The Shepherd, February 2008
PROPOSAL TO TRANSLATE THE RELICS OF THE NEW MARTYR ELIZABETH TO MOSCOW
YURY LUZHKOV, the Mayor of Moscow, has proposed that the sacred relics of the Venerable New Martyr Elizabeth the Grand Duchess of Russia, which repose in the Gethsemane Convent near Jerusalem, should be returned to Moscow. According to an Interfax report, Patriarch Aleksii II of Moscow has said this should be resolved “delicately.” It is this same Yuri Lukhkov who is to present an award to Metropolitan Lavr in Moscow this month. The official published report on the ROCOR website (13/12/07) of a Synod meeting states: “The bishops then heard a letter read by Fr Serafim from the Head of the Department of International Trade and Relations of Moscow, GL Muradov, in which, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy, he invites Metropolitan Laurus to the Russian capital in order to receive the “Compatriot of the Year 2007” award from the International Council of Russian Compatriots. This prize was established in 2003 and is awarded to eminent figures who live outside of Russia. The award is ceremoniously granted in person to the winner by the Mayor of Moscow (Yuri Luzhkov) and the Chairman of the Presidium of the ICRC, Count PP Sheremetiev, along with representatives of legislative and executive bodies of Russia. The Synod asked Vladyka Laurus to accept this award in late February of next year and to send a delegation consisting of himself; Bishop Gabriel; Bishop Peter; Fr Serafim; Protodeacon Victor Lochmatov; Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky, the cell-attendant of the First Hierarch; and photographer GF Selinsky” (highlighting ours, spelling, syntax etc as in original).
MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE OUTREACH TO CHINESE ORTHODOX
INTERFAX (27/12/07) reports that the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (MP) took a decision at its winter session stressing the need to continue the efforts taken by the Department for External Church Relations in the dialogue with the Chinese, to normalize the situation of the Orthodox Church in China. “‘Under difficult conditions, numerous Orthodox believers in China have retained the Christian faith and canonical tie with the Mother, Russian Orthodox Church,’ the session participants said, and their opinion is cited in the Synod’s final documents. The Russian spiritual mission had been effective in China since 1713 and was abolished for political reasons in 1954. In 1956, [the] Russian Synod granted autonomy to the Chinese Orthodox Church and appointed Archimandrite Vasily for the Beijing diocese. Following the latter’s death in 1962, the Chinese Orthodox Church fell into decay. In 1997, the Synod of the Russian Church said that under existing circumstances, [the] Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II would provide for the Orthodox Church congregation in China.”
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 
|
