International

Patriarch Bartholomew: Christianity is a religion of love and dialogue

Christianity is a religion of love and dialogue, and the Church’s unique contribution to our modern world is precisely its openness to meeting and having dialogue, Patriarch Bartholomew said in a recent interview with the Romanian outlet evz.ro. “If there is a unique and contributing element of the Orthodox Church for our time and our world,…

Oct 25, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

1,500-Year-Old Byzantine Church Near Jerusalem Uncovers Enigma

An important archaeological discovery was made public on Wednesday by members of the Israel Antiquities Authority. After three years of painstaking excavations, a Byzantine-era Christian church with spectacular, well-preserved mosaics and frescoes has finally been completely unearthed. The structure is located approximately ten miles west of the city of Jerusalem, World.greekreporter reports. The fascinating, yet mysterious,…

Oct 24, 2019Mihail Mere-Albe

Relics of Saint John of Valaam exhumed at New Valaam Monastery in Finland

On November 29, the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople announced its decision to glorify among the saints Schema-Elder John of Valaam (1873-1958) at the proposal of the Finnish Orthodox Church. The liturgical proclamation of this glorification was celebrated this year on June 1 at the Holy Transfiguration-New Valaam Monastery in Heinävesi by Metropolitan…

Oct 23, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch visits Vatopedi Monastery for first time in 30 years

The Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi was the latest destination in the Ecumenical Patriarch’s itinerary on Monday, Oct. 20, in continuation of his official visit to the semi-autonomous monastic community in northern Greece. The Ecumenical Patriarch returned to Vatopedi for the first time in 30 years, as he last visited the second in hierarchy…

Oct 23, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

New Orthodox church to be built in Krakow. City gives 95% land discount

Land in Krakow has been selected for construction of a new Orthodox church, Polish-language news outlet Onet reports, quoted by The Krakow Post. The Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church has wanted to expand its facilities in Krakow in response to a large increase in immigrants from the east, such as Ukraine, where approximately 67.3% of people identify as…

Oct 23, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

Inauguration of the exhibition on Saint Luke the Physician by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited on Friday afternoon the Papageorgiou General Hospital in Thessaloniki. The administration invited the Ecumenical Patriarch to give a speech during the event organised for the 20th anniversary of the opening of the hospital. In his speech, the Ecumenical Patriarch spoke of the pain and illness, which “the descendants of Adam experience”,…

Oct 23, 2019Mihail Mere-Albe

Four Athonite Elders will be canonized, Ecumenical Patriarch announces

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has announced that four Athonite Elders will be canonized and will have official feast days in the calendar of the Orthodox Church. The list of elders include Fr. Daniel of Katounakia, Fr. Ieronymos of Simonopetra, Elder Joseph the Hesychast, and Elder Ephraim of Katounakia. The Patriarch made the announcement on Sunday, October…

Oct 21, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Great-grandson of St. Luke of Simferopol baptized in Greece

St. Luke of Simferopol, the Blessed Surgeon, is a greatly beloved saint of the 20th century, celebrated throughout Russia and Ukraine and also especially in Greece. According to a report yesterday from Romfea, the connection between the great saint and Greece continues, as St. Luke’s own great-grandson was baptized into the holy Orthodox Church in Nafplio.…

Oct 17, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

Russian Church opens school to prepare parents adopting children with disabilities

A new “school” for parents preparing to adopt children with disabilities has opened in St. Petersburg under the auspices of the Charity Department of the St. Petersburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. Psychologists, social workers, lawyers, doctors, and priests, many of whom are adoptive parents themselves, will conduct individual and group training at the…

Oct 16, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

Holy Protection monastery, home of St. Matrona’s relics, celebrates 25th anniversary of resumed monastic life

Holy Protection Monastery in Moscow is the biggest center of pilgrimage in the city, and one of the most important in the entire Russian Church. On October 14, the convent celebrated its patronal feast, which this year doubled as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of its reestablishment. The feast began the evening before with…

Oct 16, 2019Mihail Mere-Albe

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew addressed the annual conference of “Forum 2000” Foundation

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited Prague on 15 October 2019, where he addressed the 23rd annual conference of “Forum 2000” Foundation under the title “Recovering the Promise of 1989”. The Forum 2000 Foundation pursues the legacy of Václav Havel by supporting the values of democracy and respect for human rights, assisting the development of civil society, and…

Oct 15, 2019Gheorghe Anghel