International

Metropolitan Iakovos of Mytilene meets with Greek community in Tulcea

His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Mytilene on Sunday met with the Greek community in Izvoarele, a village in the eastern county of Tulcea. It has become a tradition for the Metropolitan of Mytilene as well as for other officials from Lesvos to visit Romania and meet with members of the Greek community in Tulcea every…

Dec 3, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Young Orthodox show solidarity with Finland’s Jewish community after anti-Semitic incidents

A group of Orthodox youth joined the Finnish community leaders who gathered at the gates of the Helsinki Synagogue to lay bouquets of flowers in a show of solidarity with Finland’s Jewish community, which has been subjected to a spike in anti-Semitic attacks this year. The action was prompted in part by a recent incident…

Nov 29, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Eugene Vodolazkin: Russia’s prize-winning novelist on main character: ‘Laurus brings together several lives of Saints’

Eugene Vodolazkin, one of today’s most famous Russian novelist, said that he was inspired by several lives of Saints when creating the main character of his best-selling novel Laurus. Eugene Vodolazkin and his wife Tatiana recently visited the Saint Nicholas –Tabacu church in Bucharest, the home of the Russian Orthodox Community in the capital of…

Nov 29, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Homeless elderly accept hosting offer following Archbishop’s visit

A happy ending for the elderly homeless couple that moved the Greek society. 83-year-old Philippos and his 84-year-old wife Eleni accepted the offer by the Municipality of Athens to temporarily move to a hostel for homeless people in the city center. Their decision to abandon their much beloved independence followed a visit by the Archbishop…

Nov 28, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

First Romanian Church in Africa to be consecrated this Saturday

A new church dedicated to Saint Andrew the First-Called who is considered the Protector of Romania will be consecrated this Saturday in Johannesburg, South Africa. The consecration ceremony will be officiated Nov. 30 by His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe. The event represents the crowning of the efforts of the Romanian community…

Nov 28, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Canonization of Elder Ieronymos Simonopetritis and Elder Sophrony of Essex

The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which was convened today, following the positive recommendation of the Canonical Committee, decided to canonize Elder Ieronymos Simonopetritis. During his recent visit to Mount Athos, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew announced the canonization of four Athonite monks, including Elder Ieronymos Simonopetritis. Saint Ieronymos Simonopetritis was abbot of the Simonopetra Monastery…

Nov 27, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

President Radev: Zographou Monastery Has Safeguarded Bulgarian Spirituality for Over 1,000 Years

President Rumen Radev joined celebrations of the feast of the Zographou Monastery, the Bulgarian monastery in Mount Athos, on November 16. Hundreds of pilgrims from Bulgaria and the Balkans flocked to the place for the occasion, the BTA reports citing President’s Press Secretariat. Radev said: “The Zographou Monastery is one of the most cherished and…

Nov 26, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

Orthodox burial given to 193 Greek soldiers in Albania who died during war in 1940

A Greek Orthodox burial was finally given to the remains of 193 Greek soldiers who died in Albania during the Greek-Italian war in 1940-41, Greek City Times reports. After 79 years, the bones of the soldiers who lost their lives while fighting for their country were covered with the Greek flag and placed in their…

Nov 25, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

New Skete of St. Anna opens in Kenya

A new convent has opened in the Diocese of Nyeri and Mt. Kenya in the Patriarchate of Alexandria, Orthochristian reports. “Welcome to the Skete of St. Anna. It is now complete and ready for nuns to settle in,” writes Bishop Neophytos of Nyeri and Mt. Kenya on his Facebook page. Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, who previously…

Nov 21, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

“Bus of mercy” for homeless blessed in St. Petersburg

A new “Bus of Mercy,” a mission to the city’s homeless, was blessed at the Church of the Nativity of Christ in St. Petersburg on Sunday. The new volunteer ministry vehicle is a joint project of the club “Koinonia” (“Communion”) and the secular “Charity Hospital” association. The rite of blessing was celebrated by Fr. Alexei…

Nov 20, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

Patriarch Pavle of Serbia commemorated on 10th anniversary of his repose

The memory of Patriarch Pavle of Serbia of thrice-blessed memory was commemorated on Friday, November 15, on the 10th anniversary of his blessed repose. On that day, a Divine Liturgy and panikhida were served in Pat. Pavle’s memory by His Grace Bishop Stephan of Remesiana at Rakovica Monastery in Belgrade, where the Patriarch’s holy relics…

Nov 19, 2019Gheorghe Anghel