Russian Orthodox Church Elects New Patriarch

Russian Orthodox Church elects first new patriarch of post-Soviet era
-- From Wikinews - Wednesday, January 28, 2009

In its first such election since 1990, Russian Orthodox Church leaders have overwhelmingly chosen Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad as its 16th Patriarch.

The 62-year-old Kirill, born Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyayev, will succeed the recently deceased Alexy II as Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. Alexy II, who is often credited with reviving the Church after the fall of Communism in Russia, was elected Patriarch a year before the Soviet Union dissolved, making this Russia's first patriarchal election of the post-Soviet era.

A secret ballot of the Church Council was held at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, where 711 bishops, priests, and other clergy from 64 countries convened to elect the new leader of the world's second largest church. Kirill received 508 of the votes, while his more conservative opponent, Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, received 169 votes.

Kirill had served as locum tenens, or interim patriarch, following Alexy's death on December 5. Until being enthroned next Sunday, he will retain the title Metropolitan — the second most senior position in Church hierarchy.

The Patriarch-elect is seen by some analysts as a "modernizer" who might be able to improve perpetually strained relations with the Roman Catholic Church. While Alexy II had repeatedly denied the late Pope John Paul II's requests to visit Russia, Kirill had already met with his Catholic counterpart, Pope Benedict XVI, in December 2007.

Shortly before the election, Kirill had expressed a need to work with other Christian denominations in order to oppose "the marginalization of religion" and to "defend the underlying meaning of morality". However, this call for unity was tempered with a call to resist Catholic missionary activity on Russian territory, and to "quickly and decisively react to threats" where necessary.

"A meeting between the Patriarch and the Pope will become possible only when there are conclusive signs of real and positive progress on issues which for a long time have been problematic for our relations," Kirill said Monday in a newspaper interview. These issues include accusations of missionary activity and disputes over church property and influence in Ukraine.

While some analysts see Kirill as a politically-minded figure who may try to seek more independence for the Church under the Russian government, others say this is unlikely. "As it is, the Moscow Patriarchate never criticises the Kremlin over its internal or external policies, said Canon Michael Bordeaux, head of the Keston Institute. "In the Orthodox tradition, which goes back 500 years, the state and the Church work together."

The Russian constitution officially declares a separation of church and state, but ties between the Orthodox Church and the government have strengthened since Vladimir Putin's election as President in 2000. Alexey was a strong supporter of Putin's government, but Kirill's stance is less known.

A short list of three candidates for the election had been chosen by the Archbishops' Council on Sunday. Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk, the first Patriarchal Exarch of Belarus, had withdrawn his name from consideration and endorsed Kirill before Tuesday's final vote.

Governor-General Issues Statement on South Ossetia

-- Governor-General Press Release

The way in which the situation in South Ossetia has deteriorated is cause for profound concern. We call for the following actions in the name of Peace:

We urge an immediate ceasefire in the fighting in South Ossetia and for a resumption of direct dialogue between all parties.

As many international observers as possible should be sent to the epicentre of the crisis so that the situation could be assessed adequately.

Recognition of the right of the peoples involved to self identification and governance.

Bo Register, Marquess of Mobile, Baron Von Servers of Fayette,
Her Majesty's Governor-General in and for the
Dominion of British West Florida

Statement on the recent broadcast by Russian State Controlled Television.

-- Virtual Pensacola

The Dominion of British West Florida condemns the Russian Government's recent actions in support of its dubious claims to the Arctic Seabed. Rossiya is one of two state-controlled channels in Russia that have been turned into propaganda tools under President Vladimir Putin. This is the second time in less than two weeks that Vesti has faked a broadcast. While it is accepted that state controlled media will present the facts in the light most favourable to the government, it is not acceptable that a government would knowingly and willfully lie to its own people, and the world.

The TV fiasco will add fresh controversy to the expedition, which caused scorn and resentment among other northern hemisphere nations bent on getting their share of the Arctic's energy riches. The Russian claims beyond the 200 mile limit were dubious in the view of this government, before the Russians felt compelled to resort to lies. The clear intent of the latest lie is to strengthen Russia's claims to the resources of the Arctic seabed. Such actions have had the opposite affect in the Dominion of British West Florida – we will consider ALL Russian claims in light of the willingness of the Russian government to lie. The Russian claims to the Arctic seabed beyond the 200 mile limit are considered by the Dominion of British West Florida to be null and void.

We call upon the Russian government to refrain for further lies, to retract its claims to the Arctic seabed beyond the 200 mile limit, and to work with the international community to restore the trust among governments that is essential to the peaceful resolution of issues.

Exhibition Devoted to Saint Martyr Yelizaveta Fyodorovna Held in Yekaterinburg

Source: rian.ru

11.04.2007

The State Ural Institute of Mines in Yekaterinburg is hosting the exhibition devoted to the founder of Moscow Marfo-Mariinskaya Mercy Cloister, the grand duchess and the saint martyr Yelizaveta Fyodorovna Romanova.

The exposition displays archive photos of the grand duchess and document copies of various periods of her life, including letters, cards, telegrams, appeals from organizations that were under her patronage, etc.

Yelizaveta Fyodorovna, the wife of the grand duke Sergei Aleksandrovich Romanov, founded the Marfo-Mariinskaya Mercy Cloister tending to the sick and poor in 1909 and was its first abbess. After the revolution the duchess refused to leave Russia, was arrested in spring 1918 and thrown alive to a mine together with some other representatives of the Romanovs dynasty. The tragedy took place nearby the town of Alapayevsk in Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg) region.

The Marfo-Mariinskaya Mercy Cloister existed till 1926. Its founder was canonized by the Russian foreign church and then by the Moscow patriarchy.

The exhibition is held in the framework of the programme "Revival of Marfo-Mariinskaya Mercy Cloister. For the centenary since its foundation."

The exhibition in Yekaterinburg runs till April 24.