RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


President Putin addresses Orthodox bishops

PUTIN SPEAKS OF EROSION OF TRADITIONAL VALUES IN THE WORLD

RIA Novosti, 1 December 2017

 

Today traditional values are being eroded in various countries and this is leading to the degradation and depersonalization of people, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared while addressing the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church (RPTs)

 

"We are already seeing today how traditional values are being eroded in many countries and this is leading to degradation, mutual alienation of society, and the depersonalization of people. Indifference, apathy, and the loss of moral focus turn into the growth of radicalism and xenophobia and of conflicts on religious grounds, and self-destructive egoism turns into aggressive nationalism," Putin said.

 

He said: "Extremists and ideologues of terrorism—the enemies of progress and all civilization—fill the spiritual vacuum." (tr. by PDS, posted 1 December 2017)

 

 

PUTIN HOPES THAT RPTs WILL HELP RESTORE SYRIA

RIA Novosti, 1 December 2017

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin is counting on the Russian Orthodox Church's (RPTs) cooperating in uniting the world community for the revival of Syria.

 

Putin emphasized that the RPTs knows how terrorists in Syria have persecuted Christians, destroyed churches, and killed priests.

 

"I am counting on the Russian Orthodox Church, based on its authority in the world, to provide effective cooperation in uniting the forces of the world community for the regeneration of Syria and for humanitarian aid for citizens and the restoration of destroyed cultural . . . centers," Putin said, addressing the Bishops' Council.

 

 He noted that he has conversed with Patriarch Kirill on this matter and he knows his position. "We are prepared to support all confessions and all Christian denominations—all without exception. Today we have this opportunity," Putin added. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 December 2017)

 

PUTIN IDENTIFIES PRIORITY AREAS OF COOPERATION OF STATE AND RPTs

RIA Novosti, 1 December 2017

 

The state is counting on the continuation of cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church in spheres of education, health care, and support of the family in the training of youth, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared while addressing the Bishops' Council.

 

"While respecting the autonomy and independence of the church, the state is counting on a continuation of our cooperation in such extremely important areas as education, health care, preservation of the cultural and historical heritage, and support of the family in education of youth," Putin said. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 December 2017)

 

 

PUTIN NOTES RPTs CONTRIBUTION TO STRENGTHENING INTER-RELIGIOUS PEACE

RIA Novosti, 1 December 2017

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin noted the commendable mission of the Russian Orthodox Church and its contribution to strengthening inter-ethnic and inter-religious peace.

 

"Today, as in all times, the Russian Orthodox Church worthily conducts its commendable and responsible mission and expands year to year its public and social ministry," Putin said, addressing the session of the RPTs Bishops' Council.

 

He said the Russian church also works fruitfully towards moral enlightenment and charity work and it provides help for elderly and needy people.

 

"The contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church in strengthening inter-ethnic and inter-religious peace and in the development of constructive dialogue and cooperation with other traditional religions of Russia deserves great respect," the president added. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 December 2017)

 

AT BISHOPS' COUNCIL PUTIN URGES REMEMBERING LESSONS OF THE PAST

RIA Novosti, 1 December 2017

 

The Moscow patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) showed "the way to attaining peace through fraternal forgiveness," by signing the Act of Canonical Communion in 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared.

 

"We should remember the lessons of the past and in order for society to develop confidently and harmoniously it is important to restore the unity of our history, heal the wounds, and clean up faults and intolerance," Putin said while addressing the session of the RPTs Bishops' Council.

 

"This path for attaining peace through mutual fraternal forgiveness was shown to us by the Moscow patriarchate and Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia by signing the Act on Canonical Communion in 2007," the president added.

 

The ROCOR arose in the 1920s and united the clergy that emigrated or were exiled after the revolution of 1917 and the civil war in Russia. In 2007 the Act of Canonical Communion was signed by the RPTs and ROCOR, making the ROCOR a self-administering part of the Russian Orthodox Church. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 December 2017)

 

PUTIN DECLARES THAT THE HOLY PRELATE TIKHON PERFORMED HEROIC FEAT

RIA Novosti, 1 December 2017

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin considers that the lifelong journey of the holy prelate Tikhon, who became patriarch in years that were extremely difficult for the country, was a heroic feat.

 

"The holy prelate Tikhon, at the time he took upon himself the mission of patriarchal ministry, certainly performed a heroic feat in the name of God, faith, and his nation. He realized that he was taking onto himself colossal personal responsibility in a period that was extremely difficult for the country, and he understood that he would confront not honor on the part of the new authorities but their open hostility and he understood what this would mean for him," Putin said, addressing the session of the Bishops' Council.

 

The holy prelate Tikhon (Belavin, 1865-1925)--the first Moscow patriarch from the time of the restoration of the patriarchate in Russia—was canonized in 1989. He spent the years of his ministry searching how to achieve a compromise between the church and the soviet regime. In the end, he was arrested. Until the end of his life, Patriarch Tikhon remained under surveillance. In December 1924 an assassination attempt was made on him, after which the holy prelate was laid up and he died in April 1925. To the present day he remains one of the most honored bishops who headed the Russian Orthodox Church. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 December 2017)

 

PUTIN TO ADDRESS RPTs BISHOPS' COUNCIL IN CHURCH OF CHRIST THE SAVIOR

RIA Novosti, 1 December 2017

 

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the session of the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church (RPTs) in the church of Christ the Savior in Moscow, the Kremlin press service reported previously.

 

Putin will attend the Bishops' Council for the first time; previously the president simply sent greetings to its participants.

 

"On 1 December Vladimir Putin will address the session of the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is being held these days in Moscow in the church of Christ the Savior and coincides with the 100th year of the restoration of the patriarchate in Russia," the report says.

 

As noted, bishops of the Moscow patriarchate from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizia, Latvia, Lithuania, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Estonia, and also countries of the far abroad, where dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church exist, are participating in the Bishops' Council, which is the supreme administrative body of the church.

 

The Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church opened on 29 November on Wednesday in the Moscow church of Christ the Savior. The Bishops' Council is being held on the centennial anniversary of the restoration of the patriarchate in Russia. In 1917 at a local council held in the Moscow Kremlin, Metropolitan Tikhon was elected patriarch of Moscow and all-Russia. He subsequently was included by the church among the saints. Before that, for more than 200 years, church administration in the Russian empire was conducted by the state in the person of the Holy Synod.

 

Patriarch Tikhon was persecuted for many years by the soviet regime and according to the official account he died from heart failure. The canonization of the patriarch was the first step toward glorification of the new Russian martyrs and new confessors who suffered in the years of revolutionary turmoil and bolshevik terror.

 

In the estimation of several experts, such a visit by the head of state on the centennial of the election to the patriarchal throne of the holy prelate who suffered from the soviet regime constitutes the restoration of historical justice. "Certainly this is attention by the state to the historical context in which the council occurred," said Vladimir Legoida, the chairman of the synodal Department for Relations of Church and Society and News Media.

 

The Bishops' Council represents a council of bishops who convene for discussion and resolution of issues and matters of doctrine and religious life, and moral questions, as well as the structure of church life.

 

The first church council was convened back in the year 59 in Jerusalem. The New Testament speaks about it. At this council the decision was made to abandon many Jewish customs. Many newly converted Christians of Israel continued to observe traditions and rituals of the Jewish people.

 

Council are divided into Ecumenical, in which representatives of all local churches participate, and Local, at which the hierarchs of a specific church gather. The Bishops' Council is a variant of the latter, with the only difference being that only the higher church episcopate participates in it. Before Peter I there was no division between local and bishops' church meetings; everybody, both bishops and influential clergy and even lay bureaucrats, participated in Russian councils.

 

According to the RPTs charter, the Bishops' Council is the supreme body of its administration. It is convened at least once in four years. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 December 2017)


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