English version

ENGLISH VERSION: "Violence Must Stop Immediately!" Letter of the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America

Dear Brothers and Sister in the Lord! The political situation in Ukraine is critical. In the city of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, armed forces make every attempt to captured Maydan by force, using grenades and other explosive...

Опубликовано: 19.02.2014

ENGLISH VERSION: Vladimir Regional Court ordered ROAC to transfer the holy relics to the Russian Federation stating that they could not be considered as the “bones of specific individuals”

"Affirm the decision of Suzdal District Court, and refrain from granting the appeals", such was the verdict announced on February 11 by the Civil Chamber of Vladimir Regional Court after the review of the complaints the Russian Orthodox...

Опубликовано: 16.02.2014

ENGLISH VERSION: Ukraine, Churches unite in support of protesters

Representatives of various denominations take turns in celebrating Mass on Kiev’s Independence Square, the heart of anti-government demonstrations. They were invited by the leaders of the opposition. Churches condemn the streets on the violence and call on politicians...

Опубликовано: 14.02.2014

ENGLISH VERSION: Bishop Gregory (Lourie) of Petrograd and Gdov. True Orthodoxy As a Way of Life

Translator’s introduction: The following essay, written by His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Petrograd and Gdov, in the summer of 2013, is addressed first and foremost to True Orthodox Christians living in today’s Russia. Some of the problems he...

Опубликовано: 05.02.2014

ENGLISH VERSION: Examination of ROAC’s appeal on the "holy relics case" postponed by Vladimir Regional Court until February 11, 2014

The Common Pleas Collegium of Vladimir Regional Court decided to postpone the examination of the appeal of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC) against the order of Suzdal District Court on the confiscation of the "items named as...

Опубликовано: 15.01.2014

ENGLISH VERSION: The RF Investigative Committee refused to initiate a criminal case in respect of the forcible interruption of religious service in the ROAC Synodal Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Suzdal

"No illegal interfering with the activities of religious organizations or religious rites has been identified in the case under review", stated R.V. Belov, Investigator of the Oktyabrsky Inter-District Investigating Section of the Vladimir Regional Department of the Investigative...

Опубликовано: 09.01.2014

ENGLISH VERSION: Nativity Epistle of Gregory, Bishop of Petrograd and Gdov, the Head of the Ecclesiastical Council of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC)

A strange and marvelous mystery do I behold – thus, on our behalf, does the liturgical service on this festal night speak of Christ’s Nativity. This means: “I see a certain mystery alien to my life experience and...

Опубликовано: 06.01.2014

ENGLISH VERSION: Vladimir Regional Court has set the date for the examination of ROAC’s appeals on the "holy relics case"

On January 14, 2014 Vladimir Regional Court will review the appeals from the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC), its Suzdal Diocese, parish of St. Tsar Constantine Cathedral and Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Suzdal, and Metropolitan...

Опубликовано: 05.01.2014

ENGLISH VERSION: St. Petersburg City Court decided to liquidate the Orthodox Enlightenment Center which accommodates one of ROAC’s churches

Decision to liquidate the Orthodox Enlightenment Center (OEC), apublic organization, was passed on December 23 by St. Petersburg City Court, reports Interfax. So far, the whereas of this court decision is not known, but, according to Interfax, it...

Опубликовано: 24.12.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: LEV REGELSON, religious historian and publicist: “Rejection of the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate by the society and the intellectuals from among the faithful may become critical”

Portal-Credo.Ru: What events in Russia’s religious life in 2013 you would note as the most important ones?Lev Regelson: A sharp decline in the authority of ROC in the Russian society is related to the anti-human, aggressive and sanctimonious...

Опубликовано: 21.12.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: EU Ambassador assured the Ukrainians that their country does not have to accept same-sex marriages so feared by the faithful of the pro-Moscow Orthodox Church and Prime Minister Azarov

The recent statement made by Nikolai Azarov, Prime Minister of Ukraine, according to which the country must legalize same-sex marriages in order to obtain the right of visa-free travel within the framework of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement has...

Опубликовано: 16.12.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Archpriest Michael Oleksa. CONTEXTUAL AND PASTORAL. An Essay on the 30th Anniversary of the Repose of Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann

As I consider not the details but the broad framework within which our beloved teacher, Father Alexander Schmemann lived, taught, wrote and lectured, I realize that he shared, with all the ancient Holy Fathers of the ancient Church,...

Опубликовано: 13.12.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Masha Schmemann Tkachuk. MY FATHER. On the 30th anniversary of the death of fr. Alexander Schmemann

Alexander Schmemann was my father. And it is as my father that I will share some memories with you.My father was not directly involved in our upbringing. He was always there, but it is my mother who really...

Опубликовано: 13.12.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Territorial Administration of Rosimushchestvo in Vladimir Region denies the facts of violation of the feelings of the faithful of ROAC which took place during the incident in the Suzdal church

"The facts set forth in your application are not consistent with the reality." Such was the wording of the runaround received on December 9 by Metropolitan Theodore of Suzdal and Vladimir, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous...

Опубликовано: 12.12.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Probable reasons for the shutdown of Portal-Credo.Ru on December 2-4, 2013. Statement of the editorial office

Access to the web server of Protal-Credo.Ru located in Germany was blocked on Monday, December 2 around 13.20 Moscow time. According to the official information from the hosting company received by the editorial office, the reason for the...

Опубликовано: 09.12.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: ROAC, its Suzdal Diocese, parish of Tsar Constantine Cathedral in Suzdal and Metropolitan Theodore lodged their appeals against the court order on the confiscation of the holy relics

Appeals from the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC), parish of Tsar Constantine Cathedral and Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Suzdal and Metropolitan Theodore of Suzdal and Vladimir, First Hierarch of ROAC, against the decision of Suzdal...

Опубликовано: 01.12.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Pope, Putin chat for 35 minutes, then both kiss icon of Madonna that Putin presents as gift

Russian President Vladimir Putin showed off his religious side during a visit Monday to the Vatican, stopping to cross himself and kiss an icon of the Madonna that he gave to Pope Francis. But Moscow's improving relations with...

Опубликовано: 27.11.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: On the day of the publication of the slanderous article against ROAC in the district newspaper an incident involving disrespect of religious sentiments of the faithful of ROAC took place in the Church of Iveron Icon in Suzdal

On November 20 Suzdalskaya Nov, a Suzdal District newspaper, reprinted the article "State Department in cassock?", the article written by Andrey Kovalev and containing gross slander against the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC) formerly published by Vladimirskiye Vedomosti,...

Опубликовано: 22.11.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: "The reliquaries of the Saints Euphymios and Euphrosynia of Suzdal are kept in integrity in the Synodal Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God". Statement of the Office of the Suzdal Diocese of ROAC

In view of the rumors presently circulating in the Internet according to which the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC) has allegedly transferred the wooden reliquaries with the images of Saints Euphymios and Euphrosynia of Suzdal,...

Опубликовано: 15.11.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: The Undetected Skete. How the MP violates the US Constitution

According to the Tomos of autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate in North America extends over St. Nicholas Cathedral in Manhattan , Pine Bush real estate, and 43 parishes. The...

Опубликовано: 15.11.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Bishop PHOTIOS of Marathon, GOC under Archbishop Kallinikos: “RTOC bishops proves themselves even more untrustworthy, as they broke their promises so easily"

In August 2011 hieromonk Akakios in Serbia left GOC Synod of Archbishop Kallinikos in order to be ordained as Bishop by hierarchs of RTOC (Russian True-Orthodox Church, one of the “fragments” of ROCOR in Russia). About half of...

Опубликовано: 14.11.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Moscow Patriarchate and Vatican revive joint collaboration. Intensified exchanges between the leaders of the two churches, two weeks from Putins expected visit to the Pope

Intensified exchanges between the leaders of the two churches, two weeks from Putin's expected visit to the Pope. Kirill meets Card. Scola: " Never before have we had so many things in common." The archbishop of Milan speaks...

Опубликовано: 14.11.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Administration of Otradnaya District of the Krasnodar Region curtailed the program of the celebrations of the Dedication Day of the local ROAC church attended by the host of hierarchs and members of clergy

The annual celebration of the Dedication Day of the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC) took place on 4 November in the Cossack village of Otradnaya, Krasnodar...

Опубликовано: 08.11.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Office of the RF Commissioner for Human Rights refused to render assistance to ROAC having misinterpreted the petition which came from this religious organization

"Unfortunately, at present your complaint cannot be admitted to examination", - such was the reply received in late October by Metropolitan Theodore of Suzdal and Vladimir, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC), from the office...

Опубликовано: 05.11.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: American ROAC’s website blocked in Russia

In the evening of October 30 Internet users in Vladimir Region (Russia), where the spiritual and administrative center of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC) is located, were prevented from enteringpublished by "Portal-Credo.Ru".

Опубликовано: 04.11.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: LUDMILA ALEXEEVA, President of the Moscow Helsinki Group: “Putin is rigorously oriented towards the Moscow Patriarchate. Therefore, one could hardly expect a triumph of justice in the ROAC case”

"Portal-Credo.Ru": On October 23 Suzdal District Court ruled to confiscate the "items named as the relics of the Saints Euphymios and Euphrosynia" from the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC) and personally from Metropolitan Theodore, its First Hierarch. However,...

Опубликовано: 28.10.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Suzdal District Court dismissed ROAC’s petitions and ruled to confiscate “the items named as the relics of Saints Euphymios and Euphrosynia”

On October 23 Suzdal District Court completed the examination of the claim of the Territorial Administration of the Agency for Management of Russian State Property (Rosimushchestvo) of Vladimir Region for the confiscation of the relics of Saints Euphymios...

Опубликовано: 25.10.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Metropolitan THEODORE, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC): “At the earlier stages of the “holy relics case” the state intended to “restitute its property”, but now..."

"Portal-Credo.Ru": What were your impressions of the atmosphere at the October 1 session of the Suzdal District Court dedicated to the case on the confiscation of the holy relics of Saints Euphymios and Euphrosynia of Suzdal from ROAC?...

Опубликовано: 21.10.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: "I requested from HOCNA clarifications". Statement from Metropolitan Christophoros of Mesogaia and the Islands (GOC under Archbishop Makarios of Athens)

Following a number of particularly garrulous comments concerning my position about an “ecclesiastical union” of our Sacred Synod with the Holy Orthodox Church in North America (HOCNA) I state the following: 1) I requested in written form from...

Опубликовано: 12.10.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: An explanation by Archbishop Andrew (ROAC) about the attempt to resolve the differences between the various “splinter” groups of the Russian Church

A couple of years ago, I started to receive letters, emails and phone calls from people asking me why we bishops, who had once been clergy together in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) but were...

Опубликовано: 09.10.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: MARK STOKOE, the former editor of OCANews.org, about an Orthodoxy in Scandinavia

"Portal-Credo.Ru": Mark, can you tell us about Orthodoxy in Scandinavian countries? And who are the people who have chosen it as their religion in a country with a Protestant majority ?Mark Stokoe: It may come as a surprise...

Опубликовано: 09.10.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Mufti of Russia: Dialogue is the only weapon for peace in Syria

Vice president of the Council of Muftis of Russia, Rushan Abbyasov , says we must defend the Christian presence in the Middle Eastern country . Muslim community " is the victim of a media attack” in Russia and...

Опубликовано: 03.10.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Court session on the confiscation of the holy relics of Orthodox Saints from the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church will continue on October 23

The session held on October 1 by Suzdal District Court in the case to consider the claim of the Territorial Administration of the Agency for Management of Russian State Property (Rosimushchestvo) of Vladimir Region for the confiscation of...

Опубликовано: 02.10.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: American Orthodox Bishops Release Statement on Sexuality

Опубликовано: 24.09.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Court Bailiffs Disrupt Services in the Synodal Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Suzdal and Place Holy Relics Under Arrest

Employees of the Federal Bailiff Service of Russia for the Vladimir region employed brute force on Metropolitan Theodore of Suzdal and Vladimir, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC), while he was dressed in liturgical vestments...

Опубликовано: 02.09.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: MARK STOKOE, the former editor of OCANews.org, about an OCA experiment with Orthodox Mission in Guatemala

“Portal-Credo.Ru”: Mark, with your permission, what do you think – why and when did the Maya tribes living in Guatemala develop a longing for the Orthodox Church? What played the biggest role in this process – frustrations with...

Опубликовано: 27.08.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: ”It has to do with his Christian activity as a well known Protestant leader”. “Portal-Credo.Ru” interview with co-chairman of the Slavic Legal Center, the defense lawyer of of Rev. Alexander Semchenko VLADIMIR RIAKHOVSKY

“Portal-Credo.Ru”: Could you, as a defense lawyer of the President of Commonwealth of Evangelical Christians of Russia Rev. A. Semchenko, comment on the criminal accusations against him? Vladimir Riakhovsky: As of today, the defense has not seen the...

Опубликовано: 26.07.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Official press release of the Commonwealth of Evangelical Christians of Russia regarding the Criminal Case against Rev. Alexander T. Semchenko

We, the leaders of the Commonwealth of Evangelical Christians of Russia which unites about 700 congregations, wish to express our deep concern about the criminal prosecution of a well known leader of the Protestant movement of Russia Rev....

Опубликовано: 25.07.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Letter of His Holiness John Paul II to cardinal Joseph Slipyj for the millenium of christianity in Rus (the Ukraine)

2. Furthermore the very character of this commemoration, which will bring to mind the beginnings of Christianity in "Rus", even now permits us with a single glance of the mind, as it were, to comprehend what sort of...

Опубликовано: 25.07.2013

ENGLISH VERSION: Even if we have to use our own blood to defend the konaki, we will do it. Esfigmenou monastery press release

HOLY MONASTERY ESFIGMENOU 17 JULY 2013 MOUNT ATHOS Today we were given an order to evacuate our Konaki (Administration Centre) in Karies (Building B). Our reply is "Molon Lave" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molon_labe) We will not leave from our Konaki so...

Опубликовано: 19.07.2013