Obshestvo - IRAS - International Russian Literature & Art Society - Moscow
IRAS Media - Internet Publishing

добро пожаловать - Guests - Visitors - Artists - Welcome to Russia!
Gäste - Besucher - Künstler - Herzlich Willkommen in Russland

Russian Community Activists Rewards reception 16 Dec 2008 RKC-RCC Tel Aviv

"Russia will always be a part of our Being, where-ever we are!
She will never forget us, nor will we ever forget her"
(hgp - rhio/pmoh 2004 founding assembly)

RHIO (PMOH) Russian Heritage International Org
Moscow - Berlin - Jerusalem

Opera Soprano Tatiana Odinokova Concert Tour January - February 2009 Cologne - Berlin - Hamburg - Odessa - Moscow

ДОМ БЕРЛИНЫХ: несколько слов об истории создания салона Anatolie Berlin hosts renowned Artists in their USA "Berliner-Salon"

Berlin Haus - Moskau Deutsch-Russische Partnerschaft - Moskau-Berlin

Das Goethe-Institut Moskau ist wegen der Weihnachts- und Neujahrsfeiertage vom 31. Dezember 2008 bis zum 10. Januar 2009 geschlossen. Wir wünschen allen Freunden und Partnern des Goethe-Instituts Moskau besinnliche Feiertage und alles Gute für das Jahr 2009

Kremlin News - December 17, 2008 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had a telephone conversation with President of Israel Shimon Peres. Mr Peres expressed his profound condolences over the tragic bus accident that killed and injured Russian citizens. He also informed Mr Medvedev about the measures the Israeli authorities are taking to provide urgent assistance to the victims. Mr Medvedev thanked Mr Peres for his condolences and for the Israeli authorities’ help. The President announced that he has issued an instruction for Russian Emergency Situations Ministry aircraft to take the victims’ relatives, doctors and necessary equipment to Israel. Mr Peres said that he has instructed all of the relevant Israeli agencies and officials to work in full and close contact with Russian representatives.

Kremlin News - December 16, 2008 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, as well as all the victims of a Russian tour bus crash in Israel. The President ordered the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Embassy in Israel to assist the victims. There are many dead and gravely injured following the tour bus crash in a ravine.

December 10, 2008 - 19:30 Kremlin News Russian President Dmitry Medvedev welcomed participants and guests to the Stalker International Human Rights Film Festival. The welcome reads, in part: «Your highly imaginative event plays a special role in domestic cinematography, and its rich programme and the extraordinarily high quality of the films attract the constant attention of the critics and the general public alike. You devote your talents and efforts to the ideals of humanism and enlightenment, compassion and love. Highlighting the pressing issues of human rights protection, the festival has made a significant contribution to the development of civil society in Russia, raising the level of consciousness of people by putting incisive and vitally important questions to those who attend. Let your noble work to promote an education in spiritual and moral values continue, which will in turn help the well-being of our country and its citizens». The annual Stalker Human Rights Festival runs from 10 to 15 December 2008 in Moscow. Traditionally Stalker starts on the day of the adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights. This year is the 60th anniversary of the Declaration. The programme for the 14th annual Stalker Festival includes 114 films, among them films from Russia, Italy, Spain, Israel, Estonia, Belgium, France, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

December 9, 2008 - Kremlin News Orthodox Christians paid their final farewell to Patriarch Alexy II. The funeral service was attended by President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, along with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, Serbian President Boris Tadic, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and the leader of the Ukrainian Party of Regions Viktor Yanukovich. The funeral service and liturgy for His Holiness the Patriarch took place at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The service was led by Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I. Representatives of all of Russia’s traditional faiths were present at the cathedral. Taking part in the service were Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, Patriarch of Romania Daniel, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Hieronymos, Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia Christopher, and representatives of the Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Serbian, Bulgarian, Cypriot and Polish Orthodox Churches and the Orthodox Church in America. Representatives of the Vatican, the Evangelical Church of Germany and the Anglican Church also attended the service. In accordance with the Patriarch’s wishes, he was buried in the Epiphany Cathedral. Address to the Nation following the Death of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II Funeral of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II December 5, 2008 - Kremlin News        Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made an address to the nation following the death of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II. "Dear citizens of Russia, A great sorrow has befallen our nation, our society – the death of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II. He was an outstanding religious figure and true spiritual leader, and he was also a great Citizen of Russia, a man whose destiny reflected all the great trials and upheavals that our country traversed in the twentieth century, a critical time in our country's history. He was a true pastor and an example of spiritual steadfastness and noble acts throughout his life. He was with his flock during the days of persecution and during the revival of faith. He played a direct part in the Russian Orthodox Church’s revival and in the genuine affirmation of the principles of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, and helped establish civil peace and concord in this multiethnic and multi-faith country that is Russia. The Patriarch’s force of character has had a huge impact on Russian society’s spiritual life and moral state. He preached the unifying and universal values of humanism, goodness and compassion. He called for mutual respect, tolerance and trust between people of different faiths and traditions. He initiated dialogue between churches and peoples. Through his words and acts he wisely reconciled conflicting views and worked to unify the entire Russian nation. Under his direction the Russian Orthodox Church became one of the country’s most influential institutions and engaged in fruitful cooperation with the state. The Moscow Patriarchate gained respect and authority not only in Russia but also in the international religious community. From the moment he became Patriarch, Alexy II sought to mend the tragic split in the Russian Orthodox Church and return the Church to its fullness and greatness. That this reunification has taken place is to his enormous personal credit. Selflessly shouldering his pastoral duties, the Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia was conscious of his responsibilities not only before the Church but before the entire nation. We are all deeply grieve at his passing. This is a great loss for me personally too. We will always remember his spiritual assistance, wisdom and his endless devotion to his country and people. We will always feel his support. May his memory live forever." Patriarch Alexy II (his secular name was Alexei Mikhailovich Ridiger) was born on February 23, 1929, in Tallinn (Estonia). In the summer of 1990, he was elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the fifteenth Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church since the Patriarchate was introduced in Russia.

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