration of ruined churches in Kosovo. This initiative deserves every encouragement. Other actions are taken as well to relieve the situation of our Serbian brothers who live in Kosovo, including the supply of humanitarian aid.

The Moscow Patriarchate has invariably supported the position taken by the Serbian Church with regard of the status of Kosovo. On the international arena, much was done for the protection of the Serbian population of the region by my predecessor, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. In particular, he devoted to this problem a considerable part of his address to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in 2007. I, too, will never stop making efforts for defending the Serbian brothers in their struggle to live in the land of their fathers.

It is very important that the holy places in Kosovo should not be abandoned. It would be a real spiritual catastrophe and would do a serious damage to Europe’s Orthodox heritage. Priceless are the monuments created by the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, and they are alive as long as prayers are lifted up in churches and the feat of monasticism is performed in monastery cells. I have approved the action program which will be implemented in 2012.

I have been to Kosovo several times and talked with local people and could see their difficult situation with my own eyes. What I saw made a strong impression on me. The Russian Orthodox Church was and will be in solidarity with the Kosovo Serbs. Our compatriots empathize with them and lift up ardent prayers for a speedy regulation of life in the Kosovo region. There is my voice too among these numerous voices of prayer.

Q. How do you assess the new calls of some Montenegro politicians to divide the Serbian Orthodox Church? The former prime minister of Montenegro, Milo Jukanovic, has recently stated the history will show the validity of his call to divide the Serbian Church.

A. History shows that attempts of particular political forces to put pressure on the Church in order to change her canonical order lead to nothing good.

Fortunately, in Montenegro there are many reasonable political leaders who share this point of view. In February 2009, I met with Montenegrin President Philip Vujanovic. I remember that during that meeting Mr. Vujanovic said that for him the Metropolia of Montenegro and Primorje was the only Orthodox canonical institution in Montenegro and pointed to the importance of the Metropolia’s taking pastoral care of the Serbs and Montenegrins.

All the Local Orthodox Churches consider Montenegro to be part of the canonical territory of the Serbian Patriarchate and this generally-shared Orthodox conviction should be respected.

Q. We know that representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church in their talks with representatives of the Vatican paid attention to the fact that it would be good for the Pope to voice and openly demand the protection of monuments and Christians themselves in Kosovo. The then Pope did not listen to the wise advice from Moscow. Is the situation changing in this respect with the coming of a new Pope?

A. When the discussion on the Kosovo problem began, the Pope Benedict XVI of Rome, as is known, took a well-considered stand on this problem. The Holy See still refrains from an official recognition of this part of Serbia as an independent state. Moreover, on the eve of the declaration of the independence of Kosovo, the Pope called the international community not to hurry to make the final decision on the status of that territory, emphasizing that the Orthodox monasteries there have a special historical and spiritual significance for the Serbs.

Exactly four days after the declaration of Kosovo’s independence in February 2008, Benedict XVI received in audience the Serbian ambassador to the Holy See. In the course of the meeting, the Pope underscored that the Serbs suffered much in the conflicts of the last decades and expressed concern for their situation in Kosovo. Since then he has repeatedly spoken for the protection of the rights of the Serbian minority.

Q. How will you explain the fact that Western Christians, that is, Catholics, did not show desire to defend old Orthodox, that is Christian, churches in Kosovo? These churches were burnt down and destroyed exactly at the time when Western peace-makers came in Kosovo?

A. Regrettably, the Western world, during the intervention of the NATO troops in the territory of former Yugoslavia, was subjected to a massive information attack and, to a considerable extent, was mislead. For long months, the Western mass media played up deliberately distorted information about ‘the atrocity of Milosevic’s regime’ committed against Kosovo Serbs, grossly exaggerating the number of victims of ‘ethnic cleansings’ carried out by the Serbian police in the region.

However, the hostilities themselves in Kosovo provoked in the Western Christian world a reaction far from unequivocal. Many Christians in the West were outraged by the inscription ‘Happy Easter!’ on bombs made by the American military.

Nevertheless, a number of Catholic bishops did come out in support of Kosovo’s automony, motivated by hopes for an improvement in the life of the Catholic community in the region, which were not to become true.

Other representatives of Western Christian churches and communities have repeatedly expressed concern for the vandalism of NATO’s military and for Albanian militants with their extremist attitude to the old shrines in Kosovo. Therefore, I believe, the Western Christians as a whole should not be blamed for the actions of the military. These actions were not dictated by religious beliefs.

Q. Many newspapers have recently reported on your possible meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. Do you still insist that all the disputed questions should be resolved first, because otherwise this meeting is meaningless?

A. Yes, I still believe that for this meeting to be a success it is necessary, if not settle the conflict problems in full, but at least to try to settle them more energetically.

The mass media have stressed only the sensational aspect of a possible meeting, but I do not like it at all to be reduced to sensational. To make it really beneficial for the further development of relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church it is necessary to radically improve the atmosphere of these relations through joint efforts for settling the problems existing in our relations.

Q. Under the former Pope, representatives of the Vatican often said they could not influence the Greek Catholics in Ukraine who captured Orthodox churches. Has the situation changed now or things have remained the same?

A. While stressing their loyalty to the see of Rome, the Ukrainian Greek Catholics have insisted on their own autonomy. When in 1990 a quadruple commission was set up including the Vatican, Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in order to settle the situation in western Ukraine, the Greek Catholics actually wrecked its work. We have recently suggested that this commission be resumed but the Catholic side has been perfectly indifferent to our proposal.

In the course of regular contacts with leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, we have continually raised the question concerning the need to resolve the situation with regard to Orthodox churches in western Ukraine. Both the Pope of Rome and heads of respective Vatican congregations have expressed appreciation of our concern but the problem remains unresolved.

Q. The Russian Patriarch and the Pope were supposed to meet in 1997 in Graz, Austria. Ten days before the meeting, they in the Vatican deleted the part of the document to be signed concerning the harm of proselytism and conflict between the Orthodox and the Uniates in Ukraine. Since the 90s, Catholic churches have been opened in more than 200 Russian cities. Have the positions of Moscow and the Vatican become closer when proselytism is discussed now, or everything has remained the same?

A. It should be noted that the situation in the Orthodox-Catholic relations in Russia have noticeably improved in the last 10 years. The problem of proselytism is not as acute now as it was in the 90s when Catholic missionaries came to Russia to carry out their active work here. A positive role has been played by the Joint Group for Considering Problems in Relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Russia, which was set up in 2004. It has become a good platform for an open and honest discussion between representatives of the two Churches on concrete complicated problems and for a joint work to make recommendations for their solution.

It is necessary to develop cooperation between the Orthodox and the Catholics who have been guardians of the Christian tradition and who have similar views of personal and social ethics, scientific and technological progress, bioethics and other issues of today. Among the problems which have become increasingly relevant is Christianophobia, the persecution of Christians for their faith. In the area of the protection of the rights of Christians, I believe close Orthodox-Catholic cooperation to be promising, important and timely.

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’.

DECR Communication Service
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.

The 20th International Educational Christmas Readings were opened on January 23, 2012, at Gostiny Dvor, Moscow. Its theme is Education and Morality: Concern of the Church, Society and State.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia presided over the opening ceremony and the first plenary session and gave an opening address.

The presidium of the Readings included Metropolitan Christopher of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, who came for the Readings at the invitation of Patriarch Kirill, several high-ranking church officials, Ms Valentina Matvienko, chair of the Council of the Federation, several governmental officials, and president of the Russian Academy of Education, N. Nikandrov.

The opening was attended by bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, representatives of other Local Orthodox Churches and numerous representatives of governmental bodies and public organizations.

Metropolitan Merkury of Rostov and Novocherkassk read out a message from President Dmitry Medvedev, who wrote in particular, ‘The theme of this jubilee Readings, ‘Education and Morality: Concern of the Church, Society and State’, is of great importance for the present and future of Russia. The tasks of the development of our country require that continuous attention should be given to the education and formation of the younger generation in the spirit of respect for moral values and patriotic ideas. It is a basis for the consolidation of civic peace and inter-ethnic accord, and it is extremely important here to broaden cooperation between state, public and religious organizations’.

Among the speakers at the opening were Metropolitan Christopher, Ms. Matvienko, Moscow Mayor Deputy A. Gorbenko and Deputy Minister of Education M. Dulinov.

Metropolitan Christopher spoke on the peculiarities of religious education in Czechia and Slovakia. While in the Czech Republic religious instruction is not compulsory, in Slovakia schoolchildren are taught the religious basics of their faith, though they can study the secular ethics instead if they wish. While in Czechia parents do not show great interest in this subject, in Slovakia most people confess Christianity and all the churches registered there use the opportunity to give religious instruction in public schools using a curriculum developed by the Metropolitan’s Council and certified by the state. In kindergartens, religious instruction is given by professional teachers authorized by their ruling bishop to carry out ‘canonical mission’. The teaching is organized under the Law on the Freedom of Religion, the Statute of the Church and Religious Organizations and the agreement on religious education and formation between the Republic of Slovakia and registered churches and religious organizations.

He also said his Church gives religious teachers professional training and advancement in close cooperation with the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Presov. This training is financed by the state. Educational aids are published by the Ministry of Education.

Patriarch Kirill decorated N. Nikandrov with the Order of St. Daniel of Moscow in acknowledgement of his services in introducing the teaching of Basics of Orthodox Culture in secondary school.

This was followed by the awarding of prize-winners of the national contest for the best works in pedagogy and work with children and youth ‘For the Teacher’s Moral Feat’. This annual contest is conducted by the Ministry of Education and Science together with the ROC Department for Religious Education and Catechism and supported by Presidential Envoys in federal regions.

Among those awarded was S. Naumov, minister of education of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. He was decorated with the Medal of St. Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, for his outstanding contribution to the development of Orthodox education.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, delivered a key paper on Moral Values and the Future of Humanity.

Patriarchal Press Service/DECR Communication Service

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.

DECR Communication Service

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.

To: The Most Reverend Hilarion

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Moscow Patriarchate

Your Eminence,

Please accept my cordial congratulations on the auspicious day in your ministry for the good of the Church of Christ – the 10th anniversary of your episcopal consecration.

In 2002, at the cathedral church of the first capital city of Moscow, through the mystery of the All-Holy Spirit and laying of the hands of the Apostles’ successors, you were elevated to the bishop’s dignity and now zealously carry out important and responsible work in the Lord’s Vineyard.

The task that has been given you by the Supreme Authority at the Department for External Church Relations requires much time and energy, and you seek, to God’s eternal glory, to show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity and sound speech (Tit. 2:7-8).

In maintaining cooperation with Local Orthodox Churches and conducting dialogue with the non-Orthodox, you have focused your attention and support on our brothers and sisters persecuted for their faith, seeking to help stop the violence through diplomatic methods.

Among your urgent concerns is also the training of qualified specialists. As head of the Church Post-Graduate and Doctoral School, you have diligently carried out this difficult work.

I lift up prayers to the All-Merciful Master of Heaven and Earth so that He may give you spiritual and physical strength to continue serving in peace and joy for the benefit of His Holy Church.

With love in the Lord,

+ Kirill,

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

Concelebrating were the assembly of hierarchs, including Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department of External Church Relations, Metropolitan Athanasios of Kyrenaika, representative of the Patriarch of Alexandria to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Iov (Tyvonyuk) and Metropolitan Viktor of Tver and Kashino; archimandrite Stephan (Dispirakis), representative of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, archimandrite Feoktist (Dimitrov), representative of the Bulgarian Patriarchate, deans and members of the Moscow diocesan council.

An old Altar Gospel ascribed to the reign of the Empress Elizaveta Petrovna was brought out from the sanctuary during the service.  This Gospel Book was brought to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour from St. Joseph’s Monastery under the will of the late Metropolitan Pitirim of Volokolamsk and Yuriev and is brought out from the sanctuary twice a year: at Grand Complines celebrated on Christmas and Easter.

After the divine service Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna greeted His Holiness Patriarch Kirill with the great feast of the Nativity of Christ on behalf of the plenitude of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Primate of the Russian Church addressed the worshippers with his primatial homily and received greetings from the bishops, clergymen, and laymen.

Рождественское послание Патриарха Московского и всея Руси КИРИЛЛА архипастырям, пастырям, монашествующим и всем верным чадам Русской Православной Церкви (Russian)

Сибэтиилээхтэн сибэтиилээх үрдүкү аҕабыыттар, ытык аҕалар, Таҥараны таптыыр манаахтар, күндү бырааттарбыт уонна балыстарбыт!(Yakut)

Різдвяне послання Патріарха Московського і всієї Русі КИРИЛА архіпастирям, пастирям, ченцям і всім вірним чадам Руської Православної Церкви (Ukrainian)

Ражджэственскае пасланне Патрыярха Маскоўскага і ўсяе Русі КІРЫЛА архіпастырам, пастырам, манахам і ўсім верным дзецям Рускай Праваслаўнай Царквы (Byelorussian)

Pastorală la Naşterea Domnului a Sanctităţii Sale KIRIL, Patriarhul Moscovei şi al Întregii Rusii Arhipăstorilor, păstorilor, cinului monahal şi tuturor dreptmăritorilor credincioşi ai Bisericii Ortodoxe Ruse (Moldavian)

Moskva ja kogu Venemaa patriarhi KIRILLUSE Jõululäkitus ülemhingekarjastele, preestritele, mungaelupidajatele ja kõigile Vene Õigeusu Kiriku ustavatele lastele (Estonian)

Maskvos ir visos Rusios Patriarcho KIRILO Kalėdinis laiškas Vyskupams, kunigams, vienuoliams ir visiems ištikimiesiems Rusų Ortodoksų Bažnyčios tikintiesiems (Lithuanian)

Maskavas un visas Krievzemes Patriarha KIRILA Kristus Piedzimšanas svētku vēstījums virsganiem, draudžu ganiem, mūku kārtai un visiem uzticamajiem Krievzemes Pareizticīgās Baznīcas bērniem (Latvian)

Мәскеу және бүкіл Русь патриархы Кириллдың архипастырьларға, пастырьларға, монахтарға және Орыс Православие Шіркеуінің барлық берілген ұл-қыздарына Рождестволық жолдауы (Kazakh)

Паёми мавлудии Патриархи Маскав ва тамоми Рус КИРИЛЛ ба кашишњои аъзам, кашишњо, порсоён ва њамаи фарзандони боимони Калисои Православии Рус (Tajik)

Б\тк\л Орусиянын жана Москванын патриархы Кириллдин Рождестволук кайрылуусу. Архипастырларга, пастырларга, кечилдерге жана Орус Православлдык Чиркъъс\н\н бардык ишенимд\\ балдарына. (Kirghiz)

Keramatly arhipastyrlar, hormatly atalar, Hudaýy söýýän inoklar we inokinýalar, eziz doganlar we uýalar! (Turkmen)

Moskvanın və bütün Rusiyanın Patriarxı KİRİLLİN arxikeşişlərə, keşişlərə, rahiblərə və Rusiya Pravoslav Kilsəsinin bütün sadiq övladlarına MİLADİ MÜRACİƏTNAMƏSİ (Azerbaijani)

Weihnachtsbotschaft des Patriarchen von Moskau und ganz Russland KIRILL an die Oberhirten, Hirten, Mönche und Nonnen und alle treuen Kinder der Russischen Orthodoxen Kirche (German)

Message de Noël du patriarche Cyrille de Moscou et de toute la Russie (French)

Χριστουγεννιάτικο Μήνυμα του Πατριάρχη Μόσχας και Πασών των Ρωσιών Κυρίλλου προς τους Αρχιερείς, ιερείς, μοναχούς και όλα τα πιστά τέκνα της Ρωσικής Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας (Greek)

Messaggio di Natale di Sua Santità Kirill, Patriarca di Mosca e di tutte le Russie (Italian)

Mensaje de Navidad del Patriarca KIRILL de Moscú y Toda Rusia a los archipastores, pastores, monjes y todos fieles de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa (Spanish)

رسالة الميلاد من بطريرك موسكو وسائر روسيا كيريل إلى كبار الرعاة والرعاة والمترهبين وجميع الأبناء والبنات المخلصين للكنيسة الأرثوذكسية الروسية (Arabic)

莫斯科及全俄宗主教基里爾 致俄羅斯東正教會的所有主教、司祭、修道者及所有虔誠的信徒 聖誕節書信 (Chinese)

モスクワおよび全ロシアの総主教キリルからの降誕際に際してのご挨拶 (Japanese)