27 August 2016. A Photo Essay… HH Visited Severomorsk to Bless the Fleet

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The Church, by tradition, blesses Christian warriors and their weapons prior to their going to war. At present, the USA thunders aggression… therefore, HH visits the forces and blesses them for possible conflict. I, for one, wish that no war ensues… however, that’s completely in the hands of the USA, for Russia doesn’t want war. The likes of Clinton, Trump, and Johnson give me no cause for optimism (the support given by clueless rightwing ROCOR sorts to Trump is ignorant self-hatred of the highest order)… Stein is the only peace candidate.

I pray for peace… but the juvenile fecklessness of toddler Anglo America gives me little hope… their greed, vacuity, and hubris knows no bounds…

BMD

Patriarch Kirill: “The Readiness of the Northern Fleet Depends Largely on the Spiritual Strength and Faith of its Sailors”

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On Thursday, Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias visited the flagship of the Northern Fleet, the nuclear-powered battlecruiser TARKR 099 Pyotr Veliki, the world’s largest non-aviation warship. On 28 July 2012, a decree of the President of the Russian Federation awarded the Order of Nakhimov to the cruiser “for the courage, dedication, and professionalism shown by the ship company in performing its command assignments”. During his pastoral visit, he told sailors:

The readiness of the Northern Fleet, which keeps the peace in Russia and abroad, depends largely on the spiritual strength and faith of its sailors; spiritual support of our forces is one of the key tasks of the Church. Those who take the military oath especially need spiritual help; we all believe that the sailors of the Northern Fleet will show full combat readiness if they have strong faith and strong spirit.

Addressing the staff of the Northern Fleet after his arrival in Severomorsk, Vladyki Kirill emphasised:

As we’re a nuclear power, spiritual healthiness in our personnel is key to maintaining the peace, both domestically and globally; it guarantees that they can carry out their duties, with all that such brings to the life of the Motherland. Maybe, one day, there may come a time that the outcome of a battle or a successful endeavour will depend precisely on the spiritual state of our soldiers.

In turn, Vice-Admiral N A ‪Yevmenov, Commander of the Northern Fleet, told the patriarch:

For all Orthodox, a word from our pastor and the Word of God mean a lot. Let’s take some examples… Admirals Ushakov and Nakhimov are holy names for every one of the Orthodox warriors under the flag of St Andrew the Apostle. Our grandfathers fought under this flag… under this flag, we go out to sea and carry out our service. The words, “All those who go to sea pray to God”… these aren’t empty words for us.

18 August 2016

Aleksei Mikheyev

RIA Novosti

http://ria.ru/religion/20160818/1474695054.html

1 October 2013. A Photo Essay. Our Great Russian Motherland… The Kola Peninsula in Autumn

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One of the most northernmost parts of Russia is the Kola Peninsula. The ice-free port of Murmansk is here, along with the main Northern Fleet bases of Polyarny and Severomorsk. The Peninsula lies completely within Murmansk Oblast, and virtually all of the oblast’s territory is on the Peninsula. This is one of the most militarily-significant regions in Russia, the main base for Russia’s submarine strategic nuclear deterrent force is here (although Sevmash, the builder of all Russian nuclear-powered submarines, is in Severodvinsk near Arkhangelsk). Nevertheless, most of the Peninsula is wild, with the total population of 800,000 spread over an area of 144,900 square kilometres (55,946 square miles)… 40 percent of the population is in the single city of Murmansk. Most of the people live in a small area between Polyarny on the Barents Sea and Kandalaksha on the White Sea.

BMD

17 June 2008. Out and about…

French Warship Visits Russia

French frigateTourville underway at sea

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The French Navy frigate Tourville called at the main base of the Russian Northern Fleet, Severomorsk, on a working visit. This is the second time that Severomorsk played host to the crew of Tourville. Back in 2004, the frigate took part in a Russian-French naval exercise in the Atlantic. Now, the French seamen shall, whilst they are in the Arctic Circle area, meet the Northern Fleet command, visit the Fleet museum, and enjoy the sights of the nearby city of Murmansk. An athletic competition was also scheduled between the crews of Tourville and the Russian warship Admiral Chabanenko.

11 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=28292&cid=87&p=11.06.2008

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Russians Should Strongly Rebuff Any Attempts to Sow Ethnic Discord

Rav Berel Lazar (1964- ), the Chief Rabbi of Russia

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Rav Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, said that Russians should strongly rebuff any attempts to sow ethnic discord amongst them in Moscow on Wednesday. He mentioned that the peoples of Russia belong to different confessions, living side by side with one another for ages, and they always sought friendship and mutual assistance, this was how they strengthened the state, promoting its might and prosperity. We should serve as an example for the whole world, an example of a country that’s based on the unity of its spiritual and moral values, Rav Lazar emphasised.

12 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=28326&cid=48&p=12.06.2008

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Russia’s Seven Wonders Named on Red Square

The Mother Motherland Calls monument in Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad)

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The list of the most impressive places includes the highest peak in Europe, Mt Elbrus, the world’s oldest lake, Lake Baikal, St Basil Cathedral in Moscow, Peterhof Museum-Reserve in St Petersburg, the Valley of Geysers in the Far East, the Mother Motherland Calls monument in Volgograd, and the Stony Idols in the Republic of Komi. 49 noteworthy places were entered in the competition. The competition was organised last autumn. It’s goal was to help revive patriotism and attract attention to the restoration and preservation of unique cultural and natural objects in Russia.

13 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=28351&cid=48&p=13.06.2008

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Sevastopol Celebrated its 225th birthday

The Harbour of Sevastopol

Konstantin Korovin

1916

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The Crimean city of Sevastopol celebrated its 225th birthday. The three-day celebrations brought together delegates of 26 oblasts of the Ukraine and 10 oblasts of Russia. The Russian delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, who’s expected to arrive in Sevastopol Saturday. The first day of the celebrations highlighted the reopening of the city’s Primorsky Boulevard. Flowers will be laid at the monument to the defence of Sevastopol in World War II. A molieben at the Cathedral of St Vladimir of the Chersonesus Taurica Reserve has been scheduled for Saturday. The people of Sevastopol and visitors are invited to visit vessels of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and the Ukrainian Navy. The celebrations will close with an outdoor show on Sunday.

13 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=28356&cid=48&p=13.06.2008

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Best Russian Healthcare Professionals to Receive Awards

The best Russian health care professionals are about to receive awards for their contribution to the saving of human lives and the advancement of medicine, or, to be more precise, for trail-blazing surgery, new methods of diagnosing and treatment, and loyalty to their chosen profession. All bids for the reception of medical awards are filtered, in three rounds of vetting, by leading experts. Awards to leading doctors are handed out every year on 15 June, Healthcare Professionals Day.

13 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=28358&cid=48&p=13.06.2008

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More Than 4 Million Healthcare Professionals Across Russia areMarking Their Professional Holiday

More than 4 million healthcare professionals all over Russia mark their professional holiday on Sunday. Amongst them are more than 700,000 qualified doctors, a spokesman for Health and Social Development Ministry said, adding that this year will see the opening of 15 state-of-the-art medical centres in Russia.

15 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=28384&cid=48&p=15.06.2008

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Protest Action Underway in Kiev Against Attempts to Draw the Ukraine into NATO

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (1948- ), Secretary General of NATO

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A protest action’s underway in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev against attempts to draw the country into NATO. The protesters are picketing the building of President Viktor Yushchenko’s Secretariat. Yushchenko has been pressing hard for Ukraine’s joining the North Atlantic Alliance. The protest was timed for a visit to the Ukraine later today of the NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Yesterday, de Hoop Scheffer said the people of the Ukraine should themselves decide on whether they wish NATO membership. According to opinion polls, more than a half of Ukrainians are opposed to joining NATO, with no more than a third of Ukrainians supporting the idea. Russia’s opposed to NATO’s further advancement eastwards, since this poses a threat to its security. Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov warned that if the Ukraine joined NATO, it may entail the introduction of a visa régime between the two countries, and the disruption of current cooperation in military technologies.

16 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=28423&cid=48&p=16.06.2008

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Ban Ki-Moon and Vladimir Putin Named the World’s Two Most Popular Politicians

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (1952- ). Go git ’em, Vlad!

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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were named the world’s two most popular politicians. A poll conducted by the World Public Opinion Association in 19 countries puts US President George W Bush on the list of the few politicians who are not trusted even in their own countries. Worldwide, President Bush is trusted by a mere 23 percent of respondents, and his approval rating in the Middle East is even lower than that.

17 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=28462&cid=48&p=17.06.2008

Voice of Russia World Service