RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS

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In one of first presidential acts, Putin turns to religious groups

BY UKAZ OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT "100 BOOKS" LIST FOR EXTRACURRICULAR READING TO BE FORMED TAKING ACCOUNT OF RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS' OPINION
Religiia i pravo, 10 May 2012

A "100 Books" list for schoolchildren will be created, taking into account the opinion of religious associations. This is stated in an ukaz of the president of the Russian federation of 7 May 2012 "Concerning ensuring inter-ethnic harmony," effective 9 May 2012.

In particular, the ukaz says: "In order to achieve harmonization of inter-ethnic relations, strengthening of the unity of the multinational nation of the Russian federation, and ensuring of conditions for its complete development I decree:
. . . by September 2012, the development, in agreement with the Russian Academy of Sciences and interested public associations and religious organizations, of suggestions for creating a list of books, including those on the history, literature, and culture of the peoples of the Russian federation, recommended to schoolchildren for independent reading ("100 Books" list).

In addition, the Presidential Administration of the Russian federation, in conjunction with the government of the Russian federation, is ordered to prepare by 1 June 2012 suggestions concerning the formation in the Presidential Administration of a council on inter-ethnic relations, and by 1 December 2012 to develop and approve a Strategy for State Ethnic Policy of the Russian federation.

It is suggested to intensify work on combating inter-ethnic and religious extremism. By November 2012 it is suggested to conduct the development of a complex of measures directed to the improvement of work of government bodies of the Russian federation for preventing inter-ethnic conflicts, including creation of effective mechanisms of the regulation and systematic monitoring of the condition of inter-ethnic relations, and also for activating work on combating manifestations of national and religious extremism and curtailment of the activity of organized criminal groups that are formed on ethnic bases; the introduction of a required examination on Russian language, Russian history, and the basics of the legislation of the Russian federation for migrant workers, with the exception of highly-skilled specialists.

Roman Lunkin, senior fellow of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences and analyst of the "Sreda" service, emphasizes that a broad discussion of the list of literature for schoolchildren for extracurricular reading will actually provide a basis for comprehensive education of pupils and the formation of a foundation for a common Russian culture in our country. The value of a Putin canon of "100 Books" is that this is a way to cement the unity of the country. However, Roman Lunkin noted, one must not go overboard, as in everything; in each region of Russia the list might vary depending on the culture of one or another territory. The participation of religious associations in the discussion of the list fully accords with both the legislation of RF and the constitutional provisions on freedom of conscience. Finally the state will take into account the opinion of all institutions of civil society. (tr. by PDS, posted 10 May 2012)

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Moscow and Kiev prelates renew communication

HIS BEATITUDE METROPOLITAN VLADIMIR CONDUCTS PHONE CONVERSATION WITH HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH KIRILL
Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 9 May 2012

On 8 May a telephone conversation was conducted between Metropolitan Vladimir and Patriarch Kirill.

In particular, during the conversation His Beatitude gave the patriarch Eastern and Victory Day greetings. Metropolitan Vladimir also described the life of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the session of the Holy Synod of UPTs which was held that day.

In his turn, His Holiness Patriarch noted that His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir has returned completely to exercising the duties of the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In concluding the conversation, Patriarch Kirill wished His Beatitude strength and success in future ministry, noting that "You as a peacemaker are needed by our church as never before." (tr. by PDS, posted 10 May 2012)

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New searches among Orenburg Jehovah's Witnesses

POWER AGENCIES PERSECUTE BELIEVERS
Press Service of Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, 10 May 2012

Early in the morning of 4 May 2012 the forces of law enforcement agencies of Orenburg province were thrust against peaceful and law-abiding citizens. In five cities—Buguruslan, Buzuluk, Orenburg, Orsk, and Yasnoe—at least 16 searches in houses of worship of Jehovah's Witnesses and private homes of believers were conducted. In a number of cases agents of special services in masks jumped over fences, broke down doors, smashed windows, and invaded residences. In at least one case an elderly woman needed help from an ambulance crew.

During the searches personal belongings and valuables, items of personal and family matters, digital media and equipment, and also the contents of personal libraries were confiscated from believers. Believers' requests to leave at least one Bible were ignored.

According to official explanations from the Investigative Committee of Orenburg province, the 3,000-strong community of local Jehovah's Witnesses is charged with "inciting religious enmity" from June 1994 to April 2012. Meanwhile in 2011 the governor of the province officially reported that in the region circumstances in the sphere of interconfessional relations "are on the whole stable" and "do not arouse special concern" and that "over 70 percent of [Orenburgers] questioned characterize relations among people of different confessions as good."

"The absurdity of the accusations against Jehovah's Witnesses is obvious to everybody except Orenburg detectives," says attorney Viktor Zhenkov. "In a number of regions law enforcement agencies, figuring things out, have themselves closed criminal cases which had been begun with such massive searches and noisy 'revelations.' The case brought to trial in Gorno-Altai ended with an acquittal. Even in Orenburg itself the investigator has issued more than one refusal to open a criminal case. It is incomprehensible that his point of view has changed so drastically."

Chronicle of one of the 16 searches: 4 May 2012, Buguruslan. At 7:00 a.m., a group of 12 operatives arrived at the home of an elderly woman, A.F., who lives with her husband who has not gotten out of bed for three years, and also with their daughter, M.Ch., and grandson, I.Ch., a 3rd-class invalid. The woman herself has suffered several strokes and has Alzheimer's disease. Among the operatives were the chief of the Buguruslan investigative department, N. Svetlov, senior detective V. Makarov, detective E. Zaika, and others. While the search was being conducted in one building, a group of operatives, without notifying the owners, broke down the doors in a neighboring residence belonging to this family. There a search was conducted and material valuables were confiscated. If a protocol of the confiscation was drawn up, the believers were not given it for signature. The search of this family ended only at 10:00 p.m. (tr. by PDS, posted 10 May 2012)

Russian original posted on ReligioPolis site, 10 May 2012

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Did Putin really light a candle in church of his patron saint?

PATRIARCHAL PRESS SERVICE CONFUSED OVER NAME OF BAPTISMAL CHURCH IN NOVODEVICHY MONASTERY SUPPOSEDLY CONSECRATED "TO PUTIN'S HEAVENLY PATRON"
Portal-credo.ru, 9 May 2012

The name of the baptismal church on the Novodevichy monastery in Moscow was suddenly edited on the official website of the Moscow patrarchate on 8 May, which gave bloggers occasion to compare this story with the epic of the watch of Patriarch Kirill, which was partially erased by "Photoshop" after the head of RPTsMP declared that he had not worn it before July 2010.

After publication of an article about the baptismal church of Novodevichy monastery on "Echo of Moscow," the article about the Novodevichy monastery on the official website of the Moscow patriarchate was suddenly edited. Nevertheless, an HTML version of a corresponding document from 22 April 2012 was preserved in a "cache" at the address: http://hghltd.yandex.net/yandbtm?text=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.patriarchia.ru%2Fdb%2Ftext%2F445769.html&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.patriarchia.ru%2Fdb%2Ftext%2F445769.html&fmode=inject&mime=html&l10n=ru&sign=b6c3f88ee21ab5c39b047ed6e559d177&keyno=0

The original version of the document indicates that in the Novodevichy monastery there is only a baptismal church of St. Daniel of Moscow, built in 1982, and there is no "baptismal church of Saint Prince Equal-to-the-apostles Vladimir," which was presented to Putin in connection with his visit to the monastery on 6 May.

"It is a pity that the press service of Patriarch Kirill continues to commit such horrendous mistakes and to multiply transgression," the moderator of the community of experts of the Andrei Rublev Museum of Ancient Russian Art summarized on 8 May.  (tr. by PDS, posted 9 May 2012)

Information from RRN

The official website of the Moscow patriarchate displayed the following information about the churches and chapels of the Novodechy monastery, until 8 May 2012. On the third and fourth lines are the words "in the baptismal church --- of the blessed Pr[ince] Daniil of Moscow."   (link to webpage)

Храмы и часовни

Соборный храм Смоленской иконы Божией Матери (1524-1525 гг., архит. Алевиз Фрязин (?), фрески 1526-1530 гг., иконостас 1683-1686 гг.) с приделами апп. Прохора и Никанора, чуда Архангела Михаила, мцц. Веры, Надежды, Любови и матери их Софии;
храм Успения Пресвятой Богородицы с трапезной (1685-1687 гг.), приставной придел — ап. Иоанна Богослова, в крестильном храме — блгв. кн. Даниила Московского, в верхнем этаже главного храма — Сошествия Св. Духа;
храм Спаса Преображения над северными воротами (1687-1689 гг.);
храм Покрова Пресвятой Богородицы над южными воротами (1683-1688 гг.);
храм прпп. Варлаама и Иоасафа под колокольней (1689-1690 гг., выс. 72 м.);
храм свт. Амвросия Медиоланского (кон. XVI-XVII вв.);
храм св. ап. Иоанна Богослова (средний ярус колокольни);
часовня свт. Николая в северо-восточной башне (устроена в 1752 г.);
часовня-усыпальница Прохоровых (1911 г.).


As of 8 May, the words on the third and fourth lines are "in the baptismal church -- of St. equal-to-the-ap[ostles] Prince Vladimir."   (link to webpage)

Храмы и часовни

Соборный храм Смоленской иконы Божией Матери (1524-1525 гг., архит. Алевиз Фрязин (?), фрески 1526-1530 гг., иконостас 1683-1686 гг.) с приделами апп. Прохора и Никанора, чуда Архангела Михаила, мцц. Веры, Надежды, Любови и матери их Софии;
храм Успения Пресвятой Богородицы с трапезной (1685-1687 гг.), приставной придел — ап. Иоанна Богослова, в крестильном храме — св. равноап. князя Владимира, в верхнем этаже главного храма — Сошествия Св. Духа;
храм Спаса Преображения над северными воротами (1687-1689 гг.);
храм Покрова Пресвятой Богородицы над южными воротами (1683-1688 гг.);
храм прпп. Варлаама и Иоасафа под колокольней (1689-1690 гг., выс. 72 м.);
храм свт. Амвросия Медиоланского (кон. XVI-XVII вв.);
храм св. ап. Иоанна Богослова (средний ярус колокольни);
часовня свт. Николая в северо-восточной башне (устроена в 1752 г.);
часовня-усыпальница Прохоровых (1911 г.).

Original story:      "On eve of inauguration Putin donates icon to church "  6 May 2012

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Metropolitan Vladimir reclaims control of Ukrainian Orthodox Church

SYNOD OF UPTsMP RESTORES ALL AUTHORITY TO METROPOLITAN VLADIMIR
RISU, 9 May 2012

The synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow patriarchate (UPTsMP), which was held yesterday under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Vladimir, rescinded its previous decisions that had been taken at the end of last year and the beginning of this year. In particular, the bishops of UPTsMP suspended the action of the decree according to which, for the period of the illness of Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine Vladimir, Metropolitan of Odessa and Ismail Agafangel was authorized to preside at sessions of the synod.

According to information on the official website of UPTsMP, yesterday's synod also suspended the action of a number of decrees of 23 December 2011 which provided for collegial administration of the Kiev diocese during the time of Metropolitan Vladimir's illness and for creation of an auditing commission headed by Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl Pavel for monitoring the financial and economic activity of the Kiev metropolia of UPTsMP.

In addition, the synod of UPTsMP rescinded its previous decision that provided for Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl Pavel, vicar-abbot of the Holy Dormition Kiev Caves lavra, to temporarily administer the Kiev diocese.

Participants in the session of the synod, which was held in the Kiev Caves lavra, included Metroolitan of Odessa and Izmail Agafangel, Metroplitan of Lugansk and Alchevsk Ioannikii, Metropolitan of Chernovitsy and Bukovina Onufrii, Metropolitan of Donetsk and Mariupol Ilarion, Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl Pavel, Metropolitan of Simferopol and Crimea Lazar, Archbishop of Khust and Vinogradov Mark, Archbishop of Belaia Tserkov and Boguslav Mitrofan, Archbishop of Chernigov and Novgorod-Seversk Amvrosii, Archbishop of Zhitomir and Novograd-Volynskii Nikodim, and Bishop of Berdiansk and Primore Elisei.

At the beginning of the session, the primate of UPTsMP addressed the hierarchs with an opening speech in which he thanked everyone who prayed and stood with him during his illness:  "I greet you on the holiday of Pascha, which has already passed, and I wish that Christ may not leave us in our tasks, thoughts, and hearts. I want to bow to all who stood with me during my illness—bishops, fathers, and laity, and I wish that the Lord may bless them for this." (tr. by PDS, posted 9 May 2012)


PERSONNEL CHANGES IN UPTsMP LEADERSHIP
RISU, 9 May 2012

The synod of bishops of UPTsMP made personnel changes in its governing bodies, at yesterday's session. In particular, as the official website of UPTsMP reports, the synod of bishops named Archbishop of Borispol Antonii chief of staff of UPTsMP, relieving him of the responsibilities of chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of UPTsMP. Antonii replaced Archbishop of Belaia Tserkov and Boguslav Mitrofan in this position. Archbishop Mitrofan was named chairman of the Department of External Church relations and remained a permanent member of the Holy Synod and he was thanked for many years of work.

The synod of bishop of UPTsMP also decided to name Archbishop Antonii a permanent member of the Holy Synod.

In addition to the basic responsibilities assigned to him as chief of staff of UPTs and stipulated in the By-laws for Administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, he was instructed to supervise the activity of church institutions created by the Holy Synod and to represent the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in state, public, and church events and to be responsible for inter-Christian and inter-religious relations of UPTsMP.  (tr. by PDS, posted 9 May 2012)


UPTsMP SYNOD RESCINDS PREVIOUS SYNOD DECISIONS, REPLACES CHAIRMAN OF OVTsS AND CONDEMNS PUBLICATIONS OF ARCHBISHOP IONAFAN
Portal-credo.ru, 9 May 2012

On 8 May in the Kiev Caves lavra, a session of the Holy Synod of UPTsMP, chaired by the primate who has returned to church administration, began with the cancellation of a number of decisions of sessions of the synod that were held without the participation of the primate, Metropolitan Vladimir, a Portal-credo.ru correspondent reports.

Three decisions adopted on 23 December of last year were rescinded (concerning the temporary chairmanship of the synod of Metropolitan Agafangel, concerning administration of the Kiev diocese, and concerning monitoring of the financial and economic activity of the Kiev metropolia and diocese) and one decision of 26 January of this year was rescinded (for the temporary administration of the Kiev diocese).

The synod dismissed Archbishop of Borispol Antonii from the position of chairman of the Department for External Church Relations (OVTsS), naming him chief of staff of UPTsMP. The previous chief of staff of the church, Archbishop of Belaia Tserkov and Boguslav Mitrofan, was named to the post of chairman of OVTsS. The chief of staff was given a number of new responsibilities, specifically supervision of the activity of synodal institutions and representation of the primate of UPTsMP at state and public events, and responsibility for inter-Christian and inter-religious relations.

The celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Kharkov bishops' council and of the ministry of Metropolitan Vladimir in the see of Kiev will be held, by decision of the synod, from 27 May to 24 July of this year. An invitation for participation in the celebration was sent to Patriarch Kirill, whom the synod also asked to invite to the celebrations in Kiev primates of other local churches. It was also decided to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the day of the discovery of the relics of the holy new-martyr Metropolitan Vladimir and the establishment of the commemoration of the synaxis of New-Martyrs and Confessors of the twentieth century.

Metropolitan of Simferopol and Crimea Lazar, well known for his sympathies toward the process of establishing the independence of the Ukrainian church, was made a permanent member of the synod.

Due to numerous requests from clergy and laity of UPTsMP, the synod instructed the head of the Theological and Canonical Commission, Archbishop Avgustin, and other personnel of the metropolia to work out a draft of a document on the church's attitude toward passports and other documents that have electronic chips, the Ukrainian law "On protection of personal data," the implementation of juvenile justice in Ukraine, and the promotion of "same-sex relationships."

Archbishop of Lvov and Galicia Avgustin presented to the synod a report in which, specifically, he maintained that Archbishop of Tulchin and Bratslav Ionafan "posted on his official website articles that contain incorrect information, have an explicitly slanderous character, and promote disorder." Archbishop Ionafan had been unfrocked by the council of UPTsMP under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Filaret in 1991, but the next year the council of RPTsMP ruled this unfrocking illegal. On 8 May 2012 the synod alerted Archbishop Ionafan "to the above-cited violations of church discipline," and it also called to the attention of other bishops of UPTsMP "the need to study attentively and carefully information that is posted on diocesan web pages."

The synod approved for local veneration in Kherson diocese Hegumeness Smaragdqa, who died in 1935, and Eremite Ilya, who died in 1946, and it established the commemoration of the Podolsk icon of the Mother of God at the conclusion of Dormition. The local commemoration of St. Feofan of Rykhly (1881-1977) in Nezhin diocese was approved.

On the basis of a request from the abbot of the Russian St. Panteleimon monastery of the Holy Mount Athos, Archimandrite Ieremiia, the synod sent a letter to Patriarch Kirill with the request to approve the opening of an annex of this monastery in Kiev.

The synod approved the opening of the Holy Protection monastery in the city of Aleksandria and confirmed the ruling bishop of Aleksandria diocese of UPTsMP as its prior. (tr. by PDS, posted 9 May 2012)

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