VERTOGRAD
Orthodox Journal
Newsletter No. 11, Sunday, February 13, 2005. 10:55 P.M.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Metropolitan Valentine Serves Divine Liturgy in Novaya Kupavna, Moscow Region, Where the Rights of the Russian Church are Threatened
Archpriests From Russia and USA Travel to Switzerland for Divine Services
Question About Status of Church Property in Palestine Does Not Bear Threat to Negotiations with ROCOR(L), According To Moscow Patriarchate
Patriarch of World Orthodoxy Opens Ecumenical Chapel
Patriarch Prays for Pope's Health
TRUE ORTHODOX NEWS
METROPOLITAN VALENTINE SERVES DIVINE LITURGY IN NOVAYA KUPAVNA, MOSCOW REGION, WHERE THE RIGHTS OF THE RUSSIAN CHURCH ARE THREATENED
(Vertograd : Novaya Kupavna, Moscow Region)
The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church, Metropolitan Valentine of Suzdal, served Divine Liturgy on February 6, the feast of St Xenia of Petersburg and the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia at the St Xenia Temple in Novaya Kupavna (Moscow Region), in honor of the parish feast. Concelebrating with the First Hierarch of the ROAC from the Churches of the Moscow Region of the Suzdal Diocese of ROAC were Archpriest Michael Ardov, the rector the New Martyrs Parish, Priest Andrei Valevskiy, the rector of the St Xenia parish and Protodeacon Sergius Slonov of Suzdal.
After the liturgy, which was chanted by the Suzdal chorus, a communal meal took place during which First Hierarch of the ROAC talked with the parishioners.
Divine services took place in the temporary chapel made in the Church-house. The community in Novaya Kupavna has been involved in legal proceedings for many years, due to Moscow's Noginsk regional administration attempting to destroy the community. The building of the Temple was stopped for this reason, the walls of which are already built.
ARCHPRIESTS FROM RUSSIA AND USA TRAVEL TO SWITZERLAND FOR DIVINE SERVICES
(Vertograd : Geneva)
In the Free Russian Orthodox Parish of St George the Great Martyr in Kopp, not far from Geneva (Switzerland), Divine Services took place on Jan. 22 and 23. From Russia, the rector of the Tsar-Martyr Nicholas Temple in Golovinsky cemetery in Moscow, Archpriest Michael Ardov, arrived to act as primary celebrant. Arriving to assist at services was Hegumen Andrei (Maklakov) of St Nicholas Church in New York.
On January 22, All-Night Vigil was served, with Divine Liturgy on January 23. On the same day, on with the blessing of Metropolitan Valentine of Suzdal, the great blessing of water was performed, since the Theophany holiday had not yet ended.
All the local parishioners and guests confessed and partook of the communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
WORLD ORTHODOX NEWS
QUESTION ABOUT STATUS OF CHURCH PROPERTY IN PALESTINE DOES NOT BEAR THREAT TO NEGOTIATIONS WITH ROCOR(L), ACCORDING TO MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE
(Interfax - ITAR-TASS - Vertograd : Moscow)
The official representative of MP's Department of External Relations, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, stated in an interview with Interfax that the proceedings concerning the legal status of properties in the Holy Land does not bear a threat to the
negotiations process with ROCOR (L). Since these areas were given to the MP in 1997 and 2000, as the negotiations began, no one assumed that "their present status would be newly brought into question, and that their legal registration would cause manifestation of worry".
In the opinion of Fr. Nikolai Balashov, "it is important to forego the old property disputes, and to proceed from the acknowledgement of the present reality, focusing from the time of when the negotiations began".
Fr. Nikolai Balashov gave the interview for Interfax amidst protests expressed by the press- service of ROCOR (L) against the legal registration of property of ROCOR in the holy Land, seized in 1997 and 2000. The Moscow Patriarchate was able to gain control of the properties with the military assistance of the Palestinian authority.
ECUMENICAL NEWS
PATRIARCH OF WORLD ORTHODOXY OPENS ECUMENICAL CHAPEL
(SANA - Vertograd: Damascus)
Patriarch Ignatios IV Hazim of Antioch and All the East of the Greek Orthodox and Patriarch Gregarious III Laham of Antioch and All the East of the Greek-Catholics on the evening of February 4 headed a special service celebration on the occasion of concecration of Saints Peter and Paul Joint Church in Dummar, on the outskirts of Damascus.
"This event is the start point towards uniting the Antiochian Church within the framework of the comprehensive national unity in Syria," Patriarch Laham said in his sermon. For his part, Patriarch Ignatios IV Hazim underlined that the consecration of a joint church is an exceptional event that plays an important role in enhancing national unity.
PATRIARCH PRAYS FOR POPE'S HEALTH
(Official Web-Site of MP - Zenit - Vertograd : Moscow)
According to the Roman Catholic news service Zenit.org, Patriarch Alexei of Moscow offered his "fraternal prayer" for Pope John Paul II. Below is the text of the telegram to Pope John Paul II from Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow, which is available at the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate:
Your Holiness!
Please accept, your Holiness, the expression of our brotherly support in prayer in connection with the illness that has befallen you. May the most merciful God grant you healing and strengthen your forces in carrying the high office of the First Hierarch of the Roman Catholic Church, for the benefit of your flock and for the benefit of joint Christian service to peace and justice.
With Love in the Lord,
Patriarch Alexei of Moscow and All Russia
http://www.mospat.ru/text/news/id/8550.html
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