Vladimir Rozanskij

The spiritual movement, already banned in China as an "evil cult", was declared an "extremist organization" in Khakatia and then throughout the Federation, "like Jehovah's Witnesses".

The Yerevan parliament stormed and violence outside the home of Prime Minister Pašinyan. Baku celebrates with victory parades. Turkey and Russia are moving towards the "Syrian model" of joint territorial control. 10 Iljušin-76 aircraft are ready to carry the troops of the "peacemakers". In all, about 2000 soldiers will be deployed.

Archbishop Ante Jozic also brought gratulatory letters from Pope Francis. The recognition of the election of the Belarusian president does not appeal to many Catholics involved in the demonstrations. Lukashenko also accused the Archbishop of Minsk of "conspiring to destroy our country". For the president, the Orthodox Church is the Belarusian "bastion of religiosity". Many Orthodox priests do not follow the directions of the metropolitan and openly support the protests.

The challenger Maja Sandu won 36.1%; the outgoing president Igor Dodon only 32.61%. The run-off will be held on Sunday 15 November. For now, no Belarusian scenario. Fears of a new Twitter revolution. Former KGB general Vladimir Dzhabarov denounces "attempts to organize a revolution in Moldova".

Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, most of the events took place online. At the "Night of the Arts", there were over 5500 events: meetings with great authors of culture, broadcasts of shows, virtual excursions to museums, concerts. Putin witnessed the ringing of the bells of the Saviour’s Tower in the Kremlin. Patriarch Kirill is in self-isolation following contact with some positive cases (several voices give him as seriously ill, but without confirmation). The revolutionary sense of the celebration is increasingly being replaced in consciences by religious sentiment.

In an official meeting with Venjamin, the new Orthodox Metropolitan of Minsk, the Belarusian president expresses his appreciation for the contribution of the Orthodox Church. He also denounced the Catholic metropolitan in exile, charging him with going to Poland "for consultations on how to destroy our country". No to foreign (Catholic) priests in Belarus. On a possible invitation to Pope Francis to visit the country, "the invitation must come from the head of state together with the Orthodox Church". The president "defender of the faith" has always declared himself an "Orthodox atheist".

Moldovans will vote for president next Sunday. Backed by Putin, the incumbent, Dodon, warns of opposition "protests". His rivals, Maia Sandu and Andrei Năstase, accuse him of rigging the vote. Final results will be announced on Monday, or 16 November in case of a runoff. Lying on the border between East and West, Moldova is split between pro-Russia and pro-Europe camps.

Written by Vladimir Zobern, who has worked in the publishing sector of the Moscow Patriarchate since the 1970s. The book is inspired by the Letter of St. James (5.15). "Turning to earthly doctors, we must not forget the heavenly ones". The prayers concern the sick, but also healthcare workers, volunteers and those who sacrifice themselves to help "the country and the world". Buddhists and Muslims also have special invocations against the pandemic.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaja, leader of the opposition in exile, has called on the whole of society to strike. Participation throughout the country, including workers from state industries, universities and schools, religious associations. Sunday 25 October, demonstration of 100-200 thousand people, repressed by the police and the security forces. Putin condemns the "state violence" as "unnecessary". Mike Pompeo calls for the release of Vitalij Škljarov, an American political scientist of Belarusian origin who had joined the protests.

Orthodox Archbishop Chrysostomos II mentions the Metropolitan of Kiev during the Divine Liturgy in Paphos. So far there have been three Orthodox Churches that recognize its autocephaly: Constantinople, which granted it, then Athens and Alexandria of Egypt. Cyprus was evangelized by Paul and Barnabas. Its prestige could lead other autocephalous churches to recognize the Church of Kiev. The Metropolitan of Limassol, Athanasios (Nikolaou) abandoned the celebration in Paphos and four Cypriot bishops contested the recognition of the Ukrainian Church.

The new wave of Covid-19 has led to the death of Dmitry Smirnov, president of the Patriarchal Commission for family, motherhood and childhood. Another well-known Muscovite priest, the hieromonk Nikon, a supporter of the Romanov imperial family, also close to death. A famous activist from the Union of Orthodox Fraternities, the writer Vladimir Osipov, has died. Patriarch Kirill has been in isolation for some time, due to numerous positive cases in the entourage of collaborators of the patriarchate.

Banned from his homeland, the head of the Catholic Church in Belarus is now in exile in Poland. During his visit to Rome, he met with Secretary of State Card Parolin and Secretary for Relations with States Bishop Gallagher. The latter visited Belarus in September to get President Lukashenko to allow the return of the metropolitan.