International

Bulgarian Orthodox Church to elect new Patriarch on June 30

As decreed by the Holy Synod on March 19, a Patriarchal Electoral Church Council will convene on June 30 to elect a new Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The decision follows the repose of Patriarch Neophyte on March 13. On June 2, all dioceses must conduct elections for delegates to the electoral council. On…

Mar 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Assistant Bishop Nichifor leads Romanian pilgrims to Cyprus holy places

A group of Romanian pilgrims led by His Grace Nichifor of Botoșani, the assistant bishop to the archdiocese of Iași, visited the places where Sts Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel to Cypriots. The pilgrimage, organised by St Parascheva pilgrimage centre of the Iasi Archdiocese, took place from March 14 to 18. It included sites…

Mar 22, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Faithful and hierarchs from Bulgaria and other Orthodox nations paid their last homage to Patriarch Neophyte

Bulgarians paid their last homage to Patriarch Neophyte on Saturday, after the head of their national Church reposed into the Lord on Wednesday. In addition to many faithful who came to say goodbye at the “St Alexander Nevsky” Patriarchal Cathedral in Sofia, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, as well as the hierarchs of the Bulgarian…

Mar 18, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

Romanian Patriarch sends condolences to the Bulgarian Church after the death of Patriarch Neophyte

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania sent condolences to the Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church following the death of Patriarch Neophyte. Full text: Bucharest, 14 March 2024 To the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church It is with deep sorrow that we learned about the passing away, after battling a long illness, of…

Mar 14, 2024Sorin Ioniţe

Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria reposes in the Lord

According to a statement published on the Bulgarian Patriarchate’s website, His Beatitude Patriarch Neophyte of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church reposed in the Lord on Wednesday evening at the age of 78. Patriarch Neophyte died at the Academy of Military Medicine in Sofia at 10:22 p.m. as a result of multiple organ failure. “We appeal to…

Mar 14, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

France Orthodox Bishops express concern about assisted suicide legalisation

Concern has been expressed by the Orthodox bishops regarding the initiatives to legalise assisted suicide in the French Republic. France’s Canonical Orthodox Bishops met in Paris for their regular meeting on November 23. The talks were chaired by His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrios of France (Ecumenical Patriarchate). The concerns come in the context of legislative efforts…

Nov 29, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Christians killed in Gaza/Israel prayerfully remembered at Romanian church in Jerusalem

At the Romanian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, daily petitions for peace and memorial services are held for those who perished in recent armed conflicts. During the Saturday Divine Liturgy, the Christians killed last week in the premises of the Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrios of Gaza were remembered. “We offered a prayer for the souls…

Oct 23, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem unite in a call for peace and justice

The leaders of the Christian communities of Jerusalem, among whom the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, have issued a statement calling for peace and justice amidst unfolding violence in the Holy Land. The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem reiterate the importance of respecting the historic and legal Status Quo of the holy shrines and express…

Oct 10, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Ecumenical Patriarchate canonises Eldress Gavrilia Papaianni

During its working session on Oct. 3, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate resolved to canonise Gerontissa Gavrilia Papaianni one day after marking her 126th birth anniversary. The decision to canonise St. Gavrilia was initiated by Patriarch Bartholomew and announced by the Metropolis of Leros, Kalymnos, and Astypalaia, which made the relevant appeal to…

Oct 7, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

St. Paraskeva’s garments donated to Bulgarian city which kept her relics for 150+ years: Gratitude for Romania’s gift

A set of St. Paraskeva’s garments, donated by the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iași, Romania, reached on Sunday the Cathedral of Veliko Tarnovo, the city where the saint’s relics were once kept for more than 150 years. His Eminence Metropolitan Grigorie of Veliko Tarnovo of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church welcomed the Romanian delegation with national honours.…

Sep 13, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Message of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2023

„The struggle for human rights cannot ignore the fact that these rights are threatened by climate change, by the shortage of potable water, fertile soil and clean air, but also by environmental degradation in general,” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople stressed in his Message on the occasion of the World Day of Prayer for the…

Aug 31, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu