The House of Mercy is the first multi-functional social establishment of the Orthodox Church in the CIS. Its conception includes 13 projects directed at rendering spiritual, medical, and social help and assistance to poor and needy people. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, while visiting Belorussia in May 2002, consecrated this unique establishment. Archpriest Feodor Povny, the head of the House of Mercy, tells Pravoslavie.Ru about its work and problems.
Priest Serafim Gun
Frankly speaking, I become a different man after each trip to Russia. I talked to His Holiness Patriarch, to bishops and priests, and to pious Russian people. I saw living people who feel for the Church, for their homeland. I saw genuine archpastors and pastors. I saw a Russian man who widely opened his heart to me, and I understood he is like me.
Interview with Mother Superior of the Piukhtitsy convent abbess Varvara
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Vladyka Alexy, present patriarch, helped us not only with the household; he was our spiritual guide. He grew very attached to Piukhtitsy. It became his home cloister. I can say it was he who raised the convent. And we only fulfilled our penance running here and there. I can’t believe I have lived till almost eighty…
Archpriest Roman Lukianov
In connection with the recent turmoil within the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, I think it would be beneficial to share certain observations and reflections. Recently there has been much talk about the path followed by the ROCA. Now it has become obvious that the «straight» path which some people refer to, has led in the end to a schism within the ROCA. This schism has been ripening over many years. In order to understand what is going on, one should look first of all at the Guideposts that actually have determined the course of the ROCA throughout its history.
John Couretas, communications manager for the Acton Institute
The European Parliament has issued a new report on "fundamental rights," which demands an end to the centuries-old ban on the entry of women to Mt. Athos, the ancient monastic community in northern Greece. Mt. Athos comes amid controversy over the draft EU constitution, which has excluded any mention of Christianity’s role in shaping European civilization.