Posted on 05/28/2016 4:36:08 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos on mount Athos sat in the chair, which previously could only occupy the Byzantine emperors. Putin said about the need to “strengthen the spiritual power of all the Orthodox” and declared the Greek mountain “a source of well-being and grace” for the Russian Orthodox world.
Putin visited Athos, having participated in events in honor of the 1000th anniversary of the appearance of Russian monks on the Holy mountain. On the website of the Kremlin promptly a photo gallery, and Greek TV covered the trip live. As notes “Ribbon.”, thanks to the spiritual life of the head of state was put on public display, which usually happens.
Putin on mount Athos visited the Church of the assumption of the blessed virgin, where was celebrated a short prayer service, during which was prayed with supplication for the health, life and mercy the servant of God of Vladimir with the family and those around him, reports TASS. After this welcome address said the Holy mountain protopectin father Paul.
In response, Putin thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch and the primates of the Greek Orthodox Church for what they do to maintain relations with the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian people. “I’m here for the second time and always feel a special warmth, kindness and the best attitude not only to me, as the head of the Russian state and the Russian people, the people as a whole”, – said the President of Russia.
He also noted that on the Holy mountain is very important and very necessary for the Orthodox world an act” associated with the strengthening of the moral foundations of society: “To a large extent you are the source of well-being and grace”.
The President noted that Russia and Athos have long had a close religious bond, the Athonite tradition played a significant role in the life of the Russian people, and in our days the interest of Russia to mount Athos continues unabated, and more recently with the active participation of the Russian Orthodox Church and philanthropists there is a restoration of historical sites associated with the Russian presence on the Holy Mountain.
Putin also visited mount Athos on Russian Svyato-Panteleymonov monastery. The Russian President wished prosperity of the monastery, long life and good health to her brother: “I would Like to thank you Reverend father and the brethren of the monastery for the hospitality and the cordiality with which our meet here compatriots. You show us an example of following the principles of humanity, kindness and justice. These traditional and moral and cultural values are the measure of today’s moral and support for all of us and are important for the maintenance of peace, strengthen Russia, to preserve the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church”. (Quoted by “Interfax”.)
Putin on mount Athos sat on the throne of the Byzantine emperors, and declared the mountain a source of grace 29.05.2016
Trolling.
That's the word you're trying for.
Redecorating?
Putin may be a defender of Christians in the Middle East, but not in Ukraine. There were reports at the time of his invasion of Crimea that his government did not recognize the Ukrainian Catholic Church as legitimate (as opposed to the Ukrainian Orthodox) and I would guess that the situation would be the same for any Ukrainian Catholics in the Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine, but I haven’t heard any recent news about their treatment.
Yes, according to Herodotus (6.44):
"The fleet crossed over from Thasos to the mainland, where it hugged the coast and sailed up to Acanthus. From Acanthus they set out to round the headland at Athos, but they were caught there in a northerly gale against which it proved impossible to make headway. The storm wrought havoc with them and wrecked a large number of ships on Athos. It is said that about three hundred ships were destroyed, and over twenty thousand men. The men died in various ways: some were seized by the sharks that infest the sea around Mount Athos, others were dashed on to the rocks, others drowned because they did not know how to swim, and others died because of cold."
I should have written “When he visited W in Crawford, Texas, Putin said he was an atheist”. Oh, wait. Did I just say that Putin said W was an atheist?
How’s this? “Putin said he was an atheist when he visited W. in....” Nope. He’s still calling W an atheist.
“Putin said he was an atheist. He once visited W in Crawford, Texas.” Will that work?
Putin said he WAS an atheist but I don’t know what he is now.
Thanks.
It’s world turned upside down when the President of Russia is morally superior and cares more for his country than our (quote unquote) president.
Russian TV's weekly news review shows Putin on Mount Athos on "honored throne..used by Byzantine emperors" pic.twitter.com/BysvwpPO3X— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) May 29, 2016
Yes, it is.
Even if we believe that Putin is mostly interested in using the Russian Orthodox Church for political purposes, that is a HUGE development. For most of the last millennium of Russian history (and for that matter, the last millennium and a half of European history) monarchs have regarded Christianity as a useful way to get people to control themselves and act in orderly ways so the government wouldn't have to impose order.
Go take a look at this thread as another example of the rising role of Russian Orthodoxy in modern post-Communist Russia: http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3434424/posts
I am not Eastern Orthodox. I have reasons for not being Eastern Orthodox. Religiously-tinged nationalism has very major problems, and subjecting both the church and the faith to the purposes of nationalistic leaders has been the pattern of Eastern Orthodoxy for much of its history, but that pattern is far better than godless atheism which actively promotes gross immorality.
Even if Putin still thinks religion is the opiate of the people, he seems to understand the ability of religion to unify the Russian spirit.
That would make Putin far better than too many American politicians.
And if Putin really is a believer — well, the Eastern Orthodox certainly understand the ability of someone like Constantine, at the helm of an empire, to completely change the course of world history. America has no eternal promise of divine favor, but we do have a promise that God will hold accountable those to whom much has been given, and will severely rebuke those who turn away from Him. God is just as capable of raising up a Russian president for His purposes as He is of severely rebuking Americans by sending us the sort of leaders we deserve for our deliberate rebellion against Him.
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