In English:
President Vladimir Putin Visits the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Vienna
The Act of Canonical Communion is Signed and the First Joint Celebration of Divine Liturgy by Patriarch Alexy and Metropolitan Laurus Takes Place in Christ the Saviour Cathedral
En français:
Le président V. Poutine a visité la cathédrale orthodoxe russe de Vienne
Des représentants catholiques et protestants ont adressé leurs voeux à l'Eglise russe à l'occasion du rétablissement de son unité
Auf Deutsch:
Präsident Wladimir Putin besuchte russische Kathedrale in Wien
President Vladimir Putin Visits the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Vienna
On 25 May 2007 the Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Vienna while on an official visit to Austria. He was greeted at the Cathedral’s entrance by Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria, the Russian Orthodox Church’s Representative to the European Institutions, and by the cathedral Dean Archpriest Vladimir Tyschuk.
The President then proceeded to the church, venerated the icon of St Nicholas and lit a candle.
Bishop Hilarion then addressed to Mr Putin a welcoming speech, in which he recounted the story of the St Nicholas Cathedral: ‘This Cathedral was built on the territory of the Russian Embassy at the time when the two great Empires, Russian and Austro-Hungarian, were still in existence. The church, 55 meters high, with six domes and granite columns, was built on the money donated by the Russian Emperor and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1914 to 1945 the Cathedral was closed, and in 1945, when the Soviet troops entered Vienna, it was reopened. The main bell of the Cathedral was donated by the victorious Red Army in 1948.’
Bishop Hilarion also updated the Russian President about the restoration works, which started in the Cathedral in 2003. At present, said the Bishop, about two thirds of the works have been completed, and a group of icon-painters from Russia started painting the upper church from inside.
Responding to the Bishop, Mr Putin mentioned that the issue of the juridical recognition of the diocesan status of the Russian Orthodox diocese of Vienna and Austria was raised in his conversations with the Austrian President Heinz Fischer and with the President of the National Council (Parliament) Barbara Prammer. At present, only the St Nicholas Cathedral is recognized by Austrian law, while other parishes of the diocese are still waiting for recognition.
In remembrance of the President’s visit Bishop Hilarion presented him with a hand-made copy of the cross from the main dome of the St Nicholas Cathedral. Mr Putin, in his turn, presented the St Nicholas Cathedral with an icon of the Mother of God.
The Act of Canonical Communion is Signed and the First Joint Celebration of Divine Liturgy by Patriarch Alexy and Metropolitan Laurus Takes Place in Christ the Saviour Cathedral
On May 17, 2007, the day of the Ascension of the Lord, the Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate was signed. The ceremony of the reestablishment of the fullness of communion within one Local Russian Orthodox Church was attended by President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, along with other government officials.
From early morning, a multitude of Orthodox Christians of Moscow and pilgrims of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia began streaming to the church.
During the proskomedia, the First Hierarch of the Church Abroad arrived. His Eminence was greeted by the Secretary of the Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on talks with the Moscow Patriarchate, Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff, and the Secretary of the Commission of the Moscow Patriarchate on talks with the Church Abroad, Protopriest Nikolai Balashov. Clergymen of the Moscow Patriarchate emerged from one of the side altar doors to greet His Eminence, and an equal number of clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia from the other side. Venerating the altar-table cross, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus blessed the clerics and worshipers with it, and then entered the altar.
Greeting His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia were the archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and members of the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate, plus Archbishop Innokenty of Korsun and Archbishop Evgeny of Verey, members of the Moscow Patriarchate's Commission, who all emerged together through the Royal Doors wearing white vestments.
As the bells of Christ the Savior Cathedral pealed overhead, His Holiness was greeted by the Dean of the Central Deanery of Moscow, Protopriest Vladimir Divakov, and Senior Priest of Christ the Savior Cathedral, Protopriest Mikhail Ryazantsev.
Donning the mantle, His Holiness blessed the bishops and clergymen with the cross, after which he ascended the cathedra in the middle of the church. As His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II entered the church, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus of Eastern America and New York proceeded to the cathedra. Standing on the north and south sides were the bishops and clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate.
After the troparions, sung in turn by the unified choir of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and by Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra Choir, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia read a special prayer which included the words: “As Thee lifted Thy prayers to Thy Heavenly Father for Thy disciples, that they all be as one, gaze now with Thy merciful eyes upon Thy people, who have sinned and disobeyed Thy will, bless now our good intention and the unification of the Church to Your Glory, create this Thyself, dampen all church temptations and divisions. Having given to us Thy law to love Thee, our God, and our neighbor, deliver us from all insult and disruption, may brotherly love reign among the children of our Church, in the Fatherland and in the diaspora. Grant that we may now enter Thy temple and bring Thy bloodless sacrifice, that we may be unified in one body through communion with Thy Life-creating Body and Thy Honorable Blood and bring praise with all our hearts to Thy ineffable love for mankind.”
Then, the Secretaries of both Church Commissions, Mitred Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff and Protopriest Nikolai Balashov read the texts of the decrees of the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate and of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on the confirmation of the Act of Canonical Communion. The text of the Act itself was read from the ambo by Protodeacon Vladimir Nazarkin.
The Act was then signed on the ambo of Christ the Savior Cathedral. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus of Eastern America and New York put their signatures under this historic document. Then, with the words “Christ is among us! Now and forever,” they kissed each other three times.
Archdeacon Andrei Mazur intoned Many Years to Patriarch Alexy and the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate, to His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and its Synod of Bishops.
Another Many Years was intoned by Archdeacon Eugene Burbelo of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia: “To the God-preserved nation of Russia and her children in the Fatherland and in the diaspora, and to all Orthodox Christians—Many Years!”
Then Patriarch Alexy and Metropolitan Laurus exchanged greetings:
“Joy fills our hearts,” said His Holiness, “An historic event has taken place, which we have awaited for many years. The unity of the Church is restored. This ceremony is precious for the Church, as she gathers her children together, it is precious for our entire people. Church division is being overcome, overcome also is the conflict within society inherited from the days of the revolution. The Church is being strengthened—our Fatherland, too, is being reborn.”
Then His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus spoke, saying in part:
“Your Holiness! Your Excellency! Eminent archpastors, beloved in the Lord fathers and children of the Russian Orthodox Church!
“The first word that Christ said to His followers after He rose from the dead was ‘Rejoice.' The second word that the Lord said to His disciples after the Resurrection was ‘peace be unto you.' And so, on this holiday, we hear these greetings from the Ascended Lord, who granted us the joy of unity and blessed us with His peace. I congratulate all of you with this great joy!
“First of all, I bring thanks to the great Chief Pastor, our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave us the strength to perform this great deed. On behalf of my fellow-travelers and on my own behalf, I personally express to Your Holiness and Your Excellency the profound gratitude that fills our hearts and souls for the loving invitation to visit you, for your brotherly benevolence and hospitality, and I raise my prayers to the Altar of the All-Highest, that He send His Omnipotent help and heavenly blessing to your zealous labors for the glory of the Holy Church of Christ and our Russian people.
“On this blessed day and in this blessed hour of our spiritual communion, I want to express the hope that the brotherly bonds between both parts of the Russian Orthodox Church would constructively develop and deepen our unity and joint service to God and the Russian people, in the Fatherland and in the diaspora. Amen.”
His Holiness then addressed the Chief of State of the Russian Federation, noting his participation in the work of reestablishing unity within the Local Russian Orthodox Church. His Holiness reminded everyone that a few years ago, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, during a visit to New York, met with His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and the members of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. “In you they saw a person dedicated to Russia, an Orthodox Christian who serves his people,” said the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In memory of this event, His Holiness gave the President a triptych representing the Life-Giving Trinity, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the Icon of the Host of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.
The Russian President then addressed those present. He said that the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion is an epochal event not only in the history of the Church but in the life of society in general. This event places an end to the division of the Church in the Fatherland and abroad.
After the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion, a solemn Divine Liturgy began, at the end of which His Holiness and His Eminence exchanged greetings.
After Liturgy followed the opening of an exhibition on the recent history of the Russian Orthodox Church, the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia and the discussions on reconciliation that led to the restoration of brotherly communion and the unity of the Local Russian Orthodox Church.
On May 19, 2007, the birth date of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and his fellow-travellers participated in the great consecration of a new church of the Resurrection of Christ and the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Butovo, on the outskirts of Moscow. Singing during Divine Liturgy, in addition to the Sretensky Monastery men's choir, was the unified choir of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia under the direction of Peter Fekula. At the end of divine services, His Eminence turned to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and all those in attendance with the following greeting:
“Your Holiness! Beloved-in-the-Lord archpastors, pastors and children of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia!
“Today is both a sorrowful and joyful day. Sorrowful because this place was a place of the suffering and death of a multitude of faithful children of the Church, yet joyful, because the Holy Church now makes eternal their memory by this memorial temple of God. Their podvigi now bind us with stronger spiritual ties.
“As you know, upon the consecration of every church, a relic of a martyr is placed into the altar table. Here, the earth was thoroughly soaked with the blood of the martyrs and sown with their bones, and it shall be as an altar table to Christ our God. Long ago, a prophet said of the persecutors of the Church of Christ and of God's People: ‘I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.'
“May their memory be cleared from the hearts of men, and the Church of Christ established on the Russian land for ages and ages! Amen.
“In memory of today's joint praising of the memory of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, we ask that you accept from us for this newly-consecrated church a gift: an icon of St John of Shanghai with a portion of his holy relics. Vladyka John held sacred the memory of the New Martyrs, and by his efforts, the Memorial Church in Brussels was built dedicated to the Righteous Royal Passion-bearers and all the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.”
Source: Official Site of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
Le président V. Poutine a visité la cathédrale orthodoxe russe de Vienne
Le 24 mai 2007, pour la fête des saints Cyrille et Méthode, M. Vladimir Poutine, président de la Fédération de Russie, a visité la cathédrale orthodoxe russe Saint-Nicolas à Vienne, où il a été accueilli par Mgr Hilarion (Alfeyev), évêque orthodoxe en Autriche et en Hongrie et représentant de l'Eglise orthodoxe russe auprès des institutions européennes, ainsi que par le recteur de la cathédrale le père Vladimir Tyshuk.
Dans la conversation avec l'évêque Hilarion le président de la Russie s'est informé sur les relations entre le diocèse orthodoxe russe en Autriche et l'Eglise russe hors frontières. Mgr Hilarion a noté qu'il existe une paroisse de l'Eglise russe hors frontières à Salzburg, dont les fidèles attendaient avec impatience le rétablissement de la communion entre les deux parties de l'orthodoxie russe. "Aujourd'hui l'ambiance dans la diaspora russe est festive, a conclu l'évêque Hilarion, parce que les divisions qui avaient duré pendant des dizaines d'années sont enfin dépassées".
Mgr Hilarion a énoncé également l'histoire de la cathédrale Saint-Nicolas, "construite sur le territoire de l'ambassade de Russie" à l'époque impériale grâce aux moyens offerts par l'empereur et le ministère des affaires étrangères. "La cathédrale a été fermée de 1914 à 1945; les liturgies n'ont pu reprendre qu'en 1945 lorsque Vienne a été libérée par l'armée soviétique."
Le président V. Poutine s'est informé sur les travaux de restauration qui ont été entrepris par l'évêque Hilarion en 2003. Deux tiers de travaux prévus ont été déjà accompli, a souligné Mgr Hilarion, et aujourd'hui des artistes ont commencé à décorer les murs de la cathédrale par des fresques. Les travaux de la cathédrale, propriété de l'Etat russe, sont réalisés grâce au soutien des sponsors privés et de l'ambassade de la Russie en Autriche.
Des représentants catholiques et protestants ont adressé leurs voeux à l'Eglise russe à l'occasion du rétablissement de son unité
Le cardinal Walter Kasper, président du Conseil pontifical pour la promotion de l'unité des chrétiens, a adressé un message au patriarche Alexis de Moscou et de toute la Russie à l'occasion du rétablissement de la communion et de l'unité canonique avec l'Eglise orthodoxe russe hors frontières. "La souffrance de votre Eglise ne nous est pas étrangère, affirme le cardinal Kasper dans sa lettre, elle qui a été divisée par l'idéologie communiste et ses tristes conséquences. C'est la raison pour laquelle nous comprenons et partageons l'immense joie que les communautés orthodoxes russes - et pas seulement elles - vivent ces jours-ci. La grande aspiration à la communion entre les deux parties de votre Eglise que nous avons observée ces derniers mois nous est très proche". Le cardinal Kasper a transmis également au patriarche Alexis les voeux du pape Benoît XVI et a adressé un message au métropolite Cyrille de Smolensk et de Kaliningrad.
Un autre message a été adressé au patriarche Alexis par les représentants de l'Union des chrétiens évangéliques baptistes de Russie qui soulignent notamment: "La portée de cet événement ne peut être surestimée. C'est un miracle de la miséricorde divine, un signe excellent et un bon témoignage au monde de l'aspiration des églises vers l'unité dans le Christ".
Präsident Wladimir Putin besuchte russische Kathedrale in Wien
Der russische Präsident Wladimir Putin hat am Donnerstag 24. Mai 2007 zum Abschluss seiner Österreich-Visite die historische russisch-orthodoxe Nikolauskathedrale im 3. Bezirk besucht. Am Tor der Kathedrale, die auf dem Gelände der russischen Botschaft steht, wurde Putin vom Wiener russisch-orthodoxen Bischof Hilarion (Alfejew) und dem Pfarrer der Kathedrale, Erzpriester Wladimir Tyschuk, empfangen. Bischof Hilarion begrüßte den Präsidenten mit den Worten: "Willkommen in der Wiener Nikolauskathedrale, der großartigsten Kathedrale des Moskauer Patriarchats außerhalb der Grenzen seines kanonischen Territoriums".
Der Wiener russische Bischof erinnerte bei der Besichtigung daran, dass die Kathedrale zu einem Zeitpunkt erbaut wurde, als es noch die beiden großen Kaiserreiche - Österreich-Ungarn und das Russische Reich - gab. Der Bau des eindrucksvollen Gotteshauses sei aus Mitteln des Zaren und des Außenministeriums in St. Petersburg finanziert worden. Von 1914 bis 1945 sei die Kirche geschlossen gewesen, "aber im Jahr 1945, nach der Befreiung Wiens durch sowjetische Truppen, wurden in der Kathedrale die Gottesdienste wieder aufgenommen". Die 1948 geweihte größte Glocke der Kirche sei ein Geschenk der Roten Armee.
Präsident Putin informierte sich über den Fortschritt der Restaurierungsarbeiten, die in der Kathedrale seit dem Jahr 2003 durchgeführt werden. Zwei Drittel der vorgesehenen Arbeiten sind bereits abgeschlossen; derzeit werde an der künstlerischen Gestaltung der Oberkirche gearbeitet. Bischof Hilarion dankte den Sponsoren der Restaurierung, dem russischen Staat sowie den Konzernen "Lukoil" und "Gazexport". Die Restaurierungsarbeiten würden auch durch den russischen Botschafter S.W. Ossadtschij aktiv unterstützt.
Bei der Besichtigung der Kathedrale interessierte sich Präsident Putin auch für die Beziehungen zwischen den Gemeinden des Moskauer Patriarchats und der russischen Auslandskirche (ROCOR; Synode von Jordanville) in Österreich. Bischof Hilarion verwies darauf, dass es in Österreich derzeit in Salzburg eine Gemeinde der Auslandskirche gibt, deren Mitglieder "mit Ungeduld" die in der Vorwoche erfolgte Unterzeichnung des Aktes über die Wiederherstellungder kanonischen Gemeinschaft erwartet hätten. Wie in aller Welt sei auch unter den Russen in Österreich derzeit die Stimmung eine festliche, da nun die Trennung in der Kirche überwunden sei.
Der russische Präsident betonte bei der Begegnung mit Bischof Hilarion ausdrücklich, dass er im Verlauf seiner Gespräche mit Bundespräsident Heinz Fischer und mit Nationalratspräsidentin Barbara Prammer die Frage der Anerkennung der russisch-orthodoxen Diözese Wien und Österreich angesprochen habe. Derzeit ist nur die Nikolauskathedrale mit ihrer Gemeinde staatlich anerkannt, die russisch-orthodoxe Diözese Wien und Österreich hat nicht den Status einer juridischen Person. Wie Putin sagte, hätten seine österreichischen Gesprächspartner versprochen, diese Frage aufmerksam zu prüfen.
KAP/www.orthodoxeurope.org