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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2023 2:17:49 GMT
The Russian Army bombed Odessa around 2 hours ago, and the great Transfiguration Orthodox Cathedral in Odessa has been severely damaged. It was demolished by Stalin in 1936 and rebuilt from scratch from 1999-2003. Patriarch Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy in this cathedral ten years ago. The Metropolitan of Odessa, Agafangel Savvin, was a friend of Patriarch Kirill for many years. Now the Army that the Patriarch supports has destroyed this monumental site of Christian worship in Ukraine. The worst destruction occurred behind the iconostasis, in the sanctuary where the Divine Liturgy (Mass) is celebrated. The sanctuary was completely destroyed. Fr Andriy Palchuk noted that the 84 year old Metropolitan Agafangel - a respected bishop in both Russia and Ukraine - who has been a bishop since 1975, lives right next to the cathedral. I have not been able to ascertain from news sources if he is alive or not. If he has been killed or injured it would be tragically ironic given Metropolitan Agafangel has always been the most pro-Russian bishop in Ukraine. He once said a pro-Western government in Ukraine "is another attempt to fulfill the centuries-old desire of the Protestant-Catholic, Masonic and godless West to tear Ukraine away from unity with the world center of Orthodoxy - Moscow and draw it into the orbit of Western false values, to make it part of the system of the new world order." He also supported Putin in the 2012 Russian elections. He has changed his views significantly since the full-scale Russian invasion began, but if he was killed then it would be the ultimate in tragic irony. Whatever the causes of this war - it is clear it is inspired by the Evil One. War = sin against God and man! www.youtube.com/watch?v=umScX6E_ZmA&ab_channel=%D0%9E%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%85%D0%B8%D1%8F - video showing the damage to the cathedral. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2023 2:39:58 GMT
Metropolitan Agafangel is one of the longest-serving bishops in the entire Christian world. He comes from the Lipetsk region of Russia, where he was born in 1938. He studied at the theological seminaries and academies of Kyiv, Odessa, and Moscow from 1958-1966. He was ordained in 1965 and in 1967 he was appointed Rector of the Odessa Theological Seminary. In 1971, he was a member of the Council of the Russian Orthodox Church that elected Pimen as Patriarch of Moscow. He was consecrated a bishop in 1975 and served as administrator of the Khmelnytsky Diocese in western Ukraine from 1975-1990. From 1975-1992, he was also Archbishop and then Metropolitan of Vinnitsa in central Ukraine. Since 1992, he has been Metropolitan of Odessa. He is the recipient of state awards of the USSR, Russia, and Ukraine, and of Church awards of the Orthodox Churches of Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Greece. He is an honourary citizen three cities in Ukraine and of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Greenville, Mississippi (no idea how that came about!). I really hope he is unharmed! Many Odessans have looked towards him with hope in these times. He always prays for peace in Ukraine and holds charity fairs for the Ukrainian Army. Here he is celebrating the Divine Liturgy yesterday (22/07/2023):  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2023 3:28:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2023 4:43:10 GMT
Here's a ten minute video from four days ago of Metropolitan Agafangel celebrating the Divine Liturgy at the now-destroyed cathedral: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o024fDYh76kOne of the worst parts of this is that whenever something like this happens a small chorus of "Z" priests in Russia say "This is what happens when you cease praying for our Patriarch. You deserved it!". I am all for a balanced assessment of the causes of this conflict, which are far more complex than the Western media tells us. Yet sometimes the impulsive side of me wants to condemn the occupiers who carried out these disgusting acts. Inevitably my patient side prevails and I realise that all I can do is pray for those people who would do such a thing. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2023 7:00:39 GMT
Rather than sympathising with the terrible destruction of the beautiful cathedral by Russian bombing, the BBC instead lied in its article on the destruction of the cathedral, claiming that the destroyed cathedral in Odessa is part of the "Moscow-linked" Ukrainian Orthodox Church, writing: " Odesa's military administration said that the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) was also severely damaged." Excuse me, but there is no Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church. There is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is formerly affiliated to the Moscow Patriarchate, but is now independent. Why can't the BBC accept that this Church is no longer part of the Russian Orthodox Church? Why does the BBC not accept the idea that part of the Russian Orthodox Church can break off and become independent? Why must they rub it in with this lie when the UOC has just lost a beautiful architectural monument as a result of the aggression of the Russian Federation? Attachments:
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2023 8:27:25 GMT
Metropolitan Agafangel, thankfully, was unharmed.
Here is the letter he released after the destruction of the cathedral:
Your Eminences, Bishop Vicars, Reverend Fathers,
monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!
Tonight, the most terrible event in modern history took place - a Russian missile, on the instructions of the command of the Russian Federation, hit the spiritual heart of the peaceful city of Odessa - the Transfiguration Cathedral. The grandeur and diamond ornament of Southern Palmyra stands in ruins. The debris of the rocket wounded the heart of every Odesa citizen who, with his hard work and prayer, rebuilt this shrine, which was destroyed in the distant 1936.
From February 24, 2022, the large-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation began in our native Ukraine, people are dying, human blood is being shed, cities and villages, churches and monasteries are being destroyed. Whatever the purpose of the so-called shameful "special military operation", it will not be able to justify the killing and violence, the destruction and the forced flight. We still do not understand: from whom do they want to free us? From life?
This is a real genocide of the Ukrainian people. This is the madness of all those who give orders to bomb Ukraine, kill our soldiers and our people. We defend our native Ukrainian land, we defend the borders of our sovereign Independent State. We want to be left alone, to be given the opportunity to live under a peaceful sky on our native land.
Pain and suffering fills every believing soul of Odessa residents. What did not please the cathedral, what hinders it, why undermine it? There is only one answer - the forces of hell have declared an open war against Orthodoxy and the highest gift of God - human life. There will be no good for the one who unleashed this bloody and cursed war, who encroaches on the shrine and human life. The Prophet says: “Do not be afraid! And he that came from the north I will remove from you, and I will drive him out into a waterless and empty land, his front army to the eastern sea, and his rear to the western sea, and a stench will go from him, and a stench will rise from him, because he has done much evil. Do not be afraid, earth: rejoice and be glad, for the Lord has done great things"! (Joel 2, 20-21). I will remind you of the words of our Savior: "Whoever takes the sword will perish by the sword" (Mt. 26:52).
Today, a country that considers itself Orthodox cannot verbally observe God's law and at the same time do evil and dark things. It is not possible to serve God and the ruler of evil at the same time. The Apostle Paul asks the Christians of ancient Corinth: "What do light and darkness have in common? What is the agreement between Christ and the veliar?” (Cor. 6, 14-15).
Dear Lords, fathers, brothers and sisters!
Today is a great test for our Odesa Metropolis and our city. We must, with God's help, live it worthily. I believe and hope that we will be able to rebuild our shrine - the Transfiguration Cathedral. Unfortunately, we will not be able to bring back to life all those who die on the battlefield and civilians. The main thing is to remember the words of our Savior: "Have peace among yourselves!" (Mk. 9, 50). Do not leave the prayer, the Lord is with us, His Divine power is with us, the Most Holy Mother of God is with us and a great host of saints of the land of Odessa.
Only together will we all be able to do even more good, because evil and hatred are meant to separate, and only holy Good unites us all in the name of serving God and our Ukrainian people. And thanks to goodness, we will be able to endure and withstand all that God's Providence has prepared for us, we will be able to overcome all temptations, trials, temptations and keep in our hearts the ever-living peace that no one will take away from us.
We believe that the Lord will give strength to His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace and victory.
+ AGAFANGEL
M I T R O P O L I T
Odesa and Izmail,
Permanent member of the Holy Synod
Ukrainian Orthodox Church,
Honorary citizen of the city of Odessa and Odesa region
July 23, 2023
Odessa
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