Fasts & Feasts
May
6 - Samaritan Woman
13 - Man Born Blind
17 - Ascension
20 - Holy Fathers
27 - Pentecost
Latest Forum Discussions
Russian Orthodox official blasts Stalin
Tuesday, 11 May 2010 07:48
CWNews.com - As Russian recalled the 65th anniversary of victory over the Nazis in World War II, the deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations blasted Communist dictator Joseph Stalin.
“An inhuman system was established under Stalin's regime, and nothing can justify it-- neither industrialization, nor the atomic bomb, nor keeping of the state borders, not even the victory in the Great Patriotic War [World War II], because it was not the personal merit of Stalin, but the achievements of our multinational people,” said Hieromonk Philipp Ryabykh.
“We should understand that the Great Patriotic War had a redemptive meaning,” said Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, at a prayer service commemorating the event, adding that the war “disclosed God's truth about ourselves, punished us for the sin, showing us strength and weakness of our people.”
“We had strength to win and now we're bearing a great responsibility not to deviate from this great historical duty-- to be winners.”
Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.
- Russian Orthodox Church warns against glorification of Stalin (Interfax)
- Patriarch Kirill conducts first thanksgiving prayer service for the Great Victory (Interfax)
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
The Spirit of Truth
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fill all things. Treasury of Blesings and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Hymn from the Vespers of Pentecost
Wisdom from the Church Fathers
| Do we forgive our neighbors their trespasses? God also forgives us in His mercy. Do we refuse to forgive? God, too, will refuse to forgive us. As we treat our neighbors, so also does God treat us. The forgiveness, then, of your sins or unforgiveness, and hence also your salvation or destruction, depend on you yourself, man. For without forgiveness of sins there is no salvation. You can see for yourself how terrible it is. St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, Journey to Heaven |