MP News

[Kollyvas]

pics...
http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?page=29203

Metropolitan Kirill celebrates Divine Liturgy in St.Seraphim’s church in Svetlogorsk on the commemoration day of St.Seraphim of Sarov

On 15 January 2006, the commemoration day of St.Seraphim of Sarov, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St.Seraphim’s church in Svetlogorsk.

Concelebrating with the ruling bishop were Bishop Seraphim of Baltiysk, diocesan secretary archpriest Marian Pozun and rector of the church priest Oleg Onishchuk.

The church of St.Seraphim of Sarov could accommodate all people who came to worship. In his archpastoral address to numerous parishioners Metropolitan Kirill noted that the exploit of St.Seraphim gives us an example of a true Orthodox Christian. ‘This old man, who was stooping and feeble, stood on the stone for a long time. His exploit witnesses that the power of God joins with human power, that God does not exist separately, but really and tangibly helps people once they beseech Him to do so’.

That same day at ‘Khrabrovo’ airport Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad had a friendly unofficial meeting with the commander of the Baltic Navy V.P.Valuev.

[Kollyvas]

http://directionstoorthodoxy.org/mod/ne ... le_id=6772

Russian Pharmacy Stops Selling Condoms With Church’s Blessing
MosNews

A pharmacy in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg has decided to ban one of their major sources of revenue — condoms and other contraceptives — and to sell medicines blessed by the Russian Orthodox Church, the NTV television channel reported.

Clerics and businessmen are watching the progress of the experiment at a pharmacy which has already been dubbed Orthodox.

Now it sells only medicine that has been blessed, children’s food, hygienic goods that, according to the archbishop of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye, Vikentiy, who personally led the consecration ceremony, have now doubled their effectiveness.

The pharmacists say that the decision to stop selling contraceptives — which accounts for 10 percent of their profit — is their personal contribution to improving the demographic situation in Russia. The Yekaterinburg diocese has described the deed of the Urals businessmen as heroic and hopes that other stores will follow suit.

Some competitors, however, believe that cutting condom sales will lead to unsafe sex. No one has yet followed the example of the innovative pharmacy.

In his opinion, Archbishop Vikentiy claims contraceptives are destroying the nation.

[Kollyvas]

Blessings are sacramental acts which act as vehicles of grace. Grace has a holistic, healing effect. Here reference is probably made to pharmaceuticals such as viagra, morning after pill, etc., which would not be blessed. The MP is not the seventh day adventists/christian scientists/jehovahs witnesses and has an appreciation of modern medicine.
R

[CorpusChristi]

"The MP is not the seventh day adventists/christian scientists/jehovahs witnesses"

It might as well be, its acting as real estate giant all over the world...
I agree Church is church, and medicine is medicine and wether you like it or not,God gave us Doctors and he also gave us Brains to use..
The MP as the Pope just wants to be in control of everything, as the Ecumenical Patriarch...the sad thing is that all three of these are not gonna get there way until they remember its not all about them or money, but about + GOD +and the Sheep that has been entrusted unto them..........and I will say one thing and one thing only that will probally get me in trouble, but out of all three of these I would trust the EP alot more the than the Pope and MP combined, ring or no ring he just has a sense of piety that the others seem to lack there of......

[Jean-Serge]

Well contaception is not against aorthodox teaching... Maybe this blessing ios a marketing armument for the chemistry that will gibe back a part of its income to the local bishop... All this is clearly suspects...

When someone is ill, the church has the anointing with oil, which is a mystery that does not forbid medication...

[尼古拉前执事]

Well contaception is not against aorthodox teaching...

Dear Jean-Serge, where were you taught this? The Church seems to have always taught against artifical contaception. In fact, it has only been in the last 100 years or so that the majority of Protestants have accepted artificial contraception. I know that Anastasios has written some papers on this, so perhaps he will chime in?

[Kollyvas]

http://directionstoorthodoxy.org/mod/ne ... le_id=6819

PresidentTassos meets Patriarch
Cyprus Mail - Nicosia,Cyprus

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)
THE PATRIARCH of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II yesterday said no quick steps should be made in solving the Cyprus problem.

Speaking at a meeting in Moscow with President Tassos Papadopoulos, the Patriarch said the solution plan for Cyprus, coming from outside forces, must be understood and supported by the Greek Cypriots.

Referring to Papadopoulos, the Patriarch said that he had contributed significantly to the unity of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. Cyprus, being a member of the EU, could play an important role so that the voice of the Orthodox Church could be heard in Western countries.

Papadopoulos thanked Patriarch Alexiy II for his words and expressed appreciation and admiration for his knowledge in the Cyprus problem. During the meeting, Papadopoulos briefed the Patriarch on the recent situation in the Church of Cyprus with regard to the Archbishop elections.

Later yesterday Papadopoulos was due to visit the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour where he was to be given an award during a special ceremony conduced by Patriarch Alexy II.

The President is due to meet Russian Prime Minster Vladimir Putin tomorrow where they will discuss the Cyprus issue. He is due back on the island on Tuesday.