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Alexy II congratulates all the students on their feast

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II hugs President Vladimir Putin, who handed over to the Orthodox Church the Mother of God of Smolensk icon, right, in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006. The 16th century icon was stolen from a local Russian museum in 1994, then later found in London and brought back to Russia. (AP Photo)
Moscow, January 25, Interfax - Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia greeted all students and faculty with the commemoration day of St. Tatiana. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates it on January 25.

On Wednesday morning, Divine liturgy dedicated to the commemoration day of St. Tatiana the great martyr and the heavenly protector of ‘the teachers and students’ was celebrated at St. Tatiana’s church at the Moscow State University for the first time in Russian modern history. The church housed a students’ theater during the Soviet times.

The Patriarch thanked the University rector Viktor Sadovnichiy for his efforts undertaken for the return of the church in spite of all ‘difficulties and misunderstanding’. ‘May God’s help be with you in your work for the good of Russian science’, the patriarch wished the rector.

He also congratulated all girls and women named Tatiana. ‘May her prayers strengthen you in your life. I would like to believe that the 21st century will be an age of creative work, peace, spiritual consolidation of our Fatherland and the return of Holy Orthodoxy to the life of our nation’, the primate of the Church said.

Sadovnichiy remarked that by the decision of the Russian government the day of St.Tatiana has got a national status of the Day of Russian students. ‘Combination of spirituality and statehood is the way which the Russia should follow’, the rector said. He presented the patriarch with an icon of the holy great martyr made by the Yaroslavl iconpainters.

About 800 people attended the liturgy celebrated by the Patriarch.

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Ambassador of Cuba informs Patriarch Alexy on the building of Russian Orthodox church in Havana

On 24 January 2006, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia received Cuban Ambassador to the Russian Federation Jorge Marti Martinez in his working residence in the Chisty Lane.

His Holiness the Patriarch greeted the head of Cuban diplomatic representation and congratulated him on the New Year and wished him blessed success in his work.

His Holiness pointed out to the development of relations between the two countries and expressed an opinion that the building of a Russian Orthodox church in Havana was a sign of good relations between Russian and Cuban people.

Patriarch Alexy underscored special necessity of the church in Cuba as some 5 thousand Orthodox Russians live in the island including specialists working at joint ventures, staff members of the Embassy and their families.

J. Martinez conveyed the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church the greeting from the President of the Republic of Cuba Fidel Castro Ruz. The Cuban Ambassador told about the building of the Orthodox church in the most beautiful part of old Havana.

His Holiness thanked the government of the Cuban Republic for their decision to build a church that would become a spiritual center for all Russians residing in the country where they would find spiritual comfort, support in their work which they accomplish for the welfare of Cuba. ‘The Russian Orthodox Church unites Russians in different countries of the world and help them maintain bonds with their Motherland’, His Holiness said.

Jorge Marti Martinez appreciated the contribution of the Russian Church in finding new points of contacts between the two countries. The Russian Orthodox church in Havana will become a cultural phenomenon and a sign of friendship. ‘Russian and Cuban peoples are tied together with sincere friendship and there is nothing artificial in it. It is important that Russia becomes a powerful, stable and prospering state. Not only Russians, but Cubans and other nations of the world need it’, he said.

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Religious education should be recognized by state - Patriarch Alexy

Moscow, January 30, Interfax - Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia advocates the state recognition of religious education.

‘If the state recognizes Orthodox churches and icons as national heritage, then the question arises: why the state and public recognition of the value of religious education is absent from our country’, the patriarch said during the opening of the International Christmas Educational Readings at the State Kremlin Palace on Monday.

He also noted that today, just as in the years of state atheism, the Church meets with opposition to the teaching of Basic Orthodox Culture in schools, while the graduation certificates granted by theological educational institutions and the theological academic degrees ‘are still not recognized by the state’.

Patriarch Alexy expressed regret that the Russian laws in force are still lacking the regulation of the non-state sector of education including religious education.

He said the form in which religious educational institutions and the teaching of knowledge about religion could be supported has not been developed in Russia, in contrast to most of European countries.

The primate of the Russian Church underlined that as citizens of the Russian Federation the clergy and professors ‘should have the right to be recognized by both state and society’.

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The 16th Annual Theological Conference of the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s University for Humanities is opened in Moscow

The 16th Annual Theological Conference of the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s University for Humanities (OTUH) opened on 26 January 2006 with a plenary session at the conference hall of Humanities Faculties of the Moscow State University.

Among the present were: Archbishop Evgeny of Vereia, Rector of the Moscow Theological Seminary and Academy, chairman of the educational committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobiev, the OTUH Rector, representative of the Georgian Orthodox Church bishop Stephan of Tsager and Lentekh, professor of St. Sergius Theological Institute in Paris Archpriest Nicholas Ozolin, OTUH professors, lecturers and students. Participating in the conference are theologians, secular and church scientists, representatives of leading educational establishments of Russia, the CIS and other countries.

In his opening address, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobiev noted the increasing interest to the OTUH annual conference for the last 16 years. The conference is growing, the number of the speakers exceeds the frameworks of the conference. Over 250 reports are to be delivered at this forum.

Archbishop Evgeny read out the greeting address of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia to the participants in the conference. The Patriarch points out to ‘the rapid creative development of the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s University for Humanities’, fruitful cooperation between theological and academic sciences in the frameworks of the conference, and unity between science and education realized in the University.

Bishop Stephan greeted the forum on behalf of the Georgian Orthodox Church. In his speech he underscored the importance of strengthening theological bonds between the University and the Georgian Church. Archpriest Nicholas Ozolin conveyed the greeting address of the academic council of St. Sergius Institute in Paris.

The conference will work on 26-28 January 2006. The following sections will be held: ‘History of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 20th century’, ‘Non-Orthodox confessions in changing world’, ‘St. Philaret (Drozdov) and his epoch’, ‘History of Russian-Georgian Relations’, ‘Archives of the Russian Orthodox Church’, ‘History of Missions’, ‘Practical missionary work’ and others. Also in the program are round tables: ‘Problems of Modern Theological Education’, ‘Church and Empire’, ‘Center for supporting convicts’ and others.

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Agreement on protection of church values is signed

On 26 January 2006, the Synodal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate on cooperation with military forces and law enforcement agencies and the ‘Mashinoimport’ Federal State Enterprise signed an agreement on maintenance and protection of the values of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Chairman of the Department Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov and the ‘Mashinoimport’ General Director O. Vdovichenko decide to unite their efforts in the noble affair of preserving cultural heritage of Russia. They agreed to establish the Coordination Council. Among its members are representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Ministry of Culture and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation, and experts in art, restorers, and staff-members of the museums.

Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov blessed to conduct works on marking and cataloging of church values in Moscow Church of St. Mitrofan of Voronezh and the Church of the Annunciation.

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St. Sabas is commemorated at the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow

On 27 January 2006, when the Serbian Orthodox Church commemorates St. Sabas of Serbia, a festive divine service took place at the representation church of the Ss Peter and Paul of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Christopher of Prague and the Czech Lands who came to Moscow to participate in 14th International Christmas Educational Readings, and Bishop Afanasy, Vicar of the Serbian Patriarch. Among their concelebrants were Archimandrite Antony (Pantelich), rector of the representation church, Archpriest Nicholas Balashov, secretary for Inter-Orthodox Relations of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, clerics of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches, and the Orthodox Church in Czech Lands and Slovakia. Most part of ten concelebrating priests and five deacons are graduates of the Moscow Theological Seminary and Academy who came to study from the Serbian Orthodox Church. Hymns and prayers were sung in the Church Slavonic and Serbian languages.

His Excellence Afanasy on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia and the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church greeted Archbishop Christopher, rector of the representation church and parishioners. There were many representatives of the Serbian community in Moscow including the director of the representation center of the Serbian Republic in Russia Gordan Milinic.

His Holiness Patriarch Pavle honored with the order of St. Sabas the parishioner of the representation and engineer Jorge Popovic. Bishop Afanasy decorated J. Popovic with the order. Schoolgirls of the representation Sunday school read poems about St. Sabas in the Serbian language. Folk songs were sung in honor of the great saint who laid a foundation of the independence of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

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Greeting address of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy on the Day of St. Sabas of Serbia

On 27 January 2006, the Serbian Orthodox Church commemorates St. Sabas, the first archbishop of Serbia. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church greeted Patriarch Pavle on this occasion.

His Holiness Pavle
Archbishop of Pec
Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci
Patriarch of Serbia

Your Holiness, beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant,

On the holy day when we commemorate the Great Holy Hierarch and Wonderworker Sabas of Serbia, please accept our congratulations. We prayerfully wish Your Holiness good health and God’s help in your difficult ministry as a Primate of the Holy Serbian Church and peace and prosperity to your God-loving flock.

We sincerely rejoice at your recovery after a short illness.

With love in the Lord,

• ALEXY,
  PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA