The week in pictures: December 31, 2018 – January 6, 2019
A selection of the best pictures from last week’s events in the Orthodox world.
All news
Bucharest Russian Orthodox Community celebrates feast of St Seraphim of Sarov
St Nicholas – Tabacu Church in Bucharest celebrated the feast of Saint Seraphim of Sarov on January 2, being the only church in the capital city of Romania where the Saint’s holy relics can be…
Prayers offered as Romania takes over EU presidency
The members of the Permanent Office of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the European Institution offer prayers for all those in service to the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council. ‘Grant them wisdom and peace!…
New Icon of Panagia the Protectress of Romanian Village blessed at Baia Mare
A new icon of the Mother of God the Protectress of the Romanian Village was blessed at Baia Mare marking the beginning of 2019, declared a Solemn Year of the Romanian Village by the Holy…
Engineer whose building rail-rolling system saved 12 churches from Ceausescu’s demolition spree dies aged 89
Engineer Eugeniu Iordăchescu, whose building relocation method rescued 12 churches that would have been otherwise slated for demolition by order of Nicolae Ceauşescu in the 80s, died on January 4 at the age of 89.…
Russian Church officially adds saints of Spain, Portugal to liturgical calendar
The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church officially established the feast of the Synaxis of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Spanish and Portuguese Lands, adding 80 saints to its liturgical calendar, at…
Romanian Patriarch Daniel celebrates Divine Liturgy on New Year’s Day
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania presided over the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great on New Year’s Day at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. Concelebrants for the Divine Liturgy included the Patriarch’s auxiliary…
Bucharest Orthodox believers welcome 2019 with ‘the joy of the sanctification of time’
Hundreds of Orthodox believers prayerfully welcomed the New Year 2019 together with His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest having ‘the joy of the sanctification of time.’ His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel read…
117 people baptized in Congo
117 people from Pointe Noire and Dolisie received the Mystery of Holy Baptism at the end of December last year, the Metropolitanate of Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon informs. On December 29, 2018, His Eminence Panteleimon, Metropolitan…
His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch celebrates his 63th birthday
His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch celebrates on 01 January 2019 his 63th birthday. Patriarch John X of Antioch His Beatitude John X was born in 1955 in the city of Lattakia, Syria. His…
Holy Synod of Georgian Orthodox Church meets in Tbilisi
On December 27 the session of the Holy Synod was conveyed in the Patriarchate of Georgia. The session was presided by His Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos – Patriarch of all Georgia. Amba-Alaverdian Metropolitan David was…
Britain commissions review of Christian persecution worldwide
Britain has commissioned an independent review into the persecution of Christians to find practical steps to support followers of a religion that it said has been subject to a dramatic rise in violence worldwide, Reuters…
VIDEO | Syrian Christian town where Jesus’ language remains in use celebrates Christmas
One of the places where Christmas was celebrated on Tuesday is Maaloula, a small town near Damascus, where residents still speak Aramaic, the language used by Jesus Christ. Maaloula is located in a mountainous area…
Iraq officially makes Christmas Day a national holiday
The Iraqi Cabinet approved a law to mark Christmas Day, December 25, as an official holiday across the country “on the occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ,” according to a statement released by the…
The Nativity of the Lord reveals God’s endless love for humans, Patriarch of Romania says at Christmas Divine Liturgy
‘The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord reveals God’s endless love for humans, which is above all understanding,’ the Patriarch of Romania said during the Christmas Divine Liturgy celebrated on Tuesday, December 25, at…
Patriarch of Romania congratulates the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the 45th anniversary of his episcopal consecration
The Message of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, addressed to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the 45th anniversary of his episcopal consecration: His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome, Ecumenical…
45th episcopal consecration anniversary of His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
On 25 December 2018 His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, celebrates his episcopal consecration anniversary. Born Demetrios Archondonis in 1940 on the island of Imvros (today, Gökçeada, Turkey), His All-Holiness Bartholomew was elected…
Pastoral Letter of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the Nativity of the Lord 2018
Please find below the pastoral letter sent by the members of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord 2018. Pastoral Letter of the Holy Synod…