International

Jerusalem Patriarchate prepares for 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s Baptism in 2030

The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem discussed preparations for events marking the 2,000th anniversary of the Lord’s Baptism in 2030. The hierarchs, meeting under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, reviewed plans on Thursday for a series of events along the River Jordan highlighting the anniversary’s historical and spiritual…

Aug 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch marks 65 years since ordination: My entire journey has been ‘a life in dialogue’

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I marked the 65th anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate on Thursday, 13 August, on his native island of Imbros (Gökçeada). “My entire journey has been a life in dialogue,” His All-Holiness stressed. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Ecumenical Patriarch together with His Beatitude Theodore II, Pope and…

Aug 18, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Jordan signs deals to develop Jesus’ baptism site ahead of 2,000th anniversary

The Jordanian government has signed four agreements to develop the area where Jesus Christ was baptised as part of preparations to mark the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of the Lord in 2030. The agreements were signed on Wednesday at the Jordanian government headquarters in Amman following the first meeting of the National Committee for…

Aug 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Jerusalem Patriarch honours Romanian Saint John Jacob at Choziba Monastery

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem officiated a vigil service on Monday in honour of St John Jacob of Neamț at Choziba Monastery in Palestine. His Beatitude described the saint as “an offspring of Romania”. The service was celebrated by Patriarch Theophilos III together with His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Secretary-General of the…

Aug 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch marks 1,400 years since first chanting of Akathist Hymn at Blachernae

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I prayed last Friday at the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople, marking 1,400 years since the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God was first chanted. According to tradition, the hymn dedicated to the Mother of God was first chanted at the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in 626, after the Byzantine…

Aug 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to visit Bulgaria for feast of St John of Rila

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will visit Bulgaria on 19 October for the feast of St John of Rila. The announcement was made on Friday during the Service of Supplication to the Mother of God held at the Church of St John of Rila of the Bulgarian community in Constantinople. The visit will take…

Aug 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest Declaration calls for greater international cooperation to protect Christian heritage

Participants in the World Congress of Syriac Studies and the International Conference on Arab Christian Studies adopted the “Bucharest Declaration” on Friday, recognising Romania’s contribution to the development of cultural diplomacy. According to a press release issued by the Levant Institute for Advanced Studies in the Culture of Peace, the declaration was adopted in the…

Aug 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Assyrian Patriarch Mar Awa III makes first visit to Romania for Syriac studies congress

His Holiness Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, made his first-ever visit to Romania from August 3 to 7. According to a press release from the Levant Institute, the visit took place in conjunction with the 14th World Congress for Syriac Studies and the 12th International Conference on Christian Arabic…

Aug 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch marks Romanian parish feast in Constantinople, honours modern-day martyrs

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I presided over the Divine Liturgy on Sunday for the patronal feast of the Romanian Church of the Holy Virgin-Martyr Paraskevi in Constantinople. “With the certainty of this life and of the universal resurrection, we honour the memory of St Paraskevi, who suffered martyrdom for her faith in the risen Christ,” His…

Jul 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox clergy from several jurisdictions gather in Windsor to honour St John Maximovitch

Clergy representing several canonical Orthodox Churches in Canada gathered on Saturday, 18 July, in Windsor, Ontario, to honour St John Maximovitch, the patron saint of the Windsor-Essex Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated at St George and St Andrew Șaguna Cathedral in Windsor by His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian of the Romanian Orthodox…

Jul 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Athonite monks present relics of newly canonised Saints to Ecumenical Patriarch

Romanian monks from the Holy Mount Athos presented Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I with relics of three recently canonised Romanian Athonite Saints on Monday: St Dionysius of Colciu Cell, St Petronius of Prodromos Skete, and St Niphon of Prodromos Skete. The holy relics were brought by a delegation comprising Hieroschemamonk Dionisie Alb, Abbot of the Cell…

Jul 1, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu