A Russian priest is in Dunedin to launch a world record rowing attempt. Fedor Konyukhov aims to become the first person to row the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn, eventually completing a 27,000-kilometre solo circumnavigation of the world. Continue reading
Posts Tagged ‘Russian Orthodox’
Russian Orthodox-Catholic church unity unlikely
Thursday, May 17th, 2018
The prospect of Russian Orthodox-Catholic church unification is unlikely says Russian Orthodox head of foreign relations. This is despite ongoing talks since 2013 between Pope Francis and the spiritual head of the Orthodox Church, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Although the two church leaders agree on many issues, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk says there are some Read more
Orthodox not interested in reunion with Rome
Thursday, June 8th, 2017
When it comes to theology, the Catholic Church and the Orthodox churches are very close. We accept the same Nicene Creed, we recognize each other’s priestly and episcopal ordinations, as well as the sacraments of baptism, confession and Eucharist. Catholic and Orthodox teaching on morals are also quite compatible, with both being more conservative than Read more
Pope and Patriarch appeal for reconciliation and unity
Tuesday, February 16th, 2016
Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill have issued a deep and thorough call for reconciliation and unity amongst their two traditions. The two leaders met for 135 minutes in Cuba on February 12. It was the first meeting of this kind for nearly 1000 years. A joint statement was issued, in which Francis and Kirill Read more
Pope and Russian Orthodox head to have historic meeting
Tuesday, February 9th, 2016
Pope Francis is to meet Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill on February 12 in Cuba in what is an historic first meeting between leaders of their two churches. The meeting, which is expected to take two hours, will take place when the Pope is en route to Mexico, the Vatican announced. A statement from the Vatican Read more
Orthodox Churches to hold first ecumenical council in 1200 years
Tuesday, March 18th, 2014
Patriarchs of the world’s Orthodox Churches have agreed to hold an ecumenical council in 2016, the first in more than a millennium. The council could lead to closer ties to the Roman Catholic Church. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I fears that some churches are too isolated from each other and the outer world. Speaking to a Read more
160 year Christian history behind Ukraine unrest
Friday, March 7th, 2014
In recent days, the Ukrainian peninsula has been at the heart of what some have described as the greatest international crisis of the 21st century. But this is not the first time the region has been so critical to international affairs. Many educated people have at least heard of the great struggle known as the Read more
Survey: Big rise in number of Russian Christians
Friday, February 14th, 2014
The number of Russian residents who call themselves Christian has more than doubled according to PewResearch. Between the years 1991 and 2008, Russian adults identifying at Orthodox Christian rose from 31% to 72%, and the share of Russia’s population not identifying with any religion dropped from 61% – 18%, the February 2014 international survey shows. However Read more
Russian Orthodox official warns the West
Tuesday, July 30th, 2013The chief ecumenical official of the Russian Orthodox Church says “secularisation in disguise of democratisation” is leading Western nations toward totalitarianism. “This powerful energy today strives to finally break with Christianity, which controlled its totalitarian impulses during 17 centuries,” said Metropolitan Hilarion in an article quoted by a Russian news agency. “Eventually, it unconsciously strives Read more
Russians and Poles to sign declaration of reconciliation
Friday, August 17th, 2012
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is visiting Poland to meet the nation’s Catholic bishops and sign an unprecedented joint declaration of reconciliation. Patriarch Kirill I will sign the declaration with Archbishop Józef Michalik of Przemysl, president of the Catholic bishops’ conference, at Warsaw’s Royal Castle on August 17. “The purpose of this document Read more