The Easternmost Orthodox Church in Russia shall be Built on Bering Island in the Komandorski Archipelago near Kamchatka

Celebration in the village of Nikolskoe on Bering Island in the Komandorski Archipelago near Kamchatka, the native people are related to the Aleuts of Alaska

The easternmost Orthodox church in Russia shall be built on Bering Island in the Komandorski Islands. At present, no Orthodox church building exists in this island group, although the history of Orthodoxy in these parts goes back some two centuries. The first church in the islands was built at the beginning of the 19^th century, according to Fr Viktor, the rector of the parish of St Nicholas in the village of Nikolskoe, which is located in the archipelago.

On the orders of Grigori Shelekhov and Nikolai Rezanov, in 1799, the Russian-American Company delivered the materials for four churches by sea to the Komandorski Islands, the Aleutians, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski. Ss Nicholas and Innocent church in the islands was dedicated to St Nicholas the Wonderworker, the patron of sailors and fishermen, and to St Innocent of Irkutsk, the Enlightener of Siberia. Only incomplete church records have been preserved to the present day, the earliest records available are dated 1902. A new church was erected in the 1890s, but, it was closed after the October Revolution, with the building becoming first a local club, and, then, a hostel. In 1983, the old church building burned down.

The new church shall be built in a different location, as the old settlement, where the old St Nicholas church was located, is in an area prone to tsunamis. Plans are for the new building, 15 metres (49 feet) in length and 10 metres (33 feet) in width, to be erected first in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski, then, it shall be dismantled for shipment by sea to the Komandorski Islands. A site in the centre of the village of Nikolskoe has been selected, in accordance with local zoning ordinances.

27 October 2008

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=27080

A Molieben Opened the “Radonezh” Film and Television Festival in Moscow

Panel discussion at the 2007 Radonezh Festival

The 13^th “Radonezh” International Festival of Films and Television Programmes opened on Monday, 27 October, with a molieben to the Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir at the church of St Nicholas in Tolmachakh at the Tretyakov Gallery. As a part of the festival, today, the Chorus of the Tretyakov Gallery under the direction of Aleksei Puzakov, Honoured Artist of Russia, shall give a concert during the daytime, and, this evening, the formal opening of the festival shall take place in White Hall of the Central House of Cinema Arts, the centrepiece of the affair being a showing of the film, Nikolai II: Sorbanny Triumpf (Nikolai II: The Torn-away Triumph).

The episode of Pravoslaviya Planeta dealing with Greece

The Festival shall run until 31 October. This year, there are some 180 entrants. The competition panel selected 48 works from Australia, Bulgaria, Byelorussia, and the Ukraine, along with productions from Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan, Birobidzhan, and other Russian cities to compete for festival awards. The works showcased at the festival tell, in artistic form, about both individuals and society in their relations with family values, which are the stable foundation of the Orthodox world-view. An overriding priority of the Radonezh Festival is the search for works that deal in an artistic manner with the problems involved with the strengthening of family values and the spiritual-moral upbringing of young people, thus, giving a meaning to the events of ordinary life.

The episode of Pravoslaviya Planeta dealing with Mount Athos

This year, the event is free and open to the general public. In particular, there are going to be free showings of films and TV programmes, master-classes are on offer, and ordinary people shall have the chance to meet producers and other figures. Amongst the most noticeable works to be shown are the cycle Planeta Pravoslaviya (Orthodox Planet) and Gallipoiskoye Stoyanie (A Stand at Gallipoli). All the major television networks in Russia are going to be represented in the competition. The festival has been in operation since 1995 with the blessing of Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and all Russia. It is also sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the RF agencies for cinematography, press, and mass media, the Russian Union of Cameramen, and the local government of Moscow.

27 October 2008

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=27078

Patriarch Pavle of Serbia Retires from the Active Ministry

Patriarch Pavle Stojčević of Serbia (1914- )

The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Serbia granted the request of Patriarch Pavle Stojčević to retire from the active ministry as head of the Local Church. Since 13 November 2007, the 94-year-old First Hierarch of the Serbian Church has been confined to his bed under treatment in hospital at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade. In May, the Archpastoral Council of the Patriarchate of Serbia transferred the patriarchal authority to Metropolitan Amfilohije of Chernogorodsk and Primorie due to its concerns over the serious health problems of Patriarch Pavle. On 11 November, a sobor shall convene in Belgrade for the purpose of electing a new First Hierarch for the Patriarchate of Serbia, according to a report on the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Patriarch Pavle Stojčević of Serbia was born on 11 September 1914. In 1957, he was raised to the episcopate, becoming the Bishop of Rasko-Prizren. In 1990, Bishop Pavle was elected Patriarch of Serbia by the Archpastoral Council to replace Patriarch German, who retired for health reasons, and Patriarch Pavle became the 44^th patriarch of the Serbian Local Church.

27 October 2008

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=27079

Muslim Magomaev. Geroi Sporta (The Heroes of Sport)

On 25 October, Muslim Magometovich Magomaev, one of the most loved Russian pop and opera singers died. There is no Russian alive who has not heard his artistry and loves it. I did not wish to make a “sad” tribute to Muslim Magometovich, for it would not be what he wished. This song is in honour of our Russian sportsmen and coaches. It is the sort of positive message that he always sent. He was never a distant celebrity or a disconsolate brooder. Let us do the same. God give you rest, Muslim Magometovich, you enriched our lives so much. Spare a prayer for the soul of a great man today, if you would.