Byzantine, Texas

Save one scraped knee, our family has finally recovered from the pilgrimage. Below is another great documentary from from ROCOR media office. Words of advise: Wear the right shoes (treat this like a mountain hike). A hat is advisable (especially if you are going to wear a cassock) as is sunscreen. Watch your small children and advise them to take breaks if they look like they need them. There will be photos and video before, during, and after the pilgrimage - be comfortable, but recognize that thousands of people will be looking at pictures of you.

H/T: Ad Orientem ( Gatestone Institute ) - According to the popular Egyptian website, El Bashayer, Muhammad Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate, just declared that he will "achieve the Islamic conquest (fath) of Egypt for the second time, and make all Christians convert to Islam, or else pay the jizya," the additional Islamic tax, or financial tribute, required of non-Muslims, or financial tribute. In a brief report written by Samuel al-Ashay and published by El Bashayer on May 27, Morsi allegedly made these comments while speaking with a journalist at the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, adding "We will not allow Ahmed Shafiq [his contending presidential candidate] or anyone else to impede our second Islamic conquest of Egypt." After his interviewer pointed out that the first Muslim conquest of Egypt was "carried out at the hands of Amr bin al-As [in 641]," he asked Morsi, "Who will the ...

( AOB ) - The 2011 annual report for the Committee for Pastoral Practice is available here . This committee is charged with the important tasks of identifying the different answers the various jurisdictions have given to sacramental and pastoral problems, and for figuring out a way to provide a single answer for all of the Orthodox churches in North America. This includes such issues as how the Church handles marriages, divorces, and the reception of converts. This committee will try to find a resolution that is in accord with the Church's theology and her canonical practice. Ultimately, however, this committee will not make any decisions. Its proposals will be presented to all the bishops of the Assembly, who can then determine the best approach. Of course, some of these issues can only be settled by the Mother Churches, and it is this committee's responsibility to help the Assembly develop recommendations for the expected Great and Holy Synod which will include all Orthodo...

My family drove in to participate in this pilgrimage. When photos are made available I'll post a few up. My mind knows the almost 12 mile walk is over, but my legs do not yet believe it's ok to relax and quit aching. The following day the Memorial Day events took place at St. Tikhon's and the monastery grounds were packed with people. Numerous services were offered throughout the day in different locations. In the height of the humidity and heat and in full sun fully vested bishops and clergy led healing services, akathists, molebens, and liturgies. They did so without complaint and in the company of faithful as far as the eye could see. Looking forward to next year. ( ROCOR-Mayfield ) - Full report chronicling the May 27th “Walking in Our Forefathers’ Footsteps” pilgrimage walk from St. John’s in Mayfield to St. Tikhon’s Monastery With the Blessing of His Eminence, Hilarion Metropolitan of New York and Eastern America, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Chu...

Way back in March I posted the French trailer (see here ). I was just informed by the filmmaker that there will be English subtitle available. Below is the earlier released trailer with an English translation.

In recent days this has gotten a lot of attention. Most commentary I've read has been negative, but give it a read yourself. It's a hit-piece of the lowest order. I'm aggrieved that First Things saw fit to publish it. ( First Things ) - At the height of the Cold War, political scientists questioned whether the Orthodox Church had become incompatible with the modern state. Although history textbooks highlight how patriarch and emperor were integral offices to the Byzantine Empire, the West has always had a far more tangible division between pope and prince. I would not say always; the Papal States come to mind. In Russia in particular, church and state have been in elaborate entanglement for centuries, the result of which has paradoxically been widespread abandonment of the practice of the faith. And contrary to those inclined to see a triumphant tale of Christianity emerging from communism, today’s Church remains plagued by the same ills it has borne for centuries. The ...

( ROC ) - On 20 May 2012, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, hierarchs and clerics of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) and with members of the working group for discussing issues of strengthening church unity. Taking part in the meeting that took place at the hall of the Supreme Church Council of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, were also Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and Great Britain, first deputy President of the ROCOR’s Synod of Bishops; Archbishop Feofan of Berlin and Germany; Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA; Archbishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe; Archbishop Ma...

( UOC-USA ) - It is with a profound depth of sadness that we hereby inform you of the repose, in the morning of 21 May, 2012 in the 76 year of his earthly pilgrimage, of His Beatitude Metropolitan Constantine, the Ruling Hierarch of the Central Eparchy and the Primate of our Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. His Beatitude was stricken with a serious illness just a few weeks ago and was released only three days ago from a local Pittsburgh hospital, which enabled him to participate in the celebration of his 40th anniversary of Archpastoral ministry among the faithful of our Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. This celebration took place at the Dormition of the Mother of God Ukrainian Orthodox Church in McKees Rocks, PA with the presence of his brother Ukrainian Orthodox hierarchs and visiting bishops of other Orthodox jurisdictions, his family from the United States and his beloved spiritual children, the clergy and faithful of the UOC of the USA, South America and Euro...

( ERR ) - The Synod of Constantinople has canonized 11 clerics and lay persons who perished during the first two years of the Soviet occupation of Estonia. A decree of canonization was read today in the Church of Transfiguration of Our Lord in Tallinn that added 9 men and 2 women to the Orthodox Church's list of saints. The Ecumenical Patriarchate canonized five priests, two deacons and four lay persons who were executed by the Soviet authorities or died in prison or in forced labor camps in 1940 to 1941. The Orthodox Church of Estonia will hold a memorial service to the martyrs on the anniversary of the June 14, 1941 deportations.

( Business Standard ) - The Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East (COE), one of earliest Christian congregations which has adherents in many countries, including India, will be held in Chicago, US, from May 24 to discuss topics like resumption of dialogue with the Catholic Church. Three prelates from India would attend the eight-day meet of 15 metropolitans of COE from different continents. According to Mar Apream, Metropolitan of the church in India, besides himself bishops Mar Yuhannan and Mar Augin from the country would attend the synod. The Assyrian Church, which flourished in West Asia and whose adherents scattered over different countries over the centuries, has now its headquarters in Chicago. Aprem, who is also the church's Patriarchal Delegate to India, told PTI here that the Synod would take up the key issue of resumption of Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and ACOE. The dialogue between the Vatican and the COE began in 1985 with a view...

( SOC-NASA ) - The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, during today's session rendered the decision to enter two priest martyrs and forty students-martyrs of Momisici and that their celebration (formal declaration of sainthood; canonization) be at the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the St. Sava Memorial-Church on Vracar on Saturday, May 19, 2012 , led by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia at which their long and prayerful respect among the faithful of the Serbian Orthodox Church will be confirmed. History of the Martyrs of Momisici Two priests, serving as religious education teachers, and their forty students, children from the parish mostly from the brotherhood of Popovic were burned alive in 1688 at the St. George Church in the modern day Podgorica suburb of Momisici, at the hand of the Sulejman-Pasha army of Skadar , as a sign of retaliation which the Osmanlija Turks suffered from the hill tribes the previous months, particularly from Kucha...

This was a letter to the editor at the New York Times earlier this week. I think this letter highlights something, but not what the author had in mind. The Fathers speak of obedience as a thing of unquestioned importance. Matched with humility, a life of askesis lived in community requires much of a monastic. So how did the Latin nuns of America go from the habited, pious women seen in black and white movies of old to the business suits and sensible shoes of today? That road was paved when living in community, a shared prayer life centered in a convent, was replaced with an emphasis on activism and social justice. Often the goals were laudable, but they were striven for at the cost of the foundational construct that makes monasticism what it is. So today a nun can say that she knows what the orthodox opinion is (repeated for aeons in the Tradition of the Church), but believe that she knows better. I can no more imagine any Orthodox nun I have ever met saying this than imagine an O...

More information on this ecumenical event in Trier, Germany here (in Greek). I don't have much in the way of specifics. This is said to be water being used. The Oriental Orthodox participated. No ecumenical event is complete without liturgical dancers.

( antiochian.org ) - The Antiochian House of Studies School of Orthodox Theology, home of the St. Stephen's Program, has launched a new website section. The project centered on the work of two House of Studies graduate students, Keith Buhler and Mani Gergos, who worked with the staff of the House of Studies and the Dept. of Internet Ministry to update the web presence of this special Archdiocese ministry. The new House of Studies section offers an introduction to the distance-learning school, a list of its academic programs, information for prospective and current students, and links for faculty, news and contact information. With affordable tuition and flexible scheduling, the House of Studies offers students, parents, or full-time professionals the ability to pursue an Orthodox theological education. Browse the House of Studies section here .

( nj.com ) - After a tour of Ellis Island and a lunch featuring Egyptian cuisine hosted by a Coptic Orthodox Church, 25 West Point cadets visited the church on Bergen Avenue to learn about Coptic history and the church’s role in the community. The next stop for the cadets who are studying “Winning the Peace” at West Point’s Department of Social Science on their packed three-day trip was a Catholic Church and then a mosque. “This trip is about learning about aspects of warfare that do not involve a gun,” said David Shields, 22, a cadet from Tampa, Fla. “We are here to learn about different faiths and communities and how they all interact. “It’s been awesome, getting to interact with different people. Everyone here has been hospitable,” he added. The Rev. David A. Bebawy , pastor at St. George and Shenouda Church, provided a slide show presentation about the Coptic faith, which started with a history of the language and religion. After Cadet Lt. Nate Freeland, 23, of Keyville,...

( RIA-NOVOSTI ) - The information department of the Russian Orthodox Church has opened a Facebook account called Patriarch Kirill to inform internet users about his life and work, a deputy chief spokesman for the patriarch said on Tuesday. “It is not a personal page of Patriarch Kirill. It is an official information resource of the Moscow patriarchate maintained by the Synod information department,” said Deacon Alexander Volkov, adding that the account would not make it possible to contact the church leader personally. The Facebook account offers rare photos of Kirill, including some from his younger years. The partriarch’s press service already has a separate Facebook account and LiveJournal includes a web page on Patriarch Kirill. In 2010, the Russian Orthodox Church opened its own YouTube channel.

This story has caused more of a stir than I thought it would after it was posted. It seems to have reopened a discussion on clerical celibacy and on the supposed "scandal" a married priesthood in the West might cause the Latin faithful. More broadly, it has spurred some energetic conversations on the relations of the American and Canadian Eastern Catholic hierarchs with Rome, and their perceived obsequiousness on matters where "equal dignity" is believed to be challenged. I would not be surprised to see an editorial or clarification posted soon. VATICAN CITY ( CNS ) - While their numbers are small and their material resources are few, members of the Eastern Catholic churches in the United States have much to offer the country in terms of their fidelity to Christ despite persecution and their deeply religious cultures, said Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches. Eastern Catholics "are a bridge" supporting Catholics in ...

In his recent clergy conference, Bp. Matthias of Chicago (OCA) is quoted as saying he "wants the use of Vesperal liturgies eventually to be discontinued, perhaps in one year..." Below Fr. John Whiteford espouses a similar opinion in his most recent blog post entitled " Why doing Vesperal Liturgies in the place of the appointed services is a bad idea ." Vesperal Liturgies are appointed by the Typikon to be done only on days of strict fasting, and they are preceded by either the Lenten Hours or by Royal Hours. It is done in the evening because on days of strict fasting you do not break the fast until vespers -- though the latest that these services are actually appointed to be done is about 3 p.m. So to use this liturgical form for a day of feasting is to set the form on its head. Also, if you were doing a vesperal liturgy for the feast of the Dormition for example, you should do it on the day of the feast, not on the eve. Another problem is that on a feast day, y...

( ROCOR ) - From the Editors: As we approach the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence Vladyka Hilarion grants an interview to the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. -Your Eminence, you recently called the reunification of the two parts of the Russian Church “the greatest good.” What fruits has reconciliation brought forth that you deem most important? What has changed in the life of the Church Abroad in the last five years? I immediately remember the words of the first troparion of the Triumph of Orthodoxy: “Let us and all the faithful cry aloud and leap with joy today; How marvelous are Thy works, O Christ! How great is Thy might! For Thou hast made us of one mind and brought about our agreement.” And also “Seeing the great blessing we have received: how the divided members of Christ have been brought to unity, let us clap our hands for joy and prais...

( Vimeo ) - The Monastery of St. John is a community of Orthodox Christian monks striving to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ, working out their salvation in discipleship to Christ in the Orthodox Church. MEDiTATIONS on Monasticism is a documentary film created for Orthodox people, that they may reflect upon the deep waters of their Church, and be inspired to further dive into that great depth. Feature length documentary film available from monasteryofstjohn.org .

H/T: Orthocath It is quite possible to go your entire life in the Church and not know about Proskomedia. While long (some 40 minutes), Fr. Barnabas Powell is an engaging presenter who will keep your attention. You might also be interested in the Slavic practice outlined here .

Today in particular we celebrate the kenotic love a mother pours out for her children. It's an interesting thing that Mother's Day is as much celebrated by husbands as it is by the children themselves. Before I was married with children, it was curious to me that men honored their wives not once (on their anniversary) but twice. As with so much, personal experience has elucidatory. Mothers and fathers have different roles. Having been raised by one parent (my mother) I know that no matter how much one tries a mother cannot be a father and vice versa. So today we honor our wives for the things they do we cannot. We honor them for those things small and large that make our houses homes. For the prayers they offer for our families. God grant them many blessed years! Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. She seek...

This is how it should be done, people - lots of information with explanations for decisions where appropriate. Photo gallery available here . ( OCA ) - Holy Dormition of the Mother of God here provided the setting for the Spring Session of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America May 7-10, 2012. In addition to reviewing a variety of matters affecting the life of the Church, the hierarchs participated in the daily cycle of services at the monastery, including the Divine Liturgy, which provided an essential spiritual dimension to their undertakings. They also visited the Ascension of the Lord Monastery, Clinton, MI, and the Vatra, the headquarters of the OCA’s Romanian Episcopate, Grass Lake, MI. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, presided at the opening Divine Liturgy and the sessions. In his address to his fellow hierarchs, he offered a comprehensive overview of his activities and ministries. The members of the Holy Synod also approved his travel schedule, ...

( ROC-UKIE ) - The fifth meeting of the Pan-Orthodox Episcopal Assembly for Britain and Ireland took place at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition, Wood Green, London on May 10th, 2012. Among other matters, the Assembly discussed a draft response to the current Government consultation on Equal Civil Marriage (Same-Sex Marriage) prepared by its Pastoral Committee, of which Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh is currently the Chairman. The response analyses the proposed change to the law on marriage in the context of the progressive weakening of the traditional understanding of marriage and family life and expresses the conviction of the Orthodox Church that the divinely-inscribed patterns of human relationship cannot be ignored without negative consequences for society as a whole. The Assembly unanimously approved the document, which is to be signed by the Chairman, Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain, and sent to the Home Secretary and other interested parties. ...

H/T: Lost Innocents ( OCAMPR ) - Announcing the 2012 OCAMPR annual conference in Chicago, Illinois! The 2011 conference examined the science and theology of conception. The 2012 conference will take a look at the pastoral and theological implications of what happens when a woman conceives or fails to conceive. So come and grow with us as we consider The Child Conceived . Details forthcoming as they become available.

You will probably know of Arch. Ephrem from his much referenced Anastasis website of liturgical texts. This is a good interview on "liturgy as performance," understanding what is going on, and the importance of language. ( Youtube ) - An interview with Archimandrite Ephrem (Lash), the well-known translator of church services into English -- on the significance of the liturgy, the unacceptability of the symbolic interpretation of church services, and on the work of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Jordanville, NY ( Herkimer Telegram ) — Holy Trinity Monastery will open its doors to the public later this month to educate people on their history and the Russian Orthodox faith. “It’s the first time ever we’ve had an open house,” said Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow on Tuesday. “We’ve been talking about the need to let people around us know what we are about.” The open house will take place on Saturday, May 19, from 2 to 5 p.m. Visitors will be able to tour the monastery, including the cathedral, a cemetery for the brotherhood and a larger cemetery. “We want to show we’re not hiding and that we are open for people to come and visit the Russian Orthodox monastery,” said Lochmatow during the telephone interview. Visitors will also get to see and learn about the history of Russian Orthodox icons, which include paintings and wood carvings at the cathedral. Two slide shows will be presented during the open house; one will focus on the Orthodox Church and the other on the histor...

We'll see which model the assembly chooses to use on providing an update after this meeting. Will it be a perfunctory listing of people who showed up with a reference to the joy they have at being together or will it be a "meaty" report with details and future plans. ( AOB ) - Since much of the work of the Assembly of Bishops falls within the purview of its thirteen committees, the success of these committees is essential for the success of the Assembly as a whole. Therefore, the Secretariat’s Coordinator for Committees, Bishop Maxim, is organizing a face-to-face meeting of the Assembly’s thirteen committee chairmen, scheduled to meet on May 30. The chairmen will gather for the day at the Metropolia Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA , where they will be hosted by Archbishop Antony, who currently serves as the Assembly’s Treasurer and the chairman of the Committee for Financial Affairs. This historic meeting will include a dozen bishops as well as mos...

( RISU ) - The Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate on 8 May opposed to the laws restricting the rights of believers and threatening the institute of family or promoting homosexuality. According to the web site of UOC-MP, the bishops spoke against introduction of the following laws and bills in Ukraine: Personal identification documents with electronic carriers of information (chips), The effective Law of Ukraine “on Protection of Personal Information,” Introduction of juvenile justice in Ukraine, Spread and promotion of Sodom sins, permissions to organize gay parades and same-sex relationships.

( spc.rs ) - On Monday, April 30, 2012 in the Greek parish of Holy Unmercenaries in Melbourn, the First Assembly of Priesthood of Melbourn and the surroundings. The assembly was led by Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis (vicar Bishop of Ecumenical Patriarchate), as the host of the meeting: His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, first hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; His Grace Bishop Irinej, Bishop of Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church; His Grace Bishop Michael, Bishop of Australia and New Zealand of the Romanian Orthodox Church; and as the special guest His Grace Bishop Longin, and also His Grace Bishop Jakobos of Miletupolis (vicar Bishop of Ecumenical Patriarchate). This assembly was held according to the decision of the Second Episcopal Conference of Oceania, held in Sidney, on October 16-17, 2011. Lots of priests from all canonical jurisdictions took part in the conference, and the goal was meeting and bonding of the priests for the succ...

I drove out for the 12 th Annual SS. Cyril and Methodius Lecture in Pittsburgh last night. Dr. Lewis J. Patsavos (consultant on canonical affairs to the Greek Archdiocese, the Carpatho-Russian Diocese, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate) gave a talk on unity and the state of the Church called Challenges Facing the Orthodox Church in America . Met. William (Skurla) for the Byzantine Catholics and Met. Savas for the Greek Archdiocese were in attendance along with Catholic and Orthodox clergy and laity from the area. Dr. Patsavos' version of the history of the entrance and growth of Orthodoxy in America was in opposition to what he called the "St. Vladimir's account." If you are a proponent of the "Greek" version of how things developed over the last two hundred years and how things sit now (the Chambésy process, connection with the mother churches, etc.) you would have felt quite at home. If you are a reader and espouser of the "OCA/Schmemann" chrono...

I have to say that the caliber of videos coming out of ROCOR's media department recently is of unequalled production quality, not to mention the importance of the material itself. The bar has been raised. I hope other dioceses aim higher as a result. ( ROCOR-EAD ) - The first video lecture in a series of videos to come thanks to the Pastoral Resources Program. In this lecture, Fr. Valery speaks on homiletics, the impact it can have on the souls of parishioners, as well as how we can cultivate this spiritual practice in an effective and edifying way. As a vital part of our Orthodox tradition, it is crucial that we learn how to best develop our work in this area to maintain our Tradition, our faith, our knowledge of the Saints and also our how the faithful can better understand their life through Orthodox ways. God willing this video can help prepare those who have been called to serve, how to better carry out their ministry through proper grounding and education.

( OCA ) - Archimandrite Alexander [Golitzin] was consecrated Bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese during a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy here at Saint George Orthodox Cathedral on Saturday, May 5, 2012. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, presided at the consecration Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating were His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel; His Grace, Bishop Nikon; His Grace, Bishop Tikhon; His Grace, Bishop Benjamin; His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek, who served as Locum Tenens of the diocese; His Grace, Bishop Michael; His Grace, Bishop Matthias; His Grace, Bishop Irineu; His Grace, Bishop Mark; and His Grace, Bishop Irenee. Joining members of the Bulgarian Diocese were clergy and faithful from sister OCA dioceses, other Toledo-area Orthodox parishes, monastics from Saint John of Shanghai Monastery in Manton, CA, Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Elwood City, PA, and Holy Dormition Monastery in Rives Junction, MI, together with representatives from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theo...

( OCA ) - His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America will consecrate Archimandrite Alexander [Golitzin] to the episcopacy at Saint George Cathedral on Saturday, May 5, 2012. On October 4, 2011, the members of the Holy Synod canonically elected Archimandrite Alexander to the vacant See of Toledo and the OCA’s Bulgarian Diocese. The election followed a year-long search on the part of the diocese, during which a number of candidates to fill the See proclaimed vacant upon the repose of His Eminence, the late Archbishop Kyrill, were considered. He was nominated by delegates to the diocese’s Fifth Congress-Sobor June 9, 2011. The consecration weekend will begin with the celebration of Vespers at the cathedral on Friday, May 4, at 7:00 p.m. During Vespers, Archimandrite Alexander will make his profession of faith before the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops. A reception will follow in the cathedral hall. At 8:45 ...

Mexico City, Mexico ( SOC-NASA ) - His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America made his first official and historical visit to the Orthodox faithful in Mexico April 26- 29, 2012, together with V. Rev. Blasko Paraklis. They arrived in Mexico City on Friday, April 26, 2012. The pastoral-episcopal responsibility of the bishop of Western America to the Serbian residents living in Mexico is expressed in the decisions of the Holy Assembly of Bishops. In an effort to preserve the gathering and meetings with our Orthodox compatriots during the Pascal period, a great help was Bishop Alejo (Exarch of the Orthodox Church in America – OCA) who showed his unselfish support, inviting Bishop Maxim and showing him the hospitality of Abraham. Through the goodness of Bishop Alejo, there were two liturgical encounters at the Cathedral church of the Ascension of our Lord on Saturday and Sunday. His diocese is celebrating their fortieth anniversary (www.ocamexico.org). As Bishop of Western Ameri...

( RIA-NOVOSTI ) - Activists from a fundamentalist Russian Orthodox organization dispersed with Holy Water a group of protesters who gathered on Sunday in downtown Moscow to support jailed female Pussy Riot punk group. Several dozens of opposition activists gathered near the main Russia’s Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow for an unsanctioned rally in support of the members of the all-female punk group Pussy Riot who had been put in custody for performing a song against president-elect Vladimir Putin in the Cathedral in late February. The rally, a new episode of the anti-government protests that have spread across Russia since December, was designed to unite both believers and atheists in a mass prayer. Police however cordoned off the territory in front of the Cathedral and detained two organizers of the protest to avoid “provocations.” Members of the Union of Orthodox Banner Bearers calmed down other participants of the prayer by pouring Holy Water on them and chanting: ...