News

Moscow - 2007-12-07 - On December 7, the Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for external church relations Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad met with the Pope of Rome Benedict XVI in Vatican.

They discussed a broad range of themes including relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue in general. They expressed their conviction in the necessity to use the instruments of dialogue for agreeing on positions on the problems on its agenda.

The participants in the meeting appreciated the efforts undertaken by both sides after the meeting between Metropolitan Kirill and Benedict XVI after the enthronement of the Pope of Rome in April 2005. These efforts have been aimed at the elaboration of common position of both Churches on the most important problems for the entire humanity. For instance, conferences and consultations were held on the preservation of Christian values in the life of Europe and the world.

The participants expressed their support to cooperation between representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church at the international organizations, as well to the participation of both Churches in the multilateral interreligious dialogue.

Pope Benedict XVI appreciated the results of the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia to Strasbourg and Paris and underscored the importance of this visit for the Christian witness before the secular world and for bilateral relations.

The Pope of Rome asked Metropolitan Kirill to convey his cordial greetings to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy along with wishes of good health and God's help in his primatial ministry to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Source: mospat.ru 

Catholic World News

Forum 18 News

04 December 2022

Joachim and Anna Rejoice

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed, * for God has heard Joachim and Anna * and He promises manifestly that they, against all hope, would give birth to the Maiden of God * from whom the Uncircumscribed One Himself would be born, becoming man, * and he commanded the Angels to cry out to her: * “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the whole world celebrates * the conception of Anne which was brought about by God, * for she gave birth to the one who, beyond understanding, * gave birth to the Word. (Kontakion - Tone 4)

Saint Nicholas of Myra

The truth of your deeds has revealed you to your flock, * as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. * Therefore, you attained the heights through humility, * and riches through poverty. * O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, * pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved. (Troparion, Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In Myra, You were shown to be a servant of the sacred things, O Holy Nicholas, * for, fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you, O Venerable, laid down your life for your people, * and saved the innocent from death. * Therefore, you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God. (Kontakion, Tone 3)