Publications

After the white smoke over the Sistine Chapel heralded the election of new Summus Pontifex, the question on the minds of millions of believers the world over was finally answered: 76-year-old Argentinian cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became a new Pope of Rome.The election of the Argentinian cardinal was a surprise for many, for he was not among the favorites as the successor of Benedict XVI who abdicated the Holy See, even though at the previous Conclave he was the main "rival" of future Pope Benedict XVI. The Archbishop of Buenos Aires who became the 266th pontifex took the name of Francis. This was not a casual, but a rather symbolic...

Today’s France is the model of a secular state, but it still keeps a multitude of ancient Christian relics, including from the period when the Orthodox and Catholic churches had not yet split apart. Correspondent of the newspaper Kultura Yuri Kovalenko interviewed Principal of the Pilgrimage Center at Korsun Eparchy of the Moscow Patriarchy, arch-presbyter of two Orthodox missions – St. Helen in Paris and Saint Nicholas in Saint-Nicolas-de-Port – Father Nikolai Nikishin about the standing of Orthodoxy in France.– Father Nikolai, when did the modern Russian pilgrimage to France begin?– Everything began in 1997...

Paschal Message of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill to the Archpastors, Pastors, Deacons, Monastics and All the Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church Beloved in the Lord Your Graces the archpastors, all-honourable presbyters and deacons, God-loving monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters! In spiritually rejoicing on this great and glorious feast of the Resurrection from the dead of the Saviour of the world, in contemplating in my thoughts his emergence from the tomb, I address to you all the life-affirming exclamation which is replete with inner strength, unvanquished truth and joy: CHRIST IS RISEN! The radiant Paschal night...

The website rememberrussia.ru published an interview with Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relation and a member of the board of trustees of the Russkiy Mir Foundation. Metropolitan Hilarion spoke about the church’s work to cooperate with and support expatriates and about dialogue with international organizations concerning the persecution of Christians in various parts of the world. – His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, speaking during the celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the Department for External Church Relations,...

A welcoming ceremony for one of the greatest Orthodox relics – Cincture of the Mother of God – was held on November 19, 2011, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. First Vice President of St. Andrew Foundation and the Center of National Glory, Mikhail Yakushev, put forward the idea in 2012 that a unique pilgrimage project be organized, and this proved to be a groundbreaking event. He shared his thoughts with the Russkiy Mir portal: These days you cannot help pondering the words of the Most Holy Patriarch Kirill about the crisis that is roving not only over Europe, but over the whole world, as the judgment of God. And...

This week the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia turns 65. Soon three years will lapse since the time, when he became Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne first, and later the Patriarch. It’s time to review the administration reforms in the Russian Orthodox Church. What has changed during these years? Collegiality and centralization Reforming the church’s central bodies was a primary concern of Patriarch Kirill. The head of the church was creating a so-called “customized fit” for the new administration standards in accordance with his own reform agenda. First of all, Cyril’s main rival, Metropolitan Clement,...