International

Romanian ambassador meets Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria to discuss cultural and Church cooperation

Romania’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Olivia Toderean, visited His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa on Thursday, 1 October. The meeting took place at the Patriarchal Residence, where the two discussed new avenues for cultural and ecclesiastical collaboration. His Beatitude recalled the relations between the Church of…

Oct 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

International team seeks to save 1,100-year-old Georgian church in Turkey from collapse

An international team from five countries, comprising architects, designers, filmmakers and conservation specialists, is seeking to save an approximately 1,100-year-old Georgian church in north-eastern Turkey that is at risk of collapse. According to a press release from Spanish architect and project coordinator Tassilo de la Torre Schönborn, Nuka Sakdari Church is in Artvin Province and…

Sep 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil to visit Jerusalem and Jordan, meet Patriarch Theophilos III

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria will visit Jerusalem and Jordan from 25 to 30 September, during which he will meet Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. Patriarch Daniil’s delegation will include Metropolitan Ioan of Varna and Veliki Preslav, Metropolitan Seraphim of Nevrokop and Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Secretary-General of the Holy Synod. The Patriarchate of…

Sep 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Church representatives to EU discuss future projects at Brussels meeting

Representatives of the Orthodox Churches to the European Union met in Brussels on Thursday to discuss how to organise future projects. The meeting was held at the Ambiorix Orthodox Centre and chaired by Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Fr Sorin Șelaru and Fr George Vâlcu, representatives…

Sep 18, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Greece approves 10-year programme to restore and digitise Jerusalem Patriarchate heritage

The Greek state will support the restoration, conservation and digitisation of the heritage of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem over the next ten years under a memorandum of cooperation concluded with Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture. The document was signed in Athens in June 2026 and ratified by the Greek Parliament last…

Sep 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

UK Orthodox bishops warn against assisted suicide: ‘We must provide care, not killing’

Orthodox hierarchs in the United Kingdom were among the signatories of an appeal opposing the legalisation of assisted suicide. “We must provide care, not killing,” the bishops said. The letter was published ahead of the return to the British Parliament of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would have allowed terminally ill…

Sep 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

International Orthodox spirituality conference at Bose focuses on St Pachomius

A new edition of the International Ecumenical Conference on Orthodox Spirituality is taking place at Bose Monastery in Italy from 8 to 11 September. This year’s conference is entitled Abba Pachomius: At the Origins of Community Life. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel sent a message to the conference on Wednesday, while Patriarch John X of Antioch…

Sep 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch signs canonisation acts for four Romanian Athonite saints

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I signed the canonisation acts for four Romanian Athonite saints on Saturday: Sts Niphon of Prodromos Skete, Nectarios the Protopsaltes, Dionysius of Colciu and Petronius of Prodromos Skete. The ceremony took place at the Cathedral of St George in Constantinople’s Phanar district, after the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate…

Aug 31, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate representative joins Dormition celebrations in Jerusalem

Archimandrite Ioan Meiu, representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in the Holy Land and superior of the Romanian establishments in Jerusalem, Jericho and Jordan, attended the Divine Liturgy on Friday for the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God according to the unrevised calendar. His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem celebrated the service…

Aug 31, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

International photography contest invites images of Orthodox life in Czechia and Slovakia

Photographers from around the world are being invited to capture Orthodox Christianity through the international competition “Colours of Orthodoxy. Czechia and Slovakia”. The competition runs from 15 August to 30 November and is free to enter for both professional and amateur photographers. Each participant may submit up to six photographs per category across the four…

Aug 25, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

St John of Rila honoured 1,080 years after his repose, Bulgarian Patriarch calls him ‘source of hope’

Saint John of Rila was commemorated on Wednesday at Rila Monastery in Bulgaria, marking 1,080 years since his repose in the Lord. On this occasion, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniil of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church highlighted the saint’s spiritual legacy, describing him as “a source of hope, spiritual help, an example and a guide for our…

Aug 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu