International

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

Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte celebrates His 74th Birthday

His Beatitude Neophyte, Bulgarian Orthodox Church, celebrates on Tuesday, October 15, his 74th Birthday. Patriarch Neophyte (Bulgarian: Патриарх Неофит, secular name Simeon Nikolov Dimitrov; born 15 October 1945, Sofia) is the current head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church from 24 February 2013. Prior to his election, he was the Metropolitan of Ruse. After completing his…

Oct 15, 2019Iulian Dumitraşcu

Russian Church opens 67th shelter for pregnant women, mothers in crises in Kaliningrad

The Russian Orthodox Church continues its social work and outreach for the protection of families, opening its 67th shelter for pregnant women and mothers in crises situations, this time in the Kaliningrad Province. The new shelter began its work recently at the Church of All Saints in Gusev, Kaliningrad. It can accommodate up to 8…

Oct 11, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

Bishop Symeon of Thespies elected as new Metropolitan of Fthiotida

The current Protosyncellus of the Archdiocese of Athens, Bishop Symeon of Thespies, has been elected by the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece, as the new Metropolitan of Fthiotida, in the succession of the late Metropolitan Nicholas. The new metropolitan received 62 votes. The Metropolitan of Fanari received 8 votes, while there were 9 blank…

Oct 11, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu