Changes

*2007 50th anniversary of the autonomy of the Orthodox Church in China; the Holy Synod of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]] decided to open a department concerned with the [[Church of China|Chinese Orthodox Autonomous Church]] (COAC), stressing the need to continue efforts taken by its ''Department for External Church Relations'' in the dialogue with the Chinese authorities to normalize the situation of the Orthodox Church in China; Easter liturgies were offered in Russia’s diplomatic missions in China, with over 300 walking in an Easter procession in the Russian Embassy in Beijing, and 120 more attending the Easter liturgy in the Russian Consulate General in Shanghai; the Municipal Housing Bureau of Shanghai mandated the restoration of the [http://www.orthodox.cn/contemporary/shanghai/cathedral_en.htm Shanghai Cathedral] to prepare it as a historical museum; death of Protopresbyter [[Elias Wen]]; world's first [http://www.orthodox.cn/news/20071101dictionary_en.htm Russian-Chinese dictionary of Orthodox vocabulary] is printed in Moscow; Patr. [[Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow|Alexei II]] criticized the People's Republic of China for the fate of China’s Orthodox Church, which is denied freedom of religion and deprived of clergy<ref>AsiaNews.it [http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=8981 Aleksej II criticises China, Taiwan accepts to open a church]. ''AsiaNews.it'', April 12, 2007.</ref>; Metr. [[Nikitas (Lulias) of Dardanellia]] called on the government of Beijing to recognise Orthodoxy among the country’s official religions and expressed [http://kkp.catholic.org.hk/lo/lo3307/lo3307_04.htm concern about the plight of Christians in Asia].

*2008 Fr. [http://www.orthodox.cn/contemporary/shanghai/frmichaelwang_en.htm Mikhail Wang Quansheng] and Protodeacon [http://www.orthodox.cn/contemporary/shanghai/frdnevangellu_en.htm Evangelos Lu Yaofu], the only indigenous Orthodox clergy left in China, took part in Divine Services for the first time in 46 years, at the Russian consulate in Shanghai, and were awarded medals of the Venerable [[Sergius of Radonezh]] (I Degree) by Patr. [[Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow|Alexei of Moscow]]; Metr. [[Nektarios (Tsilis) of Hong Kong|Nektarios (Tsilis)]] becomes new Orthodox Bishop of Diocese of Hong Kong; Holy Synod of the [[Church of Ukraine|Ukrainian Orthodox Church]] glorifies Archimandrite [[Gury (Karpov)]]; an Orthodox Liturgy was Celebrated at the Olympic Village in Beijing; a [[Memorial Services|Memorial Service]] in memory of those killed during WWII was served at the Cross Shrine on the grounds of the Embassy of the Russian Embassy, on [[w:Victory in Europe Day|Victory Day]].

==Notes==