Kirill, new Patriarch of the Russian Orhodox Church
1.30 Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad has been elected Patriarch of Moscow and of all Russian, a choice that represents hope for the continuation of ecumenical dialogue.The Catholic Archbishop of Moscow, Monsignor Paolo Pezzi, stated that for the Russian Catholic community, this step is very positive news and a continuity and a recognition of the work of the previous patriarch, Alexey II.The choice of the Patriarch is also good for others, said the Archbishop and predicted that the new head of the Russian Orthodox Church will increase efforts towards dialogue and communion among Christians.Kirill of Smolensk (Vladimir Gundyaev) was born in Leningrad on November 20, 1946, the son of an Orthodox priest. He studied theology in the same city and was ordained heiromonk in 1969, and Archimandrite in 1971.Between 1971 and 1974 he was the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate to the World Council of Churches. In 1976 he was ordained bishop of Vyborg, and Archbishop of Smolensk in 1984, where he became Metropolitan in 1991.Since 1989 he was placed in charge of the external relations of the Russian Orthodox Church. zenit.org
New Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Enthroned
Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad was enthroned as the new Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow on Sunday February 1, at the age of 62. He is the successor of Alexey II. Alexey II, the orchestrator of the Russian Orthodox Church's resurgence over the last 18 years, after decades of atheistic communism, died on December 5. According to Vatican Radio, Kirill, who has already been serving as interim Patriarch, becomes the sixteenth Patriarch of the Russian Church and the first of post-communist history. The new Orthodox patriarch is considered the soul of a more modern mp4ement, open to dialogue, particularly with the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict XVI welcomed with joy the news of his election, and his congratulatory message requested that the Almighty may also bless your efforts to seek that fullness of communion which is the goal of Catholic-Orthodox collaboration and dialogue. Benedict XVI assured Patriarch Kirill of his spiritual closeness and the Catholic Church's commitment to cooperate with the Russian Orthodox Church for an ever clearer witness to the truth of the Christian message and to the values which alone can sustain today's world along the way of peace, justice and loving care of the marginalized. The coronation was attended by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, and other authorities and members of the local Catholic church.
Moscow Patriarch Cyril is moved during Divine Liturgy
His holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Cyril I cries while he is serving Divine Liturgy in Smolensk, Russia, 1. 09. 2015
Last respects to Patriarch
The Russian Orthodox Church has appointed a temporary leader following the death of Aleksy II. Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad will take up the post. It comes as crowds in Moscow are queuing at the cathedral of Christ the Saviour to see the late Patriarch lying in state.
Russia welcomes new Patriarch
Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad has been elected the new head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Consecration of first Russian Orthodox Church, Raul Castro there
SHOTLIST
1. Russian Orthodox Church, Our Lady of Kazan cathedral
2. Close up, detail dome of the church
3. Close up detail church architecture
4. (His Eminence) Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Department of Foreign Religions of the Moscow Patriarchate, enters, greets Raul Castro, President of the Council of State and Cuban government ministers and officials
5. Kirill greeting Raul Castro
6. Close up, Cuban Catholic Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino
7. Kirill greeting Cuban officials
8. Congregation
9. Clergy at service
10. Medium shot Fidel Castro Diaz Balart, son of former Cuban president Fidel Castro (centre)
11. Kirill in religious service
12. Close up detail religious icon
13. Mid shot of Kirill with clergy
14. Close up Kirill with clergy
15. Wide of Raul Castro
16. Close up of Raul Castro
17. Kirill with Luibov Sliska, First Vice President of the Russian Parliament looking at photo exhibit
18. Russian and Cuban delegations looking at photo exhibit
19. Fidel Castro Diaz Balart (son of Fidel Castro) looking at photo exhibit
20. Kirill and Sliska
21. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) (His Eminence) Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Department of Foreign Religious of the Moscow Patriarchate:
Believe me what has been done by the government and the people of Cuba, has reached our deepest hearts.
22. President Raul Castro greeting Kirill
23. Wide shot concert hall
24. Wide shot Russian choir
25. Close up Raul Castro listening
26. Wide shot Raul Castro and Kirill clapping
STORYLINE:
Cuba's first Russian Orthodox cathedral was consecrated on Sunday, with bells, chanting and incense and the presence of President Raul Castro.
Russian diplomats and members of Cuba's dwindling Russian community crowded into the whitewashed seaside cathedral, which is topped by a gleaming golden dome.
Dressed in a dark suit and tie, Castro attended the opening but left before the full religious service that followed.
His good relations with Russian officials date to Soviet times, and his older brother Fidel and predecessor attended the consecration of a nearby Orthodox church for Greek and other non-Russian Orthodox Christians in 2004.
The new Our Lady of Kazan cathedral has been welcomed by many in Cuba's Russian community, which has dwindled to several hundred as most returned home following the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.
Tens of thousands of Russian technicians and military officers lived in Cuba before the Soviet Union dissolved.
The Russian Church's top foreign relations official, Metropolitan Kirill, travelled from Moscow for Sunday's ceremony, which was also attended by Cuban National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon and other officials.
Also there was Fidel Castro's son, Fidel Castro Diaz Balart.
The church, 1,500 square metres and built in two and a half years, is set to rival the Russian cemetery to symbolise the once close links between the two countries half a world apart.
The Metropolitan also joined Raul Castro and others to look at a photographic exhibition, accompanied by Luibov Sliska, the first vice president of the Russian Parliament.
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RUSSIA: GOLD CROSS RESTORED TO SMOLENSKY CATHEDRAL (2)
Voice and effects
Voiced by Louise Bates
A massive 1-point-five tonne gold cross has been restored on top of Smolensky Cathedral, located in one of Russia's oldest monasteries.
Money for the restoration work came from public and private funding sources.
VOICE-OVER:
(00.02)
On the picturesque banks of the Moscow River, is one of Russia's premier monasteries.
(00.07)
Inside the Novodevichy monastery, the Smolensky Cathedral, is being returned to it's former glory.
(00.12)
UPSOUND OF HELICOPTER
(00.15)
The difficult task of restoring the piece de resistance - a massive one point five tonne gold cross, has been held up by a lack of funds.
(00.23)
But finally the six point eight million roubles needed to complete the project became available from state and private sources.
(00.30)
Russian film director Nikita Mikhalkov was among the contributors to this delicate restoration project.
(00.36)
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
The financing for this project is still a sore topic. We could have done this last year. But because there is hardly any financing for this project and we were only able to get the money in May of this year, everything was organized in a very short period of time and with the help of a massive amount of people.
SUPERCAPTION: Irena Borisenko, Director of State Historical Museum, Novodevichy Branch)
(00.53)
The Novodevichy monastery was founded in 1524 to commemorate the Russian victory of the seizure of the city of Smolensk in 1514 during the Russian-Lithuanian War.
(01.02)
The cemetery inside the monastery grounds is the last resting place of prominent Russian scientists, writers and public figures.
(01.13 VISION ENDS)
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Delegation of Russian Orthodox foreign hierarchs arrives in Moscow
1. Wide of Moscow' s Sheremetyevo-2 airport
2. Wide interior or terminal building with priests walking up stairs
3. Mid of arrivals monitor
4. Wide of journalists waiting
5. Mid of Russian monks waiting
6. Wide of Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad (left) and Metropolitan Laurus of New York and Eastern America (right) walking
7. Mid of press pan left to Metropolitan Laurus and Metropolitan Kirill
8. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad:
All those reasons, those historical reasons which divided the church are in the past now. There is no godless authorities, there is no more church in Russia that is not free, there are no more obstacles that can interfere in the relationship between Orthodox people living in Russia and abroad. That is why those historic developments that divided the Orthodox church are gone.
9. Mid of Russian state emblem
10. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Metropolitan Laurus of New York and Eastern America:
I think it is an event of great importance, of course. It is of special significance for the Russian Church, which has been divided for more than 80 years, that is why the event is very important that we will have to do here.
11. Metropolitan Kirill and Metropolitan Laurus speaking to media
12. Various of Metropolitan Laurus and Metropolitan Kirill walking down stairs
13. Mid shot cameramen outside
14. Mid of cars
15. Wide of cars driving away
STORYLINE:
Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), a breakaway church-in-exile, arrived in Moscow on Tuesday ahead of a signing ceremony that will formalise its reunification with the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate.
Metropolitan Laurus, the New York-based leader of ROCOR, was welcomed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo-2 airport by Metropolitan Kirill, who is the Russian Orthodox Church's head of external relations.
The delegation was expected to take part in the signing of the Act on Canonical Communications between ROCOR and the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate,
It is an event of great importance, of course. It is of special significance for the Russian Church, which has been divided for more than 80 years, Metropolitan Laurus said upon arrival.
The signing ceremony, set to take place at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, has been scheduled for Thursday 17 May.
The emigre church split from the Patriarchate three years after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 and cut all ties in 1927, after Patriarch Sergiy declared the Orthodox church's loyalty to the Soviet Union's communist government.
The Russian Orthodox Church had said that Sergiy's move was aimed at saving the church.
It disavowed Patriarch Sergiy's declaration this year.
Talk of re-establishing ties began after the Soviet collapse in 1991.
Both churches formed working groups after a 2003 visit to Russia by three emigre archbishops and a 2004 visit by Laurus, who came at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.
Talks between the Patriarchate and ROCOR continued for the next three years with an objective to eliminate the differences that impeded reunification.
At the end of 2006, the Synods of both Churches endorsed all the documents drafted for signing and agreed on the date, on which the Act on Canonical Communications is to be signed.
Under the provisions of the Act, ROCOR will become a self-governing agency of the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate, with a large degree of autonomy in administrative, economic, proprietary, and legal affairs.
ROCOR will get one more benefit from the reunification - the official recognition by other national denominations of Eastern Orthodoxy.
It had no such recognition over the 80 years of its existence.
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Russia - Sergeyev Posad - Trinity Lavra of Saint Sergius
Sergiyev Posad (Russian: Се́ргиев Поса́д) is a city and the administrative center of Sergiyevo-Posadsky District in Moscow Oblast, Russia. It grew in the 15th century around the monastery Trinity Lavra established by St. Sergius of Radonezh (Russian: Тро́ице-Се́ргиева Ла́вра), the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The monastery was founded in 1337 by one of the most venerated Russian saints, Sergius of Radonezh, who built a wooden church in honour of the Holy Trinity on Makovets Hill.
In 1355, Sergius introduced a charter which required the construction of auxiliary buildings, such as refectory, kitchen, and bakery. This charter was a model for Sergius' numerous followers who founded more than 400 cloisters all over Russia.
St. Sergius supported Dmitri Donskoi in his struggle against the Tatars. The monastery was devastated by fire, when a Tatar unit raided the area in 1408.
St. Sergius was declared patron saint of the Russian state in 1422. The same year the first stone cathedral was built. The relics of St. Sergius still may be seen in this cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The greatest icon painters of medieval Russia, Andrei Rublev and Daniil Chyorny, were summoned to decorate the cathedral with frescoes. Traditionally, Muscovite royals were baptized in this cathedral and held thanksgiving services here.
In 1476, Ivan III invited Pskovian masters to build the church of the Holy Spirit. This graceful structure is one of the few remaining examples of a Russian church topped with a belltower. In the early 16th century, Vasily III added the Nikon annex and the Serapion tent.
It took 26 years to construct the six-pillared Assumption Cathedral, which was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in 1559. The cathedral is much larger than its model and namesake in the Moscow Kremlin. The magnificent iconostasis of the 16th–18th centuries features Simon Ushakov's masterpiece, the icon of Last Supper. Interior walls were painted with violet and blue frescoes. The vault contains burials of Boris Godunov, his family and several 20th-century patriarchs.
As the monastery grew into one of the wealthiest landowners in Russia, the village (or posad) gradually developed into the modern town of Sergiyev Posad. The cloister itself was a notable centre of chronicle-writing and icon painting.
In 1550s, a wooden palisade surrounding the cloister was replaced with 1.5 km-long stone walls, featuring twelve towers.
By the end of the 17th century, when young Peter I twice found refuge within the monastery from his enemies, numerous buildings had been added. These include a small baroque palace of the patriarchs, noted for its luxurious interiors, and a royal palace, with its facades painted in checkerboard design. The refectory of St. Sergius, covering 510 square meters and also painted in dazzling checkerboard design, used to be the largest hall in Russia. The five-domed Church of John the Baptist's Nativity (1693–1699) was commissioned by the Stroganovs and built over one of the gates. Other 17th-century structures include the monks' cells, a hospital topped with a tented church, and a chapel built over a holy well discovered in 1644.
In 1744, Empress Elizabeth conferred on the cloister the dignity of a Lavra. Elizabeth particularly favoured the Trinity and annually proceeded afoot from Moscow to the cloister. Her secret spouse Alexey Razumovsky accompanied her on such journeys and commissioned a baroque church to the Virgin of Smolensk, the last major shrine to be erected in the Lavra. Another pledge of Elizabeth's affection for the monastery is a white-and-blue baroque belltower, which, at 88 meters, was one of the tallest structures built in Russia up to that date.
Throughout the 19th century, the Lavra maintained its status as the richest Russian monastery. The monastery boasted a supreme collection of manuscripts and books.
After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Soviet government closed the lavra in 1920. Its buildings were assigned to different civic institutions or declared museums. In 1930, monastery bells, including the Tsar-Bell of 65 tons, were destroyed. Overall many valuables were lost or transferred to other collections.
In 1945, following Joseph Stalin's temporary tolerance of the church during World War II, the Lavra was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. On April 16, 1946 divine service was renewed at the Assumption Cathedral. The monastery continues as a prime centre of religious education. Important restoration works were conducted in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1993, the Trinity Lavra was inscribed on the UN World Heritage List.
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SMOLENSK,V.1: WALL, WHITE WALKERS & GoT (Travelling around Russia,p.2)
A new video and a new city to explore!
Smolensk is a definite go-to if you like hills, big spaces, war stories and the walls. Especially walls - I so love climbing them and exploring the ruins, and what about you?
Hope you enjoy watching and thank you all, guys, for your support, I really appreciate it
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Episode 77-Polish Leaders killed! Part-1
Polish President Lech Kaczynski on Saturday has died in the accident who has suffered his plane during a maneuver failed to approach the airport in Smolensk (Russia). The Russian authorities agency Emergency has confirmed the death of 96 persons, among which is also the wife of Kacynski, the Staff of the army and the president of Bank of Poland.
Of the 96 victims of plane crash other than the chairman and his wife, dozens have died in political office, military and institutional Poles. Among the most notable: Maria Kaczynska, wife of the president, the ombudsman, Janusz Kochanowski, Wladyslaw Stasiak, head of the Chancellery of the President, Andrzej Kremer, deputy foreign minister, Piotr Nurowski, president of the Polish Olympic Committee; Slawomir Skrzypek , Central Bank president, Bishop Tadeusz Ploski, military bishop of the Polish Army, Ryszard Kaczorowski, the last president of Poland in exile, Krystyna Bochenek, vice president of the Senate, (Civic Platform party, PO).
The country has declared a week of national mourning and Komorowski has appealed to the unity of the country before the tragedy.
SMOLENSK,V.2: WARS, MARAUDERS AND CHURCH (Travelling around Russia,p.2)
When travelling around Russia, one can never guess what might be found, be it a curious monument, an ancient ruin or a freshly looking Lenin! That’s what I like most about my adventures, actually. That, and the fact that wherever I go, I get to taste some delicious food - that’s a nice bonus, I reckon.
What is your favourite thing about traveling? I’d really like to hear from you!
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Subscribe!
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Orthodox Church - Moscow
Cathedral of Our Lady of Smolensk at the Novodevichy Convent
Russian Orthodox Church in DPRK
Jongbaek Church Completed
Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- A ceremony for the completion of the Jongbaek Church standing on the bank of the River Taedong was held on the spot Sunday. Present there were Kwak Pom Gi, vice-premier of the Cabinet, officials concerned and members of various religious organizations.
Also present there were members of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church led by its Chairman of the Office for Foreign Relations Kirill, patriarch of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Regions, Andrei Karlov, Russian ambassador to the DPRK, and staff members of the embassy, diplomatic envoys of various other countries and representatives of international organizations here.
Ho Il Jin, chairman of the Korean Orthodox Church Committee, made a speech at the ceremony to be followed by congratulatory speeches by Patriarch Kirill, Jang Jae On, chairman of the Korean Religionists' Association, and Viktor Gorchyakov, deputy governor of the Maritime Provincial Administration of the Russian Federation.
Ho Il Jin in his speech said the inauguration of the Jongbaek Church on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of Kim Jong Il's historic visit to the Russian Federation marked an occasion in boosting the relations between the DPRK and Russia.
The speaker recalled that Kim Jong Il, during his visit to the Far Eastern region of Russia, highly praised the Orthodox Church for having played the role of a pacemaker in developing the history and culture of Russia in the past and preserving the national tradition and gave an instruction on building a church in Pyongyang so that Orthodox Church goers might lead a pious life during their visit to Korea.
Pointing out that the Russian side has rendered sincere assistance to the DPRK in the construction of the church in the last three years, ho noted that the DPRK side would successfully manage and operate the church as desired by the peoples of the two countries and make positive efforts to preserve peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.
Kirill in his congratulatory speech noted with joy that the Jongbaek Church has been successfully built thanks to the initiative and deep care of Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, thus restoring the religious and fraternal ties established between the two countries more than a century back.
The ceremony was followed by a consecration rite.
The Korean Orthodox Church Committee hosted a reception at the People's Palace of Culture on the same day in connection with the completion of the church
Poland marks president's plane crash anniversary as doubts rage
Two years after the plane crash in Russia that claimed the life of Poland's president Lech Kaczynski and a swathe of fellow members of the country's elite, the country has been marking the anniversary of the tragedy. But relatives of some of the 96 victims, including the late president's twin brother and ex-prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, continue to doubt officials findings that it was accident.Duration: 02:16
Vera Senchuk, Iconographer, preparing the Mother of God of Canada Icon for Gilding
Vera Senchuk, Iconographer, preparing the Mother of God of Canada Icon for gilding.
July 22, 2018, at the Ukrainian Orthodox Holy Trinity Saskatoon Cathedral
25 magnificent Russian Orthodox churches
Glimpses of the 2010 Polish funeral
Moldavienresan
Our church sponsors several orphanages in Europe's poorest country. This is an overview of our trip to those orphanages.
icon of Vergin Mary of Smolensk from Bugobash village