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On 19 October 2009, a presentation of “The Light of Orthodoxy in Czechia and Slovakia” book by Yelena Filippovich published by ‘The Russian Tradition” Publishing House took place in Prague, Czechia.  Present at the ceremony were His Beatitude Metropolitan Krystof of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, clergymen of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, representatives of the Prague magistrate, public figures, representatives of Russian emigration, Russian and Czech journalists.

His Beatitude Krystof underscored the important role of the Russian Church in the life of Orthodoxy in Czechia and Slovakia both at present and in the past.

The book was published with the blessing and introductory word of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who expressed his joy over ‘the publication of the book that can tell the readers about the past and present life of Orthodoxy in the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

A historical review of Orthodox in Czechia and Slovakia includes the events from the baptism of the princes of Moravia and Czechia by SS Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles to the present. There are three part in the book, namely, the heyday of Orthodoxy during the lifetime of the holy brothers; the epoch of persecution of the Orthodox faith; and the revival of the Orthodox Church in the period of national upsurge in Czechia and Slovakia, a great part in which was played by Russia and the Russian Church, as well as many Russian public figures and émigrés. The role of Orthodoxy during the hard years of World War II accompanied by the revival of the Uniates and in the years of the state atheism in the socialist Czechoslovakia is shown on the basis of reliable testimonies.