In English:
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II: Christmas Message to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and All Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church (2007/2008)
New statistics of the Russian Orthodox Church
Moscow Patriarchate’s Theological Commission to study the issue of primacy in the Universal Church
President of Georgetown University gives reception in honour of Bishop Hilarion
‘Christmas Oratorio’ by Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev performed in New York and Boston
En français:
Nouvelles statistiques de l’Eglise orthodoxe russe
Session d’hiver du Saint Synode de l’Eglise orthodoxe russe
Auf Deutsch:
Bischof Hilarion von Wien und Österreich: Weihnachtsbotschaft an die hochwürdigen Seelsorger und die gottgeliebten Gläubigen der Diözese von Wien und Österreich des Moskauer Patriarchats
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II: Christmas Message to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and All Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church (2007/2008)
What shall we offer you, O Christ, because you have appeared on earth as a man for our sakes? For each of the creatures made by you offers you its thanks: the Angels their hymn; the heavens the Star; the Shepherds their wonder; the Magi their gifts; the earth the Cave; the desert the Manger; but we - a Virgin Mother. God before the ages, have mercy on us.
Stanza for Lord, I have cried… for Vespers on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ
Dear and beloved of the Lord your graces the archpastors, the whole of the priestly, diaconal and monastic order, pious laymen and women – the faithful children of our Holy Orthodox Church!
We follow today the wise men of old, led by the star of Bethlehem, and come to the manger of the Divine Infant our Lord Jesus Christ. We recall how the Magi ‘rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh’ (Mt 2:10-11). In entering the feast of the Nativity of Christ we too must ask ourselves: what can we bring to the manger which has now received the God who cannot be contained?
He has no need of our pride, our fame, or our material achievements. Vain thoughts, the alarming events of life and peoples’ endeavours to outdo each other will be reduced to naught in his eyes. So then may our main gift to the Saviour born of a Virgin be a strong and sincere faith, a faith an example of which the Most Pure Virgin Mary gave to us when the archangel announced the glad tidings to her: ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word’ (Lk 1:38). Many today have gotten used to the notion that their free and independent rational mind alone can bring them contentment. Yet the Church over the many centuries of her life has seen how those who have become proud and distanced themselves from God have ultimately become unhappy and pitiful. By contrast, the example of the Most Holy Mother of God speaks to us of the heights that the human person can attain when he submits himself in faith to the will of God. ‘The Virgin Mary,’ writes St Ephraim the Syrian, ‘is the Daughter of the Light, for through her the world and its mansions have been bathed in the Light.’ May we too with faith bring to the world the Light which is Christ the Lord.
May another of our gifts offered to the manger of Bethlehem be love – the ardent and active love of one another and to all those who surround us. Let us be guided daily by the words of Christ: ‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another’ (Jn 13:35). Let us accomplish deeds of love and mercy for those who today find it hard and are lonely, who suffer and go through despondency and despair, for such people are always to be found near us.
The mutual love of man and wife, children and parents, strengthened by love of God and neighbour, has always been the foundation of the strong Christian family. The forthcoming year in Russia has been declared the Year of the Family, and in many other countries where our Church serves God concern for the family is paramount. We, the faithful children of Christ’s Church, need to manifest this concern with all zeal. The whole of society, especially our young people, must discover anew the simple and eternal truth that where there is no love, mutual responsibility and the willingness to make a gift of one’s life to those whom we love there can be neither contentment nor the fullness of life. Divorce, abortion, the striving for wealth and endless pleasure, the neglect of one’s own children who so often are deprived of parental affection and upbringing degrade the life of the individual and the entire nation into a joyless existence filled with the pangs of conscience. Yet if in the family love, faith and the joy of mutual self-sacrifice and support for each other reign, then we will be surrounded by yet far more contented people. The fate of our peoples too will change for the better.
Dearly beloved! In this outgoing year the Lord has blessed his Church with peace, joy and success in the many labours undertaken for the salvation of the people of God. On the feast of the Lord’s Ascension the fullness of unity was restored between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Church Abroad, to which belong a significant part of our church people dispersed throughout the world. We are now again one Church, strengthened by communion in the sacraments and prayer, bearing witness to the truth of Holy Orthodoxy not only in our homeland but also ‘unto the uttermost part of the earth’ (Acts 1:8).
The confines of our Church have embraced the precious relics of the holy apostle and evangelist Luke, St Spyridon of Tremithius and St John Chrysostom. There were brought from St Petersburg to Moscow the relics of the holy and right-believing Prince Alexander Nevsky, which in turn were brought to the towns historically linked with the earthly deeds of the heavenly protector of our homeland. A great multitude of the children of the Church came to Orthodox houses of worship to venerate the saints of God, to receive from them spiritual comfort and blessing and to be healed of their infirmities of soul and body.
With the active participation of Orthodox people festivities were held in honour of the six-hundredth anniversary of the demise of St Savva Storozhevsky – disciple of St Sergius of Radonezh, prayerful intercessor for godly Russian rulers and teacher of monks. We prayed for a better future for Russia and the setting straight of her historical paths before the “Reigning” icon of the Mother of God on the ninetieth anniversary of its manifestation. We celebrated prayerfully and solemnly the ninetieth anniversary of the restoration of patriarchal rule in our Holy Church. A memorial cross was brought from Solovki Monastery to Butovo military field in Moscow in memory of the many hundreds of new martyrs and confessors of Russia, for the thousands and thousands of innocently murdered people during the years of the anti-God regime. May God grant that the memory of their spiritual heroism strengthen our nation on the paths of spiritual rebirth.
Throughout the past year I have, by the grace of God, celebrated services in the Russian capital of Moscow, visited parishes and monasteries in the Moscow region and stayed at Valaam Monastery, where I consecrated a hermitage in honour of the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God. The Lord vouchsafed me to visit the Vologda, Izhevsk and Korsun dioceses of our Church and to testify to the spiritual values and social mission of the Orthodox Church before members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. It was of this – of our faith which illumines and transforms the world – that I spoke in meetings with statesmen and people of various faiths and convictions.
The peoples who are spiritually sustained by the Russian Orthodox Church are treading firmly the path of rebirth. Many achievements have already been attained on this path. Yet life brings us difficulties, trials and temptations. In the past years attempts have been made to divide us along national, political and social lines. The Church, which has always been with her people in joy and grief, consistently reminds people that only unity can make us strong, free and capable of transforming the world. The conciliar unity of the people, from which neither the Church nor the secular authorities have any right to distance themselves, is becoming for Russian society the foundation of good deeds.
Let us preserve in holiness ‘the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’ (Eph 4:3) in our Church. And during the present radiant feast let us come to know in the depths of our hearts and minds that it is unity to which the Lord, born in Bethlehem, calls us. ‘How many blessings,’ writes St Basil the Great, ‘has the Saviour’s becoming man brought us, for divided human nature, torn asunder into thousands of parts by its own powers, is now restored to unity with itself and God.’
Your graces the archpastors, dear fathers, brothers and sisters, it is on the feast of the Nativity of Christ and the forthcoming New Year that I congratulate you all. May the light of the star of Bethlehem illumine our souls, granting us strength to tread the path of Christ. May he grant us health, peace and spiritual strength and guide us through the hard path of life. May the coming year of God’s beneficence be for our Holy Church and the people of our world peaceful, creative and blessed with success.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (1 Thes 5:28).
+Alexy, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
Moscow, The Nativity of Christ 2007/2008
New statistics of the Russian Orthodox Church
In his paper at the Diocesan Assembly of the city of Moscow, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia quoted the most recent statistics of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Today the Russian Orthodox Church includes 142 dioceses (compared to 131 last year), 193 bishops (compared to 168 last year), including 142 diocesan, 46 auxiliary and 14 retired.
The Patriarchate of Moscow includes today 732 monasteries and convents (compared to 713 last year). There are 219 male monasteries and 240 female convents in Russia. In other countries of the CIS there are 128 monasteries and 139 convents, and in other countries 3 monasteries and 3 convents.
The total number of parishes has augmented to 27 942, the total number of priests to 26 540, and the number of deacons to 3301.
Moscow Patriarchate’s Theological Commission to study the issue of primacy in the Universal Church
On December 26–27, 2007, the Synodal Theological Commission met in plenary session at the Moscow Theological Academy under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of all Belarus.
The Commission discussed possible topics next theological conference, which is scheduled for 2009.
The Commission continued its work on the assessment of the report of the Joint Commission on the Lutheran-Orthodox theological dialogue on "The Mystery of the Church: Holy Eucharist in the life of the Church". A conclusion of the Commission will be submitted to the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Commission has also begun to formulate the position of the Moscow Patriarchate on the primacy in the Universal Church (the task entrusted to the Commission by the Holy Synod, see Journal No. 26 of the Synod’s meeting on March 27, 2007). Bishop Mark of Yegoryevsk, chairman of the working group to study the primacy in the Universal Church, made a report on the activities of the working group. A report on the problem of primacy in the inter-Orthodox and inter-Christian dialogue was made by the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. Upon hearing these reports, the Theological Commission identified issues for further discussion and made a plan of work on a document expressing the position of the Moscow Patriarchate on the primacy in the Universal Church.
President of Georgetown University gives reception in honour of Bishop Hilarion
On December 17, 2007, the president of Georgetown University John DeGioia gave a reception in honour of Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev, whose Christmas Oratorio was premiered in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington DC, on the evening of the same day.
Greeting the Moscow Patriarchate’s representative, the professor pointed to his achievements in theology and inter-Christian work, and praised his contribution to the development of cultural exchange between Russia and the West.
Present at the reception were Dr James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, members of the University faculty, representatives of the US State Department, of the US Roman Catholic Episcopal Conference, and of the Orthodox Church in America.
Responding to questions at the end of the reception, Bishop Hilarion expressed his disagreement with the statement that Christianity in Europe ‘is dying.’ ‘If some Christian confessions are facing crisis in several European countries, this does not apply to the entire Europe,’ noted the Bishop. ‘Russia and other countries of the former USSR give a bright example of unprecedented spiritual revival.’ He remarked, in particular, that while 20 years ago there were only 18 monasteries and convents in the entire Russian Orthodox Church, there are now more than 700 of them, and they are filled with young monks and nuns. Theological seminaries and faculties are also full of young men studying for priesthood, and there is no ‘crisis of vocations.’
Bishop Hilarion expressed his hope that similar revival of Christianity will take place in other countries where Christian Churches are present.
"Christmas Oratorio" by Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev performed in New York and Boston
In recognition of the 200th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States, canonical reunification of the Moscow Patriarchate with the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and the long anticipated return of the historic Danilov monastery bells, owned by Harvard University for more than 75 years, the World Premiere of the Christmas Oratorio composed by the Russian Orthodox Bishop of Vienna and Austria Hilarion Alfeyev was featured at Saint Jean Baptiste Catholic Church on Tuesday, December 18, 2007.
The composition was performed by the Central Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Ministry of Defense together with the Choir of the State Tretyakov Gallery and the Youth Choir of the Musical College by the Moscow State Conservatory conducted by Valedy Khalilov. The soloists were Protodeacon Viktor Schilowsky (baritone – Evangelist), Varya Tchaykova (soprano), and Protodeacon Alexander Ageykin (bas). A group of boys from the Moscow Boys’ Cappella also took part in the performance.
The church was filled to capacity for the concert. Bishop Hilarion, just 41 years of age, was present and worked closely with the ensemble prior to the performance, but did not speak publicly. His music, however, said volumes, and was described as possessing a "transcendent" quality. The oratorio combines chanted text ― taken from Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ ― with inspiring musical compositions by the bishop, who studied music before entering the monastery and being ordained to the priesthood and later the episcopacy. He previously wrote The Passion according to Saint Matthew, which premiered in Moscow on March 27 and in Rome on March 29, 2007.
One concert attendee, the daughter of a Russian Orthodox priest, said: "Imagine this Orchestra of the Russian Ministry of Defense performing a religious piece like this, when just a few years ago Russia was a communist state!"
The New York concert at Saint Jean Baptiste was the second of three United States venues for the World Premiere. On Monday night, December 17, 3.000 guests crowded Washington’s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the debut in the nation’s capital. The final performance took place at The Memorial Church of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Thursday, December 20.
The Russian premiere of the Oratorio will take place in the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatoire on 7 January, 2008. On 17 January there will be another performance of the Oratorio at the Moscow’s recently built House of Music.
A digital video disc (DVD) of the Washington premiere of the Christmas Oratorio can be ordered here.
Source: St Jean Baptiste Church, New York
Nouvelles statistiques de l’Eglise orthodoxe russe
Dans son discours à l’assemblée diocésaine de la ville de Moscou, le patriarche Alexis a cité les nouvelles statistiques de l’Eglise orthodoxe russe.
A ce jour, l’Eglise orthodoxe russe comprend 142 diocèses (11 de plus que l’année dernière), 193 évêques (168 l’année dernière) dont 143 diocésains, 46 auxiliaires et 14 émérites.
Le patriarcat de Moscou compte aujourd’hui 732 monastères (713 l’année dernière). En Russie, il existe 219 monastères d’hommes et 240 monastères de femmes. Dans les autres pays de la CEI, 128 monastères d’hommes et 139 monastères de femmes. Dans le reste du monde, 3 monastères d’hommes et 3 monastères de femmes.
Le nombre total de paroisses s’élève à 27 942. Elles sont desservies par 26 540 prêtres et 3301 diacres.
Session d’hiver du Saint Synode de l’Eglise orthodoxe russe
Le 27 décembre, le Saint-Synode de l’Eglise orthodoxe russe s’est réuni en dernière session de cette année 2007. Il a examiné, sous la présidence du patriarche Alexis, les principaux événements survenus dans la vie de l’Eglise orthodoxe russe depuis le mois d’octobre dernier, notamment la visite en Russie du patriarche Théodore d’Alexandrie, la restitution à l’Eglise de la relique du manteau du Christ, la commémoration des victimes des presécutions soviétique, la visite du patriarche à l’église russe de Munich, la venue à Moscou du primat de l’Eglise orthodoxe des territoires tchèques et de Slovaquie.
De nouveaux saints ont été introduits dans le martyrologe. Il s’agit du dacre Serge, de la moniale Hermogène (diocèse de Moscou), du moine Agapet (monastère d’Optina Poustyn), des prêtres Dimitri, Michel, Arcadie et basile (diocèse de Tchouvachie). Ils sont tous morts martyrs pendant les persécutions soviétiques.
Le Saint-Synode a nommé Mgr Elysée, jusque-là auxiliaire du diocèse de Chersonèse, évêque de Souroge. Il succède ainsi à Mgr Innocent de Chersonèse qui, pendant deux ans, fut administrateur temporaire de ce diocèse de l’Eglise russe sur les îles britanniques.
Le Saint-Synode a modifié également le statut canonique des paroisses et communautés du patriarcat de Moscou en Italie et décidé de "les distinguer du diocèse de Chersonèse et les soumettre à la juridiction canonique de l’évêque titulaire de Bogorodsk". Jusqu’à la nomination d’un titulaire pour la chaire de Bogorodsk, les paroisses et communautés orthodoxes russes en Italie continueront à être administrées par l’archevêque Innocent de Chersonèse.
Bischof Hilarion von Wien und Österreich: Weihnachtsbotschaft an die hochwürdigen Seelsorger und die gottgeliebten Gläubigen der Diözese von Wien und Österreich des Moskauer Patriarchats
Im Herrn geliebte Väter, Brüder und Schwestern!
„Ein seltsames und glorreiches Mysterium sehe ich: als Himmel die Höhle, als cherubinischen Thron die Jungfrau, als Raum die Krippe, in der liegt der unfassbare Gott, Christus, den wir singend lobpreisen.“
Wieder ist das Weihnachtsfest gekommen, an dem wir der Ankunft unseres Herrn und Erlösers Jesu Christi in der Welt gedenken und den Herrn rühmen für Seine Liebe zum Menschengeschlecht.
„Die Liebe Gottes wurde unter uns dadurch offenbart, dass Gott seinen einzigen Sohn in die Welt gesandt hat, damit wir durch Ihn leben. Nicht darin besteht die Liebe, dass wir Gott geliebt haben, sondern dass Er uns geliebt und seinen Sohn als Sühne für unsere Sünden gesandt hat“ (1 Joh 4,9–10).
Christi Geburt ist der Beginn der Geschichte des irdischen Lebens Jesu, einer Geschichte, die durch ihre Einzigartigkeit, aber gleichzeitig auch durch ihre Alltäglichkeit zutiefst beeindruckt. Ihre Einzigartigkeit besteht darin, dass es die Geschichte Gottes ist, des Fleisch gewordenen Gottes, der Mensch geworden und in menschlicher Gestalt zu uns gekommen ist. Ihre Alltäglichkeit besteht darin, dass der Mensch gewordene Gott wie ein gewöhnlicher Mensch geboren wurde, und alle Umstände Seines irdischen Lebens an die Lebensumstände jedes anderen Menschen erinnern, deshalb kann auch jeder Mensch seine eigene Geschichte in der Lebensgeschichte Christi erkennen.
Wenn wir die Ikone der Geburt Christi betrachten, sehen wir die Mutter Gottes, das Kind in der Krippe, Frauen, die den Neugeborenen in einem Becken baden, den Verlobten Marias – Josef, der neben der Mutter und dem Kind sitzt. Und wir verstehen, dass sich eine ähnliche Szene im Leben von Millionen Familien auf der ganzen Welt wieder findet. Deshalb kann sich jede Mutter in der Gestalt der Mutter Gottes wieder erkennen, jedes Neugeborene kann im Göttlichen Kind wieder erkannt werden, jeder Vater kann sich mit Josef identifizieren.
Die Weihnachtsikone ist nicht bloß das Bild eines Ereignisses, das vor vielen Jahrhunderten geschah, sondern ein Sinnbild dessen, was im Leben eines jeden Menschen immer geschehen sollte. Vor allem erinnert uns diese Ikone an die Rolle der Frau, an ihre Berufung zur Mutterschaft, eine Berufung, die durch keine „Rechte“ ersetzt werden kann, durch keinen „Kampf um Rechte“ oder durch Rechtsgleichstellung mit dem Mann. Indem die Frau Leben schenkt und Mutter wird, erfüllt sie in vollem Maße ihre Berufung. Und auch der Mann erfüllt seine Berufung, indem er zum Vater wird, wenn er, wie der Verlobte Marias Josef die Sorge für seine Familie und die Verantwortung für ihr materielles Wohlergehen auf sich nimmt.
An diese einfachen Wahrheiten erinnert uns die Kirche in einer Zeit, in der die moralische Werteskala bei vielen Menschen umgedreht ist, in der sehr oft die Karriere, und nicht die Familie, Vergnügungen und nicht die Geburt und Erziehung von Kindern, „freie Liebe“ und nicht die Treue zur Familie an die erste Stelle gestellt werden.
Jeder von uns sollte am Fest der Geburt Christi über den Sinn und Inhalt seines Lebens nachdenken, über jene moralischen Werte, auf die sich sein Leben stützt. Denken wir immer daran, dass jeder Mensch dazu berufen ist, der Tempel Gottes zu sein, jede Familie – eine „kleine Kirche“, wo Erwachsene und Kinder an der Gnade Gottes teilhaben, wo jeder Mensch durch die unzerstörbaren Bande der Liebe mit den anderen Menschen verbunden ist.
Im vergangenen Jahr wurde die Restaurierung der Wiener Sankt Nikolaus-Kathedrale weitergeführt, des geistlichen Zentrums unserer Diözese. Im April wurden die Innenarbeiten abgeschlossen, und eine Gruppe von Ikonenmalern aus Moskau begann die Gewölbe und Mauern der Kirche auszumalen. Am 24. Mai besuchte der Präsident Russlands Vladimir Putin unsere Kathedrale. Mitte Dezember wurde eine weitere wichtige Etappe der Renovierung abgeschlossen – die Restaurierung der Außenfassade. Wenn es Gott gefällt, werden die Renovierungsarbeiten im Laufe des Jahres 2008 vollkommen abgeschlossen sein und unsere Wiener Kathedrale, die größte Kirche des Moskauer Patriarchats in Europa, wird in ihrer ganzen Pracht erstrahlen.
Für das Jahr 2008 ist ein Kirchenbau in Laa/Thaya geplant, an einer Massenbegräbnisstätte von sowjetischen Soldaten. Die Arbeit zur Errichtung orthodoxer Gemeinden wird in jenen Städten Österreichs fortgesetzt werden, wo seelsorgerischer Bedarf besteht und wo die Gläubigen selbst die Initiative einer Gemeindegründung auf sich nehmen.
Ich wünsche Ihnen allen, in Christus geliebte Väter, Brüder und Schwestern, Frieden, Freude und die Hilfe Gottes in allen guten Werken. Möge die Liebe in unseren Herzen und Familien regieren, möge die Gnade Gottes in uns niemals versiegen, und mögen uns die Worte des hl. Apostels der wegweisende Stern in unserem Leben sein: „Liebe Brüder, wir wollen einander lieben, denn die Liebe ist aus Gott, und jeder, der liebt, stammt von Gott, und erkennt Gott. Wer nicht liebt, hat Gott nicht erkannt, denn Gott ist die Liebe“ (1 Joh 4,7–8). Amen.
+Hilarion, Bischof von Wien und Österreich
Weihnachten 2007/2008б Wien
Übersetzung aus dem Russischen: Erzdiakon Viktor Schilowsky, DDr. Johann Krammer