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2017 is a year in which the anniversaries of a number of significant events in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church will be observed, prompting us to deeply consider and evaluate the historical path and present life of the Church.  The most important of these are the centenary of the Russian Revolutions of 1917; the centenary of the opening of the All-Russian Church Council of 1917-18, the restoration of the Patriarchate and the election of Saint Tikhon as Patriarch of Moscow; and the Tenth Anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church outside Russia.  A range of materials relating to each of these anniversaries will be set out here for the information of our parishioners and friends, with new items being added as they become available.

Resolution of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops on the 100th anniversary of the revolution in Russia and the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Reunification of the Russian Church - 8 December 2016 

 

Patriarch Kyrill speaks out against downplaying Soviet regime's triumphs and defeats - 22 December 2016

 

Patriarch Kyrill believes the word 'celebrations' inappropriate to 100th anniversary of October Revolt - 30 December 2016 

 

The Nativity Epistle of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad - 3 January 2017

 

"As we enter the new year of 2017, I ponder the humility of God Who became Man and cannot help but remember the humility of His Holiness, Patriarch Tikhon. One hundred years ago, after his election at the All-Russian Local Church Council, he meekly accepted the wooden staff of the Primate of the See of Moscow, Metropolitan Peter. Let us turn our attention to the image of this holy hierarch-confessor, who together with the entire Russian Church ascended the Golgotha of sorrows and humiliation! In those horrifying years, a special host of martyrs for the faith rose up, passing through fire and water, enduring abuse and injury, chains and imprisonment, of whom many "were stoned, were sawn asunder… were slain with the sword… not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35,37). In the spiritual achievements of His Holiness, Patriarch Tikhon, and the martyrs of the 20th century, a profound love for God and neighbor was revealed, and also unlimited devotion to the will of God. May the self-sacrificial struggle of the martyrs who suffered in the years of godless persecutions serve as an example of faith and piety not only for us, but for all Orthodox Christians!" 

 

Christmas Message of Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia - 6 January 2017

 

"We have embarked upon the year 2017. Exactly one hundred years separates us from events which radically transformed the life of Russia – a great multinational country, and plunged her into the madness of civil war, when children rose up against their parents and brother against brother. The subsequent losses and afflictions which our people endured were in many ways determined by the destruction of our thousand year-old statehood and the struggle against the peoples’ religious faith, generating a profound division within society.

 

With awe and reverence we recall the great endeavours of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Church of Russia, through whose prayers, we believe, the Lord never abandoned our people and granted to it the strength to accomplish many great feats of labour and military feats leading us to victory in the most terrible of all wars, to restoring the country, to achievements which evoke admiration.

 

We give thanks to God for the miracle he has revealed to the world – the resurrection of faith and piety within our people, for the restoration of holy sites once destroyed, for new churches and monasteries, the construction of which is a visible sign of the profound changes that have taken place in peoples’ hearts".

 

The Nativity Epistle of Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America - 7 January 2017

 

Father John Peck - 20,000 priests were executed during the first two years after the October Revolution - 26 January 2017

 

A video clip commemorating the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia (in Russian) - 5 February 2017

 

Выступление митрополита Волоколамского Илариона на научной конференции «Февраль. Трагедия. Уроки истории. 1917» - 18 February 2017

 

Слово Святейшего Патриарха Кирилла в Неделю мясопустную после Литургии в Храме Христа Спасителя г. Москвы - 19 February 2017

 

A meeting of the Synod of Bishops is held - 21 February 2017

 

"Having read a letter from His Eminence Metropolitan Varsonofy of Saint Petersburg and Lagoda, Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, regarding the transfer of a portion of the holy relics of Holy Great Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara, the Synod of Bishops gave its blessing to Archbishop Mark to contact the curator of Holy Myrrh, relics and antimensia of the Moscow Patriarchate in order to coordinate the transfer of the relics. This is because as part of the preparations to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the godless persecutions in Russia, a reliquary containing the holy relics of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia will be created, to be used this year to consecrate the antimensia and altar tables in the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church which do not yet have relics of the martyrs of the twentieth century".

 

NEW! Epistle of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on the 100th Anniversary of the Tragic Revolution in Russia and Beginning of the Godless Persecutions - 10 March 2017

A meeting of the Synod of Bishops is held - 21 February 2017

 

"Further, discussing the proposal by the Foundation of Apostle Andrew the First-Called [concerning] a reliquary containing the relics of Saint Tikhon the Confessor, Patriarch of All Russia, the Synod of Bishops established a working group to organize events corresponding to the visit of the relics to the parishes of the Russian Church Abroad in the United States. The visit of the reliquary of Saint Tikhon will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the reestablishment of the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church".

 

NEW! Epistle of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on the 100th Anniversary of the Tragic Revolution in Russia and Beginning of the Godless Persecutions - 10 March 2017

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