50^th Anniversary of Chinese Autonomous Church to be observed in Moscow

On November 23, 2007, with the blessing of Alexy, the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and all-Russia, activities commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of the Chinese Orthodox Church will be held in the Moscow Patriarchate's Pilgrim Center (Michurinsky Prospekt, house 8).

At 10:00 in a chapel dedicated to Princess Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, located on the 15^th floor of the Pilgrim Center, there will be a moleben to the 222 Chinese Martyrs, and also a prayerful remembrance of the hierarchs, clergy and lay people of the Chinese Autonomous Church, supporters of the Russian Spiritual Mission in China.

A conference dedicated to the anniversary will follow.

A broad range of topics on the status of Orthodoxy in China, is to be addressed during the conference:

• The history and current situation of Orthodoxy in China.
• The Role of the Russian Spiritual Mission in China in the development of Russian-Chinese relations.
• The interaction of the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian diplomacy in the development of Russian-Chinese relations.
• Prospects of interaction by Russia and China in religious matters.
• The missionary service of the Russian Orthodox Church in Asia.
• The current availability of liturgical books in the Chinese language.

At 1:30 pm Metropolitan Kyrill of Smolensk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department of External Relations, and participating speakers will hold a press conference.

Accreditation of journalists: November 22, 1 pm, by fax (495) 633-84-28.