International

By grace and by the power of the Cross | Message of hope from the US Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America sent on Wednesday a “message of hope and spiritual encouragement” to the clergy, the faithful and all the people of goodwill, during the sanitary crisis which has continued this fall. “The Coronavirus pandemic has affected every human being in the world with some…

Oct 10, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

2021 set aside as Year of Youth in US Orthodox Diaspora

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (ACOB-US) declared the year 2021 as the Year of the Youth. The decision was made at the annual meeting of the assembly, which took place online on October 6-7. The goal is to recognize the youth as the future of the Church. “Our…

Oct 8, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Bulgarian and Romanian hierarchs commemorate departed Bulgarian Metropolitan Ambrose on his 40th day

On August 18, His Eminence Metropolitan Ambrose of Dorostol of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church reposed in the Lord at the age of 78 after becoming infected with the coronavirus. On Saturday, September 26, hierarchs of both the Bulgarian and Romanian Churches came together at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Silistra, Bulgaria, to commemorate Met.…

Sep 30, 2020Sorin Ioniţe

Polish Orthodox Church consecrates Warsaw’s Agia Sophia Cathedral

Nearly five years after its foundation stone was laid, the Agia Sophia Cathedral in Warsaw was festively consecrated on the eve of the feast of the Nativity of the Most-Holy Theotokos. The new cathedral, based on the iconic Agia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul, is the first Orthodox church to be built in Warsaw in a…

Sep 24, 2020Iulian Dumitraşcu

Ecumenical Patriarch’s message for Sept. 1: Respect for the environment is an act of doxology of God’s name

In his message at the beginning of the new church year, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew states that “respect for the environment is an act of doxology of God’s name, while the destruction of creation is an offense against the Creator, entirely irreconcilable with the basic tenets of Christian theology.” At the initiative of the Patriarchate of…

Aug 28, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Christian persecution increased during the pandemic

Persecution and discrimination against Christians increased around the world during the coronavirus pandemic. For authoritarian governments, which already limit religious freedom, the pandemic has become a pretext to step up persecution against the Christians, Release International said. In many developing countries, Christians are denied food and pandemic-related health care assistance and support systems, UCA News…

Aug 18, 2020Sorin Ioniţe

Take a virtual tour of Beirut Orthodox Cathedral and help its renovation. See how it looked before the explosion

The VR Pilgrim application offers a virtual tour of places of worship from Lebanon, among which the “St. Nicholas” Cathedral in Beirut, one of the most affected buildings by the blast on August 4. In June, VR360 Treasures company launched the application VR Pilgrim, which allows users to take virtual tours of Christian churches across…

Aug 17, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

We are called to acquire the meekness and humility of the heart imitating Saint John Jacob, Patriarch Theophilos says

In the sermon delivered on Monday at the Chozeba Monastery, on the feast of Saint John Jacob the New Chosebite, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem spoke about the Romanian saint pointing out that he learned the humility and meekness from Christ. “Saint John Jacob accomplished his completeness because he was taught by Christ Himself the meekness…

Aug 13, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

Ecumenical Patriarch thanks Patriarch of Romania for solidarity over Hagia Sophia issue: ‘The Church of God’s Wisdom belongs to all humanity’

His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew thanked the Patriarch of Romania “from the depth of his heart” for the support expressed in the case of the Hagia Sophia Basilica following a decision of the Turkish authorities to transform it into a mosque after 86 years. “From the depth of our heart, we thank you for Your…

Aug 4, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Church founded by St Constantine Brâncoveanu in Constantinople celebrates patronal feast

The Church of Saint Paraskevi in Pikridion, which was founded by Saint Constantine Brancoveanu and is now the spiritual home of the Romanian community in Constantinople, celebrated its patronal feast on July 26. “According to the established tradition, on July 26, Romanian and Greek Orthodox Christians in Istanbul gathered in the centre of the metropolis…

Aug 3, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

CROCEU on Hagia Sophia: The effort to erase its ancient Christian origins is deplorable and dangerous

The Committee of the Representatives of the Orthodox Churches to the European Institutions (CROCEU) expressed its deep regret concerning Turkey’s unprecedented violation of the UNESCO rules by changing the status of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia from a museum into a mosque. CROCEU has issued a statement in which it says the action violates historical memory and…

Jul 23, 2020Ștefana Totorcea