International

Ecumenical Patriarch describes St John of Rila as ‘a golden coin bearing God’s imprint’

“St John himself is a golden coin bearing God’s imprint,” His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said on Monday at Rila Monastery in Bulgaria, where he concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria. Referring to the saint’s image on Bulgarian currency, Patriarch Bartholomew drew on a saying attributed to St Ignatius the God-Bearer…

Oct 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Sofia: True faith seeks communion and lives in unity

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I delivered a message on Sunday at St Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral in Sofia, where he joined Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria for the Divine Liturgy. “True faith seeks communion, is confirmed through encounter and lives in unity. This is precisely what we are doing today: we visit one another, listen…

Oct 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniil welcomes Ecumenical Patriarch to Bulgaria, calls for stronger Orthodox unity

Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria welcomed His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on Sunday at St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, emphasising the importance of unity in the Orthodox faith and the spiritual legacy of St John of Rila. The Ecumenical Patriarch visited Bulgaria to take part in celebrations marking 1,150 years since the birth of…

Oct 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Primates of Albania and Greece discuss social outreach and education in Athens

His Beatitude Archbishop John of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania met His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece on Thursday. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Athens, where Bishop Barnabas of Christoupolis welcomed the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania. Archbishop John presented the initiatives and…

Oct 17, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Shio III reflects on 1,700 years of Christianity as Georgia’s state religion

His Beatitude Patriarch Shio III of Georgia emphasised faith’s role in society at an international symposium marking 1,700 years since Christianity became Georgia’s state religion. The symposium took place in Tbilisi from 11 to 13 October, with sessions covering history, ethnology and archaeology, language and literature, culture and art, and religion and science. Roin Metreveli,…

Oct 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch to join Bulgaria’s celebrations marking 1,150 years since St John of Rila’s birth

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church will honour St John of Rila with a series of events in Sofia and at Rila Monastery from 17 to 19 October, marking 1,150 years since his birth and 1,080 years since his repose. The programme begins on Saturday at 5:00 pm, when His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will be…

Oct 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Georgian Patriarch Shio III: Faith in Christ has sustained our people throughout history

“History bears witness that, despite many trials, failures and sins, the Georgian people have never strayed from the path of Christ,” His Beatitude Patriarch Shio III of Georgia said on Wednesday at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia. The Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrated the Divine Liturgy, joined by hierarchs representing sister Orthodox Churches.…

Oct 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Hon Metropolitan Nifon meets Georgian Patriarch Shio III during visit to Tbilisi

His Eminence Honorary Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște and Patriarchal Exarch, was received on Tuesday at the Patriarchal Residence in Tbilisi by His Beatitude Patriarch Shio III of Georgia. During the meeting, Hon Metropolitan Nifon conveyed His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel’s fraternal greetings to Patriarch Shio III. The Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church received a…

Oct 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek Orthodox metropolitan proposes eight measures to tackle loneliness through parish communities

The hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece discussed loneliness in contemporary society and its pastoral implications last week, with eight measures proposed to help address social isolation through communities of faith. Metropolitan Dorotheos of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea, Milos, Delos and Mykonos presented a paper entitled The Pastoral Care of Loneliness…

Oct 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox scholars and hierarchs review decade since Holy and Great Council of Crete

An international conference examining the Holy and Great Council of Crete began in Chantilly, France, on Monday, 5 October, marking the tenth anniversary of the landmark Orthodox Church gathering. The International Scientific Conference, titled The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (2016–2026): Assessment and Prospects, was organised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and ran…

Oct 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Church of Greece examines clergy’s online presence, warns of risks of social media

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece devoted particular attention on Wednesday to an increasingly relevant issue: the online presence of clergy. Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida outlined the benefits and risks of online pastoral ministry, along with several guiding principles, in a presentation to the Synod. “I believe that reality itself has given a…

Oct 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu