Pope John Paul II on Saturday met with Russia's new envoy to the Holy See but the Vatican would not say whether a planned visit by the pope to Ukraine, which is opposed by the Russian Orthodox Church, was discussed.
Russian ambassador Vitaly Litvin also held talks with the Vatican's number two, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Ansa news agency reported.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II, warned Thursday that the visit which is to take place in June could further strain relations between his church and the Vatican.
Alexy II appeared particularly concerned that the head of the Roman Catholic Church could to meet representatives of the Kiev patriarchate which has split away from the Moscow patriarchate.
The papal visit to Kiev has split the Orthodox community, already divided into Russian and Ukrainian branches, while the Russian Orthodox Church has already blocked a proposed visit by the pope to Russia because of what it sees as Catholic proselytism in the heartlands of Orthodoxy after the demise of communism in the Soviet Union.
Alexy II reaffirmed his willingness to meet the pope on condition that the two main issues dividing the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches -- alleged Catholic proselytism and the situation in Ukraine -- were resolved.
Pope John Paul II has also upset Orthodox sensibilities in Greece, which he is scheduled to visit on May 4-5.
The visit will be the first by a pontiff to the overwhelmingly Orthodox country.
On Friday, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Avdeyev said the controversy was discussed by Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov with John Paul II during his visit to the Vatican in February.
At the time, there had been no word about the contents of the talks. (Copyright 2001 Agence France Presse, posted 1 April 2001)
The Georgian parliament at a session on Friday introduced amendments and additions to the country's constitution according to which the relations between the Georgian state and the Georgian Orthodox church will be determined by a constitutional agreement.
As a RIA Novosti correspondent reports, the constitution also will contain the provision that the state declares full freedom of confession and religion while it recognizes the special role of the Georgian Orthodox church in the history of Georgia and the independence of the church from the state. There were 188 deputies voting in favor of the proposed draft of changes in the constitution, representing both the ruling party and the opposition.
Parliament Chairman Zurab Zhvaniia noted that the changes in the constitution were adopted by the deputies "with a rare unanimity." In his words, "the Georgian state is concerned that without discrimination against other religious confessions the Georgian Orthodox church become stronger and more competitive, the more so in that recently the onslaught of religions alien to the Georgian people has become more overt and aggressive."
According to Zurab Zhvaniia, "schism on religious basis could evoke very serious and far reaching consequences." The pattern of the constitutional agreement between the state and church, he noted, serves not so much the interests of the church as the interests of the state.
A group of parliamentarians and representatives of the Georgian patriarchate worked on preparing the constitutional agreement between state and church for several months. At the present time the draft of the agreement has been sent to expert analysts at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and their conclusion will be presented to the Georgian parliament in May. The agreement between the state and church should be signed by the president of Georgia and the catholicos-patriarch of all-Georgia and them be ratified by a two-thirds vote of the deputies in the parliament of the country. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 April 2001)
GEORGIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH GIVEN SPECIAL ROLE IN SOCIETY
Interfax News Agency, 30 March 2001
The Georgian parliament at a plenary session on Friday passed a bill on entering amendments in the national constitution giving the Orthodox Church a special role to play in society. In accordance with the endorsed amendments, the Church is independent from the state and deals with it on the basis of an appropriate accord.
The Georgian president's parliamentary secretary Dzhony Khetsuriani has said the amendments do not mean that Orthodox Christianity has been declared a national religion in Georgia even though lots of countries, European among them, could be cited on this score.
He said the amendments concerning the Georgian Orthodox Church's status do not infringe on human rights in the country in any way and meet all international provisions and norms in the field of human rights and freedoms.
Once this bill had been passed, the parliament began to debate the issue of religious extremism, which has become an embarrassing problem for Georgia in recent time. This concerns unlawful actions by priest Vasil Mklavishvili excommunicated from the Georgian Orthodox Church and about 1,000 of his followers, regularly raiding the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, Evangelists, and other believers.
The parliament adopted a ruling condemning the manifestations of any religious violence and instructed the law enforcement agencies to apply the strictest measures to religious extremists.
Meanwhile, as the parliament debated the religious extremism issue, Mklavishvili was summoned to the prosecutor's office in Tbilisi for questioning on Friday. He was charged on seven concrete facts of beating sect members and burning their literature in public. Until now, Georgian police and the prosecutor's office had turned a blind eye to actions by the former clergyman and his followers, which have been going on for almost two years. (Copyright 2001 Interfax News Agency, posted 1 April 2001)
The Novosibirsk diocese of RPTs has responded with a categorical refusal of an invitation to participate in the annual Siberian religious exhibit being conducted under the rubric "Siberian Fair," the Blagovest-info news agency reports. According to the report from the Alexander Nevsky Brotherhood, which operates within the cathedral church of the Novosibirsk diocese of RPTs, the reason for the refusal to participate in the exhibit was the inclusion in it of representatives of "totalitarian sects."
The RPTs diocese includes among the "totalitarian sects" who are participating this year the Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), Rerikh society, followers of the neo-pagan "Ura" cult and of Yoga, as well as Evangelical Christians-Baptists, the Russian Bible Society (which is headed by an RPTs cleric), and the Roman Catholic church.
As representatives of the Alexander Nevsky Brotherhood explained, "totalitarian sects" exhibited at "Siberian Fair" in 1999 and 2000, although the organizers of the exhibit for this year promised the diocese that "sectarians" will not be at the faith. However the brotherhood notes that the leadership of "Siberian Fair" has violated its promise.
In connection with this the report from the Alexander Nevsky Brotherhood says that, with the blessing of the ruling Archbishop Tikhon of Novosibirsk diocese of RPTs, "all Orthodox parishes and Orthodox organizations have cancelled their applications to participate" in the annual Siberian religious exhibit. "The decision not to participate in any way in the events along with members of totalitarian sects," the brotherhood members continue, "was evoked by the fact that this undoubtedly would be viewed as our recognition of these sects and approval of them." (tr. by PDS, posted 30 March 2001)
RUSSIAN M.I.D. EXPRESSES "CONCERN" OVER POPE'S PLANS TO VISIT UKRAINE
NTV, 30
March 2001
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (M.I.D.), through the Russian federation's representation in the Vatican and the Vatican's representation in Moscow, has expressed to the leadership of the Holy See Russia's concern in connection with the plans for the Roman pope to visit Ukraine, ITAR-TASS reports. This was reported on Friday by the press service of the State Duma, quoting the first deputy minister of foreign affairs of Russia, Alexander Avdeev. According to the Russian diplomat, this question "was raised frankly by the prime minister of RF, Mikhail Kasianov, in the course of meeting with John Paul II."
At the time of his visit in Italy this month the Russian prime minister, following established international practice, visited the Vatican, where he met with the pope as a head of state. In the course of the conversation the topic of inter-church dialogue was raised. "This was done in a sensitive manner, in accordance with the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state," Alexander Avdeev noted.
The M.I.D. position, in his words, is that such relations between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches should be conducted properly and should be based on equality of rights without harming the interests of RPTs. The press service indicated that the first deputy minister of foreign affairs' report was the consequence of the instructions by the State Duma, whose deputies had expressed "concern over the expansion of Catholicism on the territory of Russia." (tr. by PDS, posted 30 March 2001)
PATRIARCH ALEXIS THINKS RIGHTS OF ORTHODOX BELIEVERS INFRINGED IN UKRAINE
ITAR-TASS, Pravoslavie.ru,
29 March 2001
His Holiness Patriarch Alexis criticized today the state authorities of Ukraine for planning an ostentatious meeting with the Roman pope against the backdrop of the infringement of the rights of Orthodox believers. He stated that in Ukraine "there is no parity and equality of religious confessions whatever, and apparently there isn't going to be." The primate of the church said this at the annual meeting of the International Foundation of Orthodox Peoples.
The patriarch considers that "the arrival of the Vatican chief in Ukraine has a particular purpose, the recognition of the existing status quo in which churches in western Ukraine have been taken from Orthodox believers by force." "And neither the Vatican nor the secular authorities of Ukraine have done anything to control this situation," the primate of the church said. Patriarch Alexis recalled that the episcopate of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox church has spoken out against the pope's visit and they do not intend to have any meetings with him. The arrival of the pontiff "will only worsen relations with the Roman Catholic church, which are already complex without it," the most holy patriarch said. (tr. by PDS, posted 30 March 2001)
PATRIARCH ALEXIS PROPOSES JOINT TRIP WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN TO VALAAM
ITAR-TASS/Sobornost,
30 March 2001
Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and all-Rus invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to make a pilgrimage journey to Valaam in July of this year to participate in the patronal feast of the most ancient Transfiguration of the Savior cloister. This was reported by the primate of the Russian church on 29 March while he addressed the annual meeting of the International Foundation of Unity of Orthodox Peoples, which is conducting a special patriarchal program for full restoration of the cloister. (tr. by PDS, posted 30 March 2001)
POPE'S UKRAINE VISIT A DANGER TO RELATIONS: PATRIARCH
Agence France Presse, 29 March 2001
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II, warned Thursday that a planned visit by Pope John Paul II to Ukraine could further strain relations between his church and the Vatican.
Addressing the Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples in Moscow, Alexy II expressed concern that the pope, who is expected to travel to Ukraine in June, was planning to meet representatives of the Kiev patriarchate which has split away from the Moscow patriarchate, the Interfax news agency said.
The planned papal visit has split the Orthodox community, already divided into Russian and Ukrainian branches, while the Russian Orthodox Church has already blocked a proposed papal visit to Russia because of what it sees as Catholic proselytism in the heartlands of Orthodoxy.
The patriarch evoked the fierce disputes -- sometimes boiling over into violence -- that have pitted the Greek Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox communities in western Ukraine against each other since the early 1990s.
Accusing the Greek Catholics of destroying Orthodox churches and driving worshippers from churches, he said such actions "could have been understood if they had taken place in medieval times, but it happened at the end of the 20th century."
A visit by the pope risked consolidating a status quo with which the Russian Orthodox church did not agree, he said.
The Russian Orthodox Church has on several occasions expressed opposition to the pope's forthcoming trip to Ukraine, saying it would "complicate" relations.
Alexy II reaffirmed his willingness to meet the pope on condition that the two main issues dividing the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches -- alleged Catholic proselytism and the situation in Ukraine were resolved.
Such a historic event "should be well-prepared and this requires the removal of obstacles that exist today," he said.
Speaking to the press later he said also that the Russian Orthodox church may appeal to world opinion to protest against what he called the seizure by Greek monks of a Russian Orthodox cloister on Mount Athos, in Greece.
He said the cloister was part of the oldest seat of the Russian church, Russian monasticism having started there, and that the Orthodox church "cannot give in to such a seizure."
Pope John Paul II has also upset Orthodox sensibilities in Greece, which he is scheduled to visit on May 4-5.
The visit will be the first ever by the head of the Roman Catholic Church to the overwhelmingly Orthodox country. (Copyright 2001 Agence France Presse, posted 30 March 2001)
UKRAINIAN PUBLIC ORGANIZATION CALLS CONSTANTINOPLE PATRIARCH TO LEAVE
UKRAINE IN PEACE
Pravoslavie.ru,
28 March 2001
The Ukrainian "United Fatherland" public regional organization issued an appeal on 27 March to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. The document states specifically, "We, members of the 'United Fatherland' organization, residents of city and province of Odessa, faithful children of RPTs, fully associate ourselves with appeals to you from all organizations, brotherhoods, parties, deputy groups, and simple citizens of Ukraine asking you to stop interferring in the affairs of RPTs-UPTs MP."
The authors of the appeal remind Patriarch Bartholomew that the canonical territory of the Moscow patriarchate has its own hierarchy and "our episcopate does not need a mediator for healing the wounds to the body of mother church which have been made by schismatics," whom, in the opinion of the writers, Constantinople is trying to legitimize.
"The overwhelming majority of believers of Ukraine are children of UPTsMP while in our Novorossiisk region the schismatics are dragging out a miserable existence, despite help from the West," the Orthodox Ukrainians stress. Appealing to the Constantinople patriarch, the authors of the appeal conclude: "The sooner you leave our church in peace, the more quickly will the schism in Ukraine be overcome."
The by-laws of the "United Fatherland" public organization state that it is an "association of enterprises, citizens, societies, movements, brotherhoods, etc., in support of the Russian-speaking population of the region which has as its goal the elevation of the role of the Russian diaspora on the territory of the historic region of Novorossiia (Odessa, Crimea, Nikolaev, Kherson, Zaporozhie, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkov) in defense of the interests of the Russian-speaking citizens in public, religious, political, and economic life." (tr. by PDS, posted 30 March 2001)
EXPERTS OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT
ON AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE
RIA
OREANDA, 30 March 2001
Experts of the Council of Europe Department for Human Rights have presented recommendations on the draft of a constitutional agreement between the Georgian Orthodox church and the state to the Georgian parliament. As reported on Thursday evening at a press conference by Vice-speaker of the Georgian parliament Gigi Tsereteli, who visited Strasbourg last week, the Council of Europe approved the idea of concluding such an agreement, but recommended to bring the provisions of this document into line with international standards of protection of rights.
A negative backdrop for the meetings being held in Strasbourg, Tsereteli said, was created by information at the disposal of the Council of Europe regarding attacks by adherenets of excommunicated priest Vasily Mkalavishvili upon representatives of religious minorities in Tbilisi. Gigi Tsereteli thinks that it is necessary that measures for ending manifestations of religious extremism be adopted immediately in the country. Otherwise, serious problems in international relations will arise for Georgia, he said.
According to our correspondent's report, a review in parliament of the constitutional agreement between church and state is planned for Friday, 30 March. (tr. by PDS, posted 30 March 2001)
Considering its aesthetic uniqueness and architectural and historical significance, it is unfortunate that the Sretensky [Presentation--RRN] Monastery is not rated among the city's better-known churches. Indeed, its not only unfortunate, but surprising - given its role not only as a symbol of Russia's victory over the Mongol invaders and Moscow's rise to prominence, but also its use as a parking lot and dormitory for the KGB. Based on the word sreteniye, the old Slavic word for vstrecha, or meeting, the Sretensky Monastery was built on the site where the Moscow masses came out to meet a sacred icon on its way from Vladimir. This "meeting" took place in 1395, when the Mother of God of Vladimir icon was being transported from the Uspensky Cathedral in Vladimir, the former capital of Russia.
The icon itself - one of Russia's most revered works of religious art, now restored and hanging in the Tretyakov Gallery - is steeped in legend. According to Russian Orthodox belief, the icon was painted by the evangelist Luke, author of one of the books of the New Testament.
Its move in 1395 was significant for two reasons. Not only did it indicate the rising authority of Moscow's nobility - thus securing the city's future governing role - but it coincided with the withdrawal of Tatar troops. According to legend, the image of the Madonna depicted in the icon appeared before Khan Tamerlane on his way to invade Moscow. While the leader of the Mongol troops was sleeping, the image told him to leave Russia. The fearful khan did as he was told, and Russia was saved.
The meeting of the icon took place on what was then the outskirts of town, where the Lubyanka metro station stands today. Its arrival, along with the concurrent release of Moscow, had such a spiritual and political impact that the date - Sept. 8, or Aug. 26, according to the old calendar - was commemorated every year, and Moscow's nobility ordered a cathedral to be built on the spot.
This date was commemorated with a day of feasting, during which a religious procession called the khrestny khod was conducted every year. The icon, safely ensconced in the Kremlin's Uspensky Cathedral, was carried out for these events and transported, albeit temporarily, to the Sretensky Monastery.
The protective powers of the sacred image continued to stand in the way of peril. Twice the icon is believed to have saved Moscow from invading Tatar troops. And in 1812 - on the same day the icon was originally transported to Moscow - an invading Napoleon was defeated at the battle of Borodino.
In the beginning of the 16th century, as Moscow began to expand, the monastery was moved from its original location to Ulitsa Sretenka. Its cathedral was later rebuilt in 1679 on the ruins of the original church. A favorite stopping point of royalty and religious pilgrims, it grew fabulously wealthy from visitors in search of divine support.
Sadly, the glory days of the monastery are gone. But even with most of its architectural monuments lost or destroyed, the church still continues to impress.
Entering through a small arch - once topped with a grand baroque bell tower - you leave behind noisy city streets as if passing through a time warp into a calmer, quieter Russia. The imposing Sretensky Cathedral dominates the grounds. The building itself is quite original among Moscow churches. Unlike the more typical taste of the times, when religious buildings were subject to exaggerated ornateness, its walls reflect relative minimalism. Aside from the traditional pilasters, the exterior is streamlined to lack additional adornments. Even more unusual is the cathedral's single cupola. While four additional cupolas appear on the outside, they are purely decorative - only the central one can be seen from the inside. Such cupolas were traditionally supported by four to six pillars, but the Sretensky Cathedral boasts only two.
Sadly, the church fell into a state of disrepair after decades of neglect in the Soviet era. Its iconostasis disappeared in the 1930s, while other classic elements were stripped away and shipped off to museums, including an 8-meter -high wooden crucifix. Nonetheless, the frescos that still grace the interior walls are remarkable. Painted in 1707, the saintly figures are more consistent with the style of the early 17th century.
In the late 1920s, two of the monastery chapels and its grand bell tower were destroyed under the Bolsheviks' attempt to erase the past and build new housing for its new proletarian capital. Only the cathedral was spared. Situated a stone's throw from the offices of the secret police on 19 Ulitsa Bolshaya Lubyanka, the church conveniently served as a dormitory for KGB officers. When the secret police were granted better housing, the church was turned into a parking garage until, during Perestroika, it was placed in the more capable hands of government restoration workers.
In 1991, the Sretensky Cathedral was given back to the Russian Orthodox Church. It is a working monastery once again, with as many as 70 monks now living in its cells. In recent years the church has managed to resurrect some of the monastery's past glory. A beautiful bell tower and sections of the monastery wall have been reconstructed alongside the cathedral.
Furthermore, the church made an unexpected addition to the cathedral several years ago when Father Tikhon, head of the monastery, returned from the United States with a copy of the Shroud of Turin, the sacred cloth with the likeness of Jesus Christ. The cloth now rests behind a glass case inside the cathedral.
Visiting Tips The Sretensky Monastery is located at 19 Bolshaya Lubyanka. The nearest metro stations are Lubyanka, Kuznetsky Most and Chistiye Prudy.
Sergei Nikitin is the editor in chief of Stolypino homewards internet, a web site focusing on Russian culture (www.stolypino.narod.ru). He welcomes comments and questions about Moscow architecture at postmodernidze@imail.ru (Copyright 2001 Independent Press, posted 30 March 2001)
If material is quoted, please give credit to the publication
from which it came.
It is not necessary to credit this Web page. If material
is transmitted electronically, please include reference to the URL, http://www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/.