Moscow, Kiev Reject Crimean Cossack Calls for the Dissolution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Kiev Metropolitanate have rejected calls by a Cossack organization in the Crimea for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's dissolution and direct union with the Russian Orthodox Church, reaffirming the autonomy of the Church of Ukraine and its jurisdiction over the whole of Ukraine. More here.

Crimean Police, Cossacks Clash Over Cross

Clashes have broken out between Crimean police and representatives of Crimea's Cossack community over the erection of a cross in the city of Theodosia. The cross was erected by Crimean Cossacks in May without governmental permission and in the face of protests from the Crimean Tatar community in the area and was subsequently removed by the authorities. The clashes occurred last week when the Cossacks and other Orthodox Christians from Theodosia marched to the cross' original site and attempted to place it there again.

After the clashes, which shocked the Crimean public due to the police's brutality in responding to the procession to restore the cross, the mayor of Theodosia guaranteed the cross' eventual return to its original site after due process had been followed by the Cossacks in obtaining government permission for its placement. More here.

Russian Orthodox Bishop Calls on "Cossack Autocephalous Church" Organizers to Repent

Bishop Kirill (Pokrovskiy) of Stavropol', chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's commission on relations with the Cossacks, has called on the organizers of a "Cossack Autocephalous Church," found this past June in the Russian city of Podolsk, to repent of their schism and embrace the unity of the Orthodox Church to prevent the further division of the Cossack movement in Russia. More (in Russian) here.

360th Anniversary of Battle of Berestechko Commemorated in Volhynia

This past weekend on the Sunday of All the Saints of Ukraine Patriarch Philaret (Denysenko) of Kiev celebrated the festal Sunday Liturgy in the historic Monastery of St. George in Plyasheva.

St. George's was built on the site of the graves of the Cossack soldiers who fell during a battle in nearby Berestechko that was fought in 1651 between the forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Zaporozhian Cossack armies under Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky. After the Divine Liturgy the 360th anniversary of the Battle of Berestechko was commemorated by Patriarch Philaret with a memorial for the repose of the Cossack soldiers who were killed during its course.

Metropolitans Dymytry of L'viv and Yevsevy of Rivne; Archbishops Iov of Kremenets, Mikhail of Lutsk, and Ioan of Cherkasy; Bishops Epifany of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi, Onufry of Vinnytsia, Nestor of Ternopil', and Ilarion of Chernigov; and many other clergy of the Kiev Patriarchate concelebrated the services with Patriarch Philaret. More (in Ukrainian) here.

Bishop Cyril of Stavropol' Meets with Cossack Clergy

Bishop Kirill (Pokrovskiy) of Stavropol' has met with the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church serving Cossack communities and organizations in Russia proper to discuss issues in the lives of Russia's Cossacks. Singled out in particular were the growing influence of neo-paganism amongst the Cossacks and plans to resettle Cossacks immigrating from Kyrgyzstan in southern Russia. More (in Russian) here.

Belorussian Orthodox Local Synod Glorifies St. Cyprian Klimuts, Establishes Department for Cossack Relations

The Local Synod of the Belorussian Orthodox Church met late last week in Polotsk, Belarus, to discuss internal issues in the life of the Church. Among other things the Local Synod glorified St. Cyprian Klimuts and blessed the establishment of a department to regulate the Church's relations with Belarus' Cossacks. More (in Russian) here.

Conference Held for Belorussian Cossacks

Moscow's Donskoy Monastery has hosted a conference for the atamans and clergy serving the Cossack community in Belarus. Following a supplication (молебен) in the Donskoy Monastery's cathedral Bishop Kirill of Stavropol', chairman of the Russian Orthodox Synodal Commission for Cooperation with the Cossacks, said in part that, "The Cossacks today will not only spiritually revive, but will also protect the Orthodox Faith in the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church...and, if necessary, give their lives, as our ancestors did, for the Faith." More (in Russian) here.

Cossack Atamans Visit Mount Athos

This past weekend Bishop Kirill (Pokrovskiy) of Pavlovskiy Posad, head of the Moscow Patriarchate's commission on cooperation with the Cossacks, led a pilgrimage of Cossack atamans to Mount Athos. During the pilgrimage the group visited St. Panteleimon's Monastery together with other Athonite monastic communities. The pilgrimage was the first of its kind and was made with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow and All Rus'. More here.