International

Bethlehem churches to close after suspected coronavirus cases: official

Several churches in Bethlehem including the Church of the Nativity have been temporarily closed for 14 days according to an order from the Palestinian Ministry of Health after some suspected cases at a Bethlehem hotel, RFI reports. Imad Shahadeh, head of the local health directorate, told AFP that a group of Greek tourists had visited…

Mar 9, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, honorary citizen of Ioannina

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has been declared honorary citizen of Ioannina. The honorary ceremony will take place in July, in the context of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s visit to the city of Ioannina, invited by the Metropolis, to perform the inauguration ceremony of the church of St. Paisios. Along with his declaration as an honorary citizen…

Mar 7, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

USA: Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops meets to Prepare for 10th Anniversary Celebration

On Thursday, February 27, 2020, the Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America convened at the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America to discuss the 2020 and 2021 budgets, ongoing projects, and the upcoming 10th Anniversary of the Assembly, to be held May 2-5 in Washington, DC.…

Mar 6, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

Serbian Patriarch Irinej visits the US, meets with Archbishop Elpidophoros

On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, His Beatitude, Patriarch Irinej of Serbia visited the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Headquarters. In his welcoming remarks, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America expressed his joy in welcoming the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Serbia and highlighted the spirit of cooperation between the Churches, especially in the United…

Mar 5, 2020Sorin Ioniţe

Fr Prof. Ioan Sauca appointed acting WCC general secretary

Fr Prof. Ioan Sauca has been appointed acting World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary beginning 1 April. Sauca, who currently serves as deputy general secretary for the WCC programme on Ecumenical Formation and Bossey Ecumenical Institute, will hold the general secretary post until the WCC Executive Committee meets in June. The leadership of the…

Mar 4, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Message by Patriarch John X of Antioch at the beginning of Great Lent 2020

The Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East published Patriarch John X’s message to the faithful at the beginning of Holy and Great Lent 2020. His Beatitude highlighted fasting as a self-transformative journey which can only be accomplished into Christ: “a person is their own master as long as they lean on God”. The essence…

Mar 4, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Church of Albania’s revival: Over 60 churches restored in 28 years

Despite the financial crisis, the Albanian Orthodox Church spares no expense in restoring its churches that have been in ruins since the persecution of the faith under the communist government last century. According to a report from the Albanian Church, 63 churches and monasteries were fully restored between 1991 and 2019, in addition to the…

Feb 28, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

Catechetical Homily of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the beginning of Holy and Great Lent, 2020

The Ecumenical Patriarchate has published Patriarch Bartholomew’s Catechetical Homily at the opening of Holy and Great Lent (2020). + BARTHOLOMEW BY GOD’S MERCY ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE – NEW ROME AND ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH TO THE PLENITUDE OF THE CHURCH, MAY THE GRACE AND PEACE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, TOGETHER WITH OUR PRAYER, BLESSING…

Feb 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Joint press statement following fraternal meeting of representatives of Orthodox Churches in Amman, Jordan

On February 26, 2020, a meeting of Primates and representatives of Local Orthodox Churches was held in Amman, Jordan, with the primary view of unity and reconciliation within Holy Orthodoxy. The participants noted their understanding of the anguish of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem for the imminent danger of schism within our Orthodox Communion. Participating in…

Feb 26, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop of Athens: Landmark decision to include psaltic art in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List

Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece met this morning the members of the Federation of Greek Chanters’ Associations (OMSIE). The reason for the meeting was UNESCO’s decision to include Byzantine chant in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The decision was made at the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the…

Feb 26, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

Egypt revives the path of the Holy Family

The implementation of a project to bring to view the path of the Holy Family, which stretches from Rafah to New Farama, historically known as Pelousi, has begun in Egypt. According to the Egyptian government’s plan, service facilities and roads are expected to unite religious, archaeological and historical tourism in the areas where the Holy…

Feb 26, 2020Gheorghe Anghel