Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill sign Joint Declaration

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill meet in Havana

His Holiness Pope Francis of Rome and His Beatitude Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met today in Havana, Cuba in an unprecedented gesture between the two Churches.  The historic meeting, the first between a Pope of Rome and a Patriarch of Moscow, was followed by the signing of a Joint Declaration between the two Primates.

Text of Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill

The Pope and Patriarch symbolically embraced and as reported by the New York Times:

As he approached the Russian patriarch amid the clicking of news cameras, Francis was overheard to say, “Brother.” A moment later, he added, “Finally.”
The two men embraced, kissing each other twice on the cheeks and clasping hands before taking seats. “Now things are easier,” Kirill said. Francis responded, “It is clear now that this is the will of God.”

New York Times:  Pope and Russian Orthodox Leader Meet in Historic Step

It should be noted that contrary to many reports in the media (like this NPR report) it is incorrect to state that this was the first meeting between the two Churches in a thousand years, referring to the Great Schism of 1054 which resulted in the split of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.  That first meeting took place in 1964 between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem when the mutual excommunications between the two Churches were lifted.  There have been several meetings between Popes and Patriarchs since then.

1964 and subsequent meetings between Popes and Patriarchs

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew tweeted his prayers and subtly clarified the relevance of the meeting.

Praying for my brothers in Christ #PopeFrancis & Pat Kirill. Pleased 1964 dialogue started by Athenagoras & Paul VI continues to bear fruit.

— Ecumenical Patriarch (@EcuPatriarch) February 12, 2016

It is also relevant to point out that a thousand years ago when the two Churches split in 1054 there was no Russian Patriarch.  The Church in Russia until the 16th century was under the direct canonical authority of the Ecumenical Patriarch, it wasn't until 1589 that the Ecumenical Patriarchate granted autocephaly to the Church of Russia and we have the first Patriarch of Russia.

MYSTAGOGY: The Last Time the Head of the Russian Church Met the Pope of Rome

Nonetheless Pope Francis and Patriarch Krill's meeting today was historic not only because of the obvious implications it has on the advancement of relations between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches but because it bears particular historical significance in light of the upcoming Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church.  The Council, to be convened in Crete this June, will address relations between Orthodoxy and Catholicism.  The Moscow Patriarchate has often been regarded as a stumbling block in this relationship.  Not any more.

Video footage of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill's signing of the Joint Declaration.

Historic Patriarchal Liturgy in Krini (Cesme) Asia Minor for the Feast of St. Haralambos

Today, February 10, 2016, the Feast of the Holy Righteous Hieromatyr Haralambos, at the Church of St. Haralambos in Krini (modern day Cesme), Asia Minor, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided at the first Liturgy since the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922.  The Metropolitan Church of St. Haralambos which was the Cathedral of the Metropolis of Krini and Aneon has recently been restored by the mayor of Cesme.

Feast of Panagia Paramythias (Παναγίας Παραμυθίας) 2016 at the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi

Agrypnia for the Feast of Panagia Paramythias (Παναγίας Παραμυθίας) at the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi, Mt. Athos, con-celebrated by Metropolitan Dionysios of Corinth and Metropolitan Chrysostom of Chalkidos.

Πανηγυρική Αγρυπνία της Παναγίας Παραμυθίας στην Ιερά Μεγίστη Μονή Βατοπαιδίου, Αγίου Όρος, χοροστατούντος του Σεβασμιωτάτου Μητροπολίτου Κορίνθου κ. Διονυσίου και συγχοροστατούντος του Σεβασμιωτάτου Μητροπολίτου Χαλκίδος κ. Χρυσοστόμου.

source:  pemptousia.gr

Euchologion - Goar

Link to the Euchologion published in 1730 by J. Goar in Venice.  This second edition includes corrections of a number of errors from the first edition.

Euchologion - Goar - 1730

Link to the Euchologion (first edition) published in1667 by J. Goar in Paris.  

Euchologion - Goar - 1667

Δόξα σοι Κύριε before the Gospel

The question has arisen, mainly because of the lack of the Typikon of the Great Church (Violakis, TME 1888, p. 58 and p. 54) to include it, should Δόξα σοι Κύριε be chanted before the Gospel reading?

See J. Goar, Euchologion, 1730 (second edition Euchologion - Goar - 1730), p. 56.  Here it clearly states that it is chanted before the Gospel however, curious enough, no mention is made of it being chanted after the Gospel reading - most likely because it is assumed common knowledge.

I would defer to the common practice that exists almost universally in the Orthodox Church of chanting it before and after the Gospel reading.  One only need look at the modern practice of the Ecumenical Patriarchate today at the Patriarchal Cathedral which includes the chanting of it both before and after the Gospel testifying to an older accepted tradition of the Great Church.

Curiously enough one hears in the modern practice of the Church of Greece, at least at it's Metropolitan Cathedral and at other Athens parishes, the chanting of Δόξα σοι Κύριε before the priest or deacons' exclamation of Πρόσχωμεν before the Gospel reading.

It is most likely the case that the omission of this rubric in the TME is a case of assumed knowledge of the divine services and their common elements by the authors of the 1888 edition.  There are many areas in the Typikon both in the 1888 edition and in previous editions where common elements are left out, partially described and assumed to be known by the reader.  For instance to speak of the previous editions of Konstantinos' Typika, they remain silent on the subject not including detailed rubrics for the Gospel reading.