Children’s Choir of Moscow and Moscow Oblast at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow
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Many people think of “revival” in Born-Again Proddie terms. Sober observation soon convinces all grounded people that such emotionalism rarely lasts, and hardly ever leads to real reformation and conversion. Real revival is the work of years… even generations. If one looks at Russia today, a solid foundation is there. More people go to church on a given Sunday than they do in the contemporary West. Let’s keep it simple… in the West (including the USA!) church buildings are falling vacant and finding new use as clubs, restaurants, or even private homes. In Russia, new churches pop up… most are rarely empty and operate seven days a week (if you want a pannikhida any day of the week, the priest and dirigent are normally there). People go in and light candles… they confess… they pray… it’s not like American parishes, where the church building stands locked most of the time.
The konvertsy want us to follow “Evangelical” models. I say that’s evil. If we want revival… let’s follow the Mother Church. It may take years… I certainly wouldn’t see the full fruit of it… but it’d be real, unlike Born-Again ersatz spiritualism. It’s time to take the first step… by denouncing ALL forms of “Evangelical” sectarianism (it isn’t Christian in the least) and all those who want to bring such rubbish into Christ’s Church. Let’s be REAL Christians, following the traditions given us by the Saints and our forefathers (not Antichristian “Evangelical” notions)… after all, the Church DID exist before the Born-Agains popped up, didn’t it?
BMD
Voices from Russia 
Patriarch Kirill Urged Russians to Learn from the Spiritual Experience of the Shaolin Monks
Tags: Buddhism, Buddhist, China, Chinese, Christian, Christianity, Eastern Orthodox Church, Kirill I of Moscow, martial arts, Monastery, monasticism, Moscow, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox, Orthodoxy, Patriarch Kirill, Patriarch Kirill I, People's Republic of China, political commentary, politics, Religion, Religion and Spirituality, Russia, Russian, Russian Orthodox Church, Shaolin Monastery, Shi Yongxin, spiritual battle, spiritual culture, spiritual inheritance, spiritual traditions, United States, USA
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The patriarchal press service announced that Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias discussed with Buddhist Abbot Shi Yongxin, Rector of the Shaolin Monastery, issues of inter-religious cooperation. A delegation of Chinese monks arrived in Moscow to participate in the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival. His Holiness observed, “Great martial arts originated within the brotherhood of your monastery, a most wonderful illustration of the concept that human strength depends on the strength of the spirit”. Patriarch Kirill pointed up that the most-well-armed and the richest side doesn’t necessarily win a war, rather, those who’re capable of a podvig win them, that is, those who’re spiritually strong. He lamented that modern civilisation has “as one of its idols, the idea of comfort”, saying that comfort enervates a person, it makes one weaker. Vladyki Kirill believed, rather, spiritual growth occurs in those who’re able to bridle their appetites, expressing his deep conviction that “the 21st Century, which looks for ever more comfort, should focus on spiritual education, that is, we should accompany material progress with an internal and spiritual progress of humanity”. In turn, Abbot Shi Yongxin spoke on the way of life of the Shaolin Temple.
5 September 2013
Interfax–Religion
http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=52546
Editor’s Note:
Read this:
And this:
With these, HH rebuked the USA and its hubristical drive for hegemony. Elements in the American ruling class hold the rest of the world (and, indeed, most of the American population) in contempt. I think that they’re in for a rude awakening…
BMD