Harbin Church Hosts Russian Orthodox Metropolitan

For the first time in fifty years Holy Protection Church in Harbin, Manchuria, has had hierarchical services, celebrated on the feast of the Holy New Martyrs of China by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk of the Russian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Hilarion stopped at the Harbin parish as part of his ongoing visit to China on behalf of Patriarch Cyril (Gundyayev) of Moscow. More here.


Since the death of its rector in 2001 Holy Protection Church has been without regular services despite being one of the only remaining parishes in China outside of Hong Kong allowed to operate by the Chinese government. In the fall two members of the Harbin parish will begin theological studies in Russia to prepare to serve the Chinese Orthodox Church.

Sino-Russian Consultation Held in Moscow

Representatives of the Russian and Chinese governments and of the Russian Orthodox Church have met in Moscow to discuss Sino-Russian relations and the current activity of the autonomous Chinese Orthodox Church. More here.

Russian Orthodox Church Organizes Conference on Chinese Orthodoxy in Almaty

The Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan has hosted a conference on Orthodoxy in China and ways in which the Orthodox Church, particularly in Kazakhstan and Siberia, can coordinate the provision of pastoral care to Chinese and Russian Orthodox Christians living in mainland China. The Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan is already sending visiting clergy to the neighboring Chinese region of Sinkiang, whilst many villages near China's borders with Russia and northeastern Kazakhstan are partially or largely Russian and Orthodox. More (in Russian) here.

Update (3/6/2011): An English-language write-up on the conference can be found here.