Russia: Easter 2011

Short film of the pilgrimage

A 15 minute film prepared during the pilgrimage to Moscow gives us a taste of the unique atmosphere of Holy Week and Easter in the Russian Orthodox Church. Pilgrims share their experiences of this very special event. Sub-titles in English : Sub-titles in Russian:

7 April 2012

Russia: Easter 2011: What did you experience in Moscow during the pilgrimage?

This was the question asked to the 240 young adults who were welcomed by families in six Orthodox parishes during Holy Week and Easter. Many replied. Here are a few of their reactions.“I specially enjoyed participating to the Orthodox liturgy. I could discover a bit more about the meaning of liturgy, and about the importance of the tradition in the church. Liturgy is a language between the (...)

17 May 2011

Pilgrimage to Moscow: Sunday 24 April

Our pilgrims had very little sleep last night! After participating in the Orthodox Easter night service, they got up on Sunday morning either for Mass at the Catholic Church of St Louis des Français, presided by Archbishop Pezzi, or for the Eucharist at the Anglican Church, which warmly welcomed those from different Protestant backgrounds. In that way, the pilgrims were able to make their (...)

25 April 2011

Pilgrimage to Moscow: Saturday 23 April

This morning we took part in the liturgy in the parish of the Icon of Our Lady, Joy of All the Afflicted, presided by Metropolitan Hilarion. Olga writes about the day’s services; "Holy Saturday Liturgy – Great Saturday in Russian. The church is still immersed in grief. The dark clothes tell of this, reminding us of the fate of Christ on the Cross throughout Lent. But the moment comes when (...)

24 April 2011

The pilgrimage to Moscow day by day

From Wednesday 20 to Monday 25 April 2011 In Moscow, from Wednesday 20 to Monday 25 April 2011, six parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church welcomed Brother Alois, four other brothers of the community and 240 young adults from 26 countries, who took part in the Orthodox liturgical life from Wednesday of Holy Week to Easter Sunday. It was the first time that Taizé had led a pilgrimage to (...)

23 April 2011

Words of thanks of Brother Alois to Metropolitan Hilarion

Moscow, Saturday 23 April 2011Dear Metropolitan Hilarion, it’s with joy and emotion that we are making this visit to the Holy Russian Orthodox Church. I would like to express my gratitude for your invitation. Through our pilgrimage to Moscow, we would like to humbly express our veneration for the enduring faithfulness of the Christians of Russia. We brothers of Taizé, following in the steps of our founder, Brother Roger, have discovered that one of the secrets of the Russian soul is in a (...)

23 April 2011

Message from Metropolitan Hilarion

To his reverence, Brother Alois, Prior of Taizé and to the young people on pilgrimage in Moscow, 20-25 april 2011Dear Brother Alois!Dear brothers and sisters! With all my heart, I welcome each one of you who has come on this pilgrimage to the Russian Orthodox Church during these blessed days of Holy Week and Easter. Christians from all over the world this year celebrate the Passion and Resurrection of Our Lord in one and the same time. The prayer of the Orthodox services in the churches of (...)

21 April 2011

Easter Celebrations in Taizé and Moscow

More than 9000 young adults from throughout Europe and some from other continents are together in Taizé for the Easter celebrations (5000 at Easter, 4000 the following week). With a few brothers, Brother Alois, the prior of Taizé, left the hill to celebrate Easter in Russia. With 240 young adults from 26 countries, they are making a pilgrimage to Moscow to take part in the celebrations of the Russian Orthodox Church. The young pilgrims are being welcomed in six Orthodox parishes in Moscow. (...)

20 April 2011

A Pilgrimage to Moscow

The links between Taizé and Russia go back over many years. Already in the 1960s, Russian Orthodox church leaders were able to visit the community. During the 1970s and 80s, Brother Roger and other brothers of the community were invited to visit Russia. Meetings with Russian Orthodox church leaders took place and the visits were also a sign of solidarity with Russian believers who at that time were unable to travel abroad.In 1988, after having been invited to take part in the millennium (...)

24 January 2011