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Russian Orthodox celebrate Cuban parish

Havana, Apr. 07 (CWNews.com) - The Russian Orthodox Church, which has frequently protested the evangelical efforts of Catholic missionaries in traditionally Orthodox countries, is celebrating the opening of Russian Orthodox parish in Cuba.

Four Russian Orthodox bishops traveled to Havana late in March to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in a building that once was a Roman Catholic church, but has been transformed into a museum by the Castro regime.

After the service, Bishop Feofan of Stavropol said that the new Orthodox parish church, being built in the center of Havana, will bear witness to the friendship between the Russian and Cuban peoples. The Patriarchate of Moscow reported that Cuban government officials, too, see the budding Orthodox parish as "the tribute to the long-lasting friendship between the Cuban and Russian people."

The Moscow patriarchate reported that there are about 2,000 members of the Orthodox community in Havana. Most of them have arrived in the recent years, as diplomats or as immigrants, as a result of the close ties that linked the Castro government to the regimes of Eastern Europe before the collapse of Communism.

IS OUTRAGE!

Was Orthodox Christians in 19th century Cuba! No! Cuba is Catholic country, and Roman at that. All peoples in Cuba Catholic, whether or not practising, or even baptised. Orthodox in Cuba sign of Russian Orthodox patriarchal imperialism and proselytism! No place for Orthodoxy in Cuba. Any Orthodox in Cuba should be Catholic - is good for them!

(With NO apologies to certain Orthodox hierarchs. )

Σώσον, Κύριε, καί διαφύλαξον η�άς από τών Βασιλιάνικων τάξεων!

May God look with favor on and grant many years to our Russian Orthodox brethren in their undertaking of a mission in Havana.

Hey RandyFermo!
I also read that the Russian Orthodox Church, which has frequently protested the evangelical efforts of Catholic missionaries in traditionally Orthodox countries, is celebrating the opening of a Russian Orthodox parish in Cuba.
Smacks of hypocrisy, doesn't it?

One might note that the article in question indicates that there are about 2,000 Russian Orthodox faithful in Cuba; it doesn't seem to me that they should be denied pastoral care.

Many years,

Neil

Neil:
Of course the Russian Orthodox faithful in Cuba should have their own pastoral care, but shouldn't the Ukrainian Cathoilic faithful in Eastern and Southern Ukraine have theirs too?
Why has the Patriarch of Moscow been denying Ukrainian Greek Catholics their God-given right to worship as Greek Catholics?
That's the hypocrisy.

I agree. The next time Alexy starts whining about Catholic proselytizing in Russia, it would be good to note the presence of Russian Orthodox Churches in Catholic areas. Does the Vatican have the guts to do that? HAHAHAHAHAHA

Yes it does but is the Roman Church petty enough to complain about 'proselytism' throughout the Ancient Western Patriarchy and traditionally Catholic countries? Thankfully the answer is no.

I don't think it's a matter of pettiness, just a case of what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Alexy is allowed to get away with entirely too much and is petty beyond belief. I think Rome's concessions are considered by him to be a sign of weakness, and he uses that to his advantage.

And perceptions don't always match reality!

Amado

Its Saturday, and I got so much stuff to do today.

I got no view right now ....but I think we all need to find common ground.

Here is another juicy article...

In Russian Church, Still an Undercurrent of Animosity to the Vatican and the Pope By STEVEN LEE MYERS and ERIN E. ARVEDLUND
Published: April 7, 2005

MOSCOW, April 6 - Last August, a delegation from the Vatican came here bearing an old Russian Orthodox icon that Pope John Paul II had kept in his private chambers for more than a decade. Already in the twilight of his papacy, the pope hoped the return of the icon, known as the Mother of God of Kazan, would at last clear the way for one of his lasting but unfulfilled desires: a papal visit to Russia.

READ MORE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/07/international/worldspecial2/07russia.html

And the reality is??? Alexy is a difficult man to figure out. On the one hand, he seems to want to reestablish a Russian Imperial theocracy. On the other, he can reach out and say good things, but always with one of his little "digs" at the West. What is the reality where he is concerned?

The Orthodox in Cuba are NOT being denied pastoral care, as an Orthodox Church under the EP was opened last year or the year before. Frankly, I think that might be what is annoying Pat. Alexy...the EP has a mural of himself and Castro on the wall of that church, and if the EP has a mural, then Alexy wants one, too!

Gaudior, who thinks that the Vatican SHOULD remind Alexy of this fact the next time the subject of Catholics in traditionally Orthodox countries comes up.

I do not object to or deny the Orthodox to minister to their faithful in Cuba or anywhere else.

I do object to Alexey. It seems to me that Alexey often acts more like a Russian chauvinist than a shepherd of God. I think he will be the last to understand that Ukraine does not belong to him or to any Russian.

The next time I hear of an appeal to aid the Catholic Church in Russia, I'm opening up the checkbook.

LOL! I'm the only Cuban Orthodox person I know, but I found your Onion Dome spoof funny! I don't think that Orthodoxy will catch on big in Havana...Cubans are fundamentally carnivorous and the fasting would be a turn-off.

There does seem to be a double standard, though. Russian Orthodox yell about the Catholic Church prosyletyzing in "historically Orthodox" areas, but they're building a church in HAVANA. There is a Greek Orthodox church there that was consecrated recently...(I have no idea who actually goes there),so I guess Fidel would rather see 2 empty Orthodox churches than allowing the opening of a new Catholic church that would be filled to capacity...