Russian Orthodox Patriarch Visits Holy Land

Patriarch Cyril (Gundyayev) of Moscow has undertaken a visit to the Holy Land, meeting with Patriarch Theophilus III (Giannopoulos) of Jerusalem as well as with representatives of the Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Missions in Jerusalem of both the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). More here and here.

ROCOR Metropolitan Visits Holy Land

Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) has made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, during his time there meeting with Patriarch Theophilos III (Giannopoulos) of Jerusalem and concelebrating the services with the heads and clergy of both the patriarchal and synodal Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Missions in Jerusalem. More here and here.

Metropolitan Hilarion Visits the Holy Land

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk has begun a visit to the Holy Land. As part of his stay in the Holy Land Metropolitan Hilarion met with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem to discuss issues concerning relations between the Jerusalemite and Russian Orthodox Churches as well as the Local Orthodox Churches generally. After his stop at the Jerusalem Patriarchate Metropolitan Hilarion went on to visit the seat of the patriarchal Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem at the Holy City's Cathedral of the Trinity, where he met with Archbishop Aris (Shirvanian), who serves as director of ecumenical and foreign relations for the autonomous Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. More here, here, and here.

Jerusalem Patriarchate Questions Canonicity of New Hostel in Jordan

The Jerusalemite Orthodox Church has issued a public reminder to the Moscow Patriarchate's Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem that it needs the blessing of the Jerusalem Patriarchate to open a dependency church at its new pilgrimage center in Jordan as Jordan remains part of the canonical territory of the Church of Jerusalem. The Mission is currently in the process of building a hostel for pilgrims on the east banks of the Jordan River near what is believed by many to be the historic site of the Baptism of the Lord by St. John the Baptist. The Jerusalem Patriarchate's statement not withstanding, the Mission's website does not mention the building of a church as part of the overall construction at the site. More (in Greek) here.

Russian Orthodox Hostel to Open in Jordan

A representation of the Moscow Patriarchate to the Church of Jerusalem under the Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem is preparing to open in Jordan this fall. The representation's property, which will house a church and a hostel for pilgrims, was donated by King Abdullah II of Jordan. More here.

Decisions Taken on Jerusalem, Western Rites by ROCOR Synod

At its recent session the full Synod Abroad of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) took several decisions regarding the life of the ROCOR, among them organizing a stavropeghial vicariate under the supervision of Bishop Jerome (Shaw) of Manhattan for the care of the ROCOR's Western Orthodox faithful, the appointment of Hegumen Tikhon (Amelchenya) as head of the Synodal Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, the elevation of Bishop Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Montreal to the rank of archbishop, and the blessing of a request that the Kursk-Root Icon visit the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan.

In addition to the reports on the dioceses by its members the Synod Abroad also heard a report from Archbishop Justinian (Ovchinnikov) of Narofominsk on the state of the patriarchal Russian Orthodox representation to the American Orthodox Church (OCA) in the United States. Bishop Job (Smakouz) of Kashira, head of the patriarchal Russian Orthodox representation to the Canadian Orthodox Church (OCA), was not present at the session. More here.

Russian Orthodox Buildings in Jerusalem to be Repurchased

Two wealthy Russian businessmen have agreed to help the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society purchase the Hostel of St. Sergius and the old headquarters of the Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem from the Israeli government, which currently uses them to house the Ministry of Agriculture and various other agencies.

The properties were expropriated from the original Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission under the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and given to the Moscow Patriarchate, which under Soviet pressure allowed them to be sold to Israel in exchange for a shipment of oranges.

An agreement has already been reached in principle with the Israeli government and it is hoped that the properties will be legally returned to the Russian Orthodox Church sometime in 2012. More here.

Pictured is St. Sergius' Hostel, which currently houses the Ministry of Agriculture.

Nameday Celebrations of Jerusalem Mission Head

Yesterday's nameday celebrations for the head of the patriarchal Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Isidor (Minayev), included members of both the patriarchal and synodal Missions as well as Bishop Agapit (Gorachek) of Stuttgart of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. More here.

Technology in the Russian Orthodox Church

The Moscow Times just ran a piece on the use of technology by the Russian Orthodox Church. At the top of the story was this picture of my father confessor while I lived in Nizhniy Novgorod, now appointed to serve in the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. It's always nice to see a familiar face in the news :-).

Interview with Metropolitan Hilarion on the Holy Land

An interesting interview with Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk on the Holy Lands, monasticism in Palestine, and the Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem can be found here.