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WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPT. 21, 2009 (Zenit.org)- Sometimes there are no fireworks. Turning points can pass in silence, almost unobserved. It may be that way with the "Great Schism," the most serious division in the history of the Church. The end of the schism may come more quickly and more unexpectedly than most imagine. On Sept. 18, inside Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer palace about 30 miles outside Rome, a Russian Orthodox Archbishop named Hilarion Alfeyev, 43 (a scholar, theologian, expert on the liturgy, composer and lover of music), met with Benedict XVI, 82 (also a scholar, theologian, expert on the...

St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. Zenit yesterday published a pair of articles that provide corroboration of Daily Blog entries posted last week by Edward Pentin here and here, indicating progress on the road to unity between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. One of the Zenit articles is an analysis by Robert Moynihan of Orthodox Archbishop HilarionÂ’s visit to Rome. Moynihan highlights the significance of the meeting that took place Sept. 18 between Archbishop Hilarion, who is chairman of the Department of External Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, and Pope Benedict XVI . Writes Moynihan, On Sept. 18, inside Castel Gandolfo,...

ROME, SEPT. 21, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Russian Orthodox Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev says there are so many reasons for Catholics and Orthodox to cooperate in our de-Christianized world that it is time to move past divisions and competition and exist in solidarity and mutual love. The archbishop affirmed this after he met in the Vatican on Friday with Benedict XVI and on Thursday with Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The cardinal invited the archbishop, who since March has been the chairman of the Department of External Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate. Archbishop Alfeyev was already...

Konstantin Preobrezhensky - Author, describes his life as a former Lt. Colonel in the KGB who worked before, during, and after the fall of the Soviet Union. In his book, he describes Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), Russia and the Press, and his personal experiences. This is the first in a series of extraordinary video interviews with former KGB officer Konstantin Preobrezhensky.

Metropolitan Laurus deceased http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=dujour&div=163 New York, March 16, Interfax – First hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Metropolitan Laurus of Eastern America and New York Diocese deceased on Sunday at the age of 80, the ROCOR website has reported. Metropolitan Laurus passed away on the Feast of Orthodoxy. He was born Vassily Mikhailovich Skurla on January 1, 1928, in the village of Ladomirova, present day Slovakia. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1950, and became a hieromonk in 1954. Fr. Laurus graduated from the Holy Trinity Theological Seminary in 1954 and was appointed its inspector in...

21 November 2007, 14:10 Russian Church may revise relations with WCC if liberal trends prevail - spokesman Moscow, November 21, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church might revise its relations with the World Council of Churches if liberal Protestant circles take the upper hand in that organization, the Moscow Patriarchate has said. "Everything will depend on how the World Council of Churches develops. At the present time, we see resolute steps against adopting documents which run counter to the Orthodox faith within the Council. The principle of gaining a consensus has been introduced for making the most important decisions," Moscow...

Metropolitan Herman greets ROCOR Metropolitan Laurus on anniversary Article posted: 9/6/2007 11:59 PM SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] -- His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, sent a letter of greeting to His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his consecration to the episcopacy. The text of the letter, dated September 3, 2007, reads as follows. "On this, the fortieth anniversary of Your Eminence's episcopal consecration, I extend to you, our brother and concelebrant, heartfelt greetings. Please also accept our prayers and congratulations. "Your Eminence's long service in the vineyard...

19 July 2007, 12:08 Same-Faith communities in USA delighted with revival of Orthodoxy in Russia and Russian believers’ respect for ROCOR Moscow, July 19, Interfax - A delegation of the Old Belief clergy, who maintain canonical communion with the Russian Church Outside Russia, have completed their week-long visit to Russia. They visited the Moscow Kremlin, the Church of Christ the Saviour, St. Sergius’s Laura of the Trinity and Same-Faith parishes in Moscow. ‘We were struck by the incredible rebirth of Orthodox life, evident in each place we had an opportunity to visit. This has inspired us to persuade Bishop Daniel...

06 July 2007, 12:13 Russian Church Outside Russia Synod gives last admonition to schismatic Bishop of Odessa New York, July 6, Interfax - The Bishops' Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, at its extraordinary session late in June in San Francisco, resolved that Bishop Agafangel of Tauria and Odessa 'be given the last admonition'. Earlier, this ROCOR bishop was suspended until repentance for his refusal to move to the see of Buenos Aires and South America. The Synod read a letter from Bishop Agafangel to the first hierarch of the Church Abroad, Metropolitan Laurus, 'asking his advice and...

Erie cleric 'used as pawn' in Russian church rift An ailing elderly Erie bishop is being drawn into what could be a new schism in the Russian Orthodox Church. A group that wants to establish a new church authority claims Bishop Daniel of Erie is on their side but is being held under "house arrest." But Bishop Daniel, 76, who uses only a first name like other bishops in his church, said Thursday he wants nothing to do with efforts to split that church. "I am against it," he said. Bishop Daniel spoke to the Erie Times-News in his home...

23 May 2007, 17:29 ROCOR priest proposes World Orthodox Council in Moscow or Novy Ierusalim Moscow, May 23, Interfax - Fr. Andrew Phillips from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia proposes a special inter-Orthodox consultative body - World Orthodox Council with the central office in Moscow or Novy Ierusalim near Moscow. ‘Today is the beginning of the 21st century, but some representatives of certain Local Orthodox Churches are still under the crapulent illusions of the previous century’s ecumenism. We think we should revive an Orthodox Russia and establish a World Orthodox Council to confront this scandal and solve many...

17 May 2007, 10:33 Act of Canonical Communion signed in Moscow (updated) Moscow, May 17, Interfax - The Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia and abroad was signed at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral on Thursday morning. The historic document was signed by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and by First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Metropolitan Laurus. The ceremony is being attended by President Vladimir Putin, several thousands Orthodox believers, including believers who have arrived from abroad, and about 500 journalists. The Christ the Savior Cathedral is...

Protopriest Nikolai Dombrowski (+1979) Lent as a Divine Establishment and Spiritual Remedy Lent, in Church songs and the writings of the Holy Fathers, is called a spiritual healer. And so, what is lent? In accordance with Dal's Tolkovyi slovar' [Explanatory Dictionary], lent ["post" in Russian] is "the abstinence from non-lenten food and vain pleasures." The Church of Christ teaches that lent is religious-moral vigilance and the salvific labor of piety. Truly Christian fasting is not only abstinence of the body from the usual food, but the restraint of the soul from all that is sinful. This latter abstinence must be...

JORDANVILLE: February 20, 2007 GREAT LENTEN EPISTLE OF HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN LAURUS, FIRST HIERARCH OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OUTSIDE OF RUSSIA Reverend Fathers, Dear in the Lord Brothers, Sisters and Children: I send my heartfelt greetings to all of you on the arrival of the salvific period of Great Lent, the time designated for our inner self-examination. The Holy Church summons us towards this, that we purify ourselves with augmented prayers and fasting, that we illumine ourselves with the reading of spiritually-beneficial books and approach our God and Creator, our Heavenly Father and Closest Friend, Who invites us into...

A Shared "Ecclesial Patrimony Stemming From Apostolic Times" VATICAN CITY, FEB. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is the report issued at the conclusion of the fourth meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. The meeting took place Jan. 28-Feb. 3 in Rome. * * * The fourth meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches took place in Rome from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3, 2007, under the co-chairmanship of His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council...

08 February 2007, 11:26 Virgin Mary said to appear to an American lover of foul language and bless opposition to ROCOR’s unity with the Church in Russia New York, February 8, Interfax - The anonymous creator of the ROCORNEWS website has stated that the Virgin Mary with a host of saints appeared to him during his night walk with his dog in the Central Park in New York. ‘The vision’ is now given all kinds of interpretation by irreconcilable opponents of unity between the Russian Church Abroad and the Moscow Patriarchate, who see in this statement a sign of heavenly...

26 December 2006 Russian Orthodox Church to be fully reunified May 17 Moscow, December 26, Interfax - The unity of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) will be fully restored on May 17, 2007, on Ascension Day, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, the Moscow Patriarchate's chief spokesman, told journalists following a Synod session. Patriarch Alexy II and ROCOR Primate Metropolitan Laurus will sign the Act of Canonical Communion on this day, he said. The signing ceremony is to take place at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow before a Divine Liturgy...

3 November 2006, 14:58 ROCOR leading clergyman urges his fellow servants not to become outcasts in the Orthodox world New York, November 3, Interfax - The signing of the ‘Act of Canonical Communion’ would ensure the future of the self-governing Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and place it on ‘a solid canonical foundation.’ Such is the view of Very Rev. Alexander Lebedev, secretary of the ROCOR Commission on the talks with the Moscow Patriarchate. In an article published on the ROCOR website he noted that the earlier grounds for the ROCOR independent existence cannot be justified at present, when...

Moscow, Oct. 03 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi (bio - news) of Milan has agreed to make a church in that city available for use by the Russian Orthodox Church, the Interfax news service reports. Cardinal Tettamanzi, who is in Moscow this week for visits with Orthodox leaders, made the announcement during a meeting with Patriarch Alexei II. The Italian cardinal said that the parish church of St. Anthony, in downtown Milan, will be offered for occasional use by the Russian Orthodox community there, until a parish church is turned over permanently to the Orthodox.

ROCOR/MP Reconciliation, by Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky Article posted: 9/21/2006 3:27 PM Printer Friendly Format For several years, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia [ROCOR] and the Russian Orthodox Church [Moscow Patriarchcate] have been engaged in a dialogue with the goal of reconciliation. This dialogue follows more than 80 years of an estrangement that was born as a consequence of the cruel realities of the Communist revolution in Russia, the Russian Civil War, and the flight of millions of Russian Orthodox people – bishops, clergy, and laity – to the Balkans, Western Europe, North and South America, and Australia. The...