His Holiness Patriarch Alexy congratulated staff and readers of the ‘Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate’ on the anniversary of the oldest church edition
3.02.2003 · English
HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY CONGRATULATED STAFF AND READERS OF THE ‘JOURNAL OF THE MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE’ ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE OLDEST CHURCH EDITION
The ‘Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate‘ celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2003. From now on the Journal will be published in a new polygraphy with the blessing of His Holiness Alexy II. The first issue opens with the message of greetings from the Primate of the Russian Church to the readers of this leading official church periodical:
Dear staff members and readers of the ‘Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate’, I heartily greet you and congratulate you on the 60th anniversary of the uninterrupted publication of our journal. A new stage in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church began in 1943. It was a hard war year for our Fatherland. The authorities wished to use the reputation of the Church and had to loosen the awful oppression it was subjected to. The Patriarch of All Russia was elected, and it was allowed to open theological schools. Hierarchs and clergymen were released from prisons and exiles. That same year the publication of the ‘Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate’ was resumed, and since then it has been put out monthly.
It has been the leading official edition of our Church, her voice and chronicle of her history. For a long time it was the only source of information about the Russian Orthodox Church and gave the Orthodox people the only opportunity to satisfy their spiritual hunger in our long-suffering Fatherland. The renowned people eager to give their talent and spiritual strength to church press worked in the ‘Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate’.
At present the journal remains the center of attraction for the best creative forces of our Holy Church. The works of theologians and liturgiologists, preachers and researchers of church history are published on its pages. It informs the readers about the position of the church hierarchy, publishes all official church documents, tells about all interesting events of church life and gives legal recommendations.
Various dioceses actively cooperate with the ‘Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate’. The materials from the dioceses give the readers an opportunity to learn about church life in various parts of our Motherland and to exchange experience in all spheres of the Russian Orthodox Church’s activity. I call upon my brother bishops and priests, who have cooperated with the editorial staff, to keep on, and those, who have not yet tried themselves as authors of this leading church edition, not to be afraid and start doing it in the new jubilee year.
It is a very joyful fact that the first issue of the ‘Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate’ in 2003 is published in new modern colors. I hope that the seventh decade of the life of this distinguished edition of our Mother Church will be crowned with new achievements
I invoke God’s blessing upon you and wish the ‘Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate’ to remain a devoted friend and interesting interlocutor for its readers so that their number may constantly increase in the new century.
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