RIA Novosti

Of Prayers and Rallies

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:08:06 GMT

I climbed on the podium for journalists and looked around. In the beautiful spring weather, the broad street in front of the Christ the Savior Cathedral was filled with people as far as one could see. There were thousands, tens of thousands, many more than the expected 25,000.

You know it when you see it

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:54:00 GMT

Voice of Russia radio called me today, asking for a comment about the Americans burning the Quran in Afghanistan, an action that generated mass protests in that Muslim country against the Americans. In the corky mood, I asked the radio producer: Why are you asking me about blasphemy by Americans in Afghanistan instead of the blasphemy by Russians in Russia? That’s covered by another program, I was told.

No Longer an Ancient Curiosity

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:33:00 GMT

The Thirteenth Apostle was in town earlier this week. The Judge of the Whole Universe. I am not kidding. His name is Theodoros II, and he is the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.

Children of the Church

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:50:46 GMT

This year’s Christmas, which according to the ancient Julian calendar falls in the Russian Orthodox Church on January 7, was full of important messages, including the church’s elaborated position on the tense political situation in the country following the December parliamentary elections and the ensuing mass protests against alleged electoral fraud.

Listening to the people

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:07:49 GMT

Finally, it is official! Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, who had remained silent and out of sight ever since he voted, in front of television cameras, in the State Duma elections on Dec. 4th, made two consecutive statements last weekend on the political situation in the country.

Faith Meets International Bureaucracy

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:35:41 GMT

The event had a long name. Clearly, the people who coined it had never worked for a newspaper, let alone a news website. Or, perhaps, the diplomats from the Council of Europe had to satisfy many conflicting interests in the elaboration process, as is always the case with international organizations.

Svyatynya

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:47:00 GMT

The Belt of the Virgin Mary currently on an unprecedented tour of Russia is a great illustration of the immense popularity of relics, wonder-making icons or other holy objects, commonly known in Russian as svyatyni – a phenomenon largely forgotten in the Christian West, but very much alive in the Christian East and flourishing in today’s Russia.

Surb Khach and the Earthquake

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:57:00 GMT

When all those dead in this earthquake are mourned and laid to rest, when all the wounded are taken care of, the world will want to know about the status of the great remains of the centuries of Armenian presence in Eastern Turkey. By behaving one way or another in that regard, Turkey can either make a step towards healing the old wounds or stir them once again.

The Romance-Slavic Symbiosis

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:33:00 GMT

Last week, I went to Chisinau for the first time in my life, and I realized that this country would probably remain weak and messy, but sovereign. Moreover, despite the language and a substantial shared history with Romania, Moldovan identity, surprisingly, goes much deeper than the Soviet Union. It is certainly associated with being part of the Russian Empire since around the turn of the 18th and 19th century, but also offers an interesting case study of the complex relationship between the church and nationhood in this part of the world.

Leaving to Come

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:32:00 GMT

One can probably feel sorry that Karol Wojtyla never realized his dream of coming to Moscow during his lifetime. But there is something very Christian about the fact that the Blessed John Paul had to die in order to come here.

Brotherly Love

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:32:00 GMT

The latest meeting of the top Council of the Moscow-aligned Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) produced little tangible result, but nonetheless stirred deep passions among believers and underscored rising tensions along the spiritual frontier between Orthodox and Western Christianity.

Why Cathedral Square?

Tue, 17 May 2011 13:33:00 GMT

There is a Cathedral Square in every city. At least in Europe. It’s a city square adjacent to the main church – the place, where the Church meets the public. It is, in fact, the public square.