International

Communique of The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

The Holy and Sacred Synod convened under the chairmanship of His All-Holiness for its regular sessions from Tuesday, November 27, to Thursday, November 29, 2018, the Ecumenical Patriarchate reports. During its sessions, it examined all of the items on the agenda, upon which the appropriate decisions were made, including the following: a. Upon the recommendation…

Nov 29, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Bishop Innocentios Byakatonda Elevated to Metropolitan of Rwanda and Burundi

On November 26, 2018, during the First day of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa, His Grace Innocentios Byakatonda was elevated to a Priestly rank of a Metropolitan and the Diocese of Rwanda and Burundi elevated to the rank of Metropolis of Rwanda and Burundi. This appointment and resolutions to…

Nov 28, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Alexandrian Holy Synod establishes 5 new dioceses

Meeting in Alexandria under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa on Monday, the Holy Synod of the Church of Alexandria resolved to establish 5 new dioceses for the Church, reports the Patriarchate’s website, quoted by OrthoChristian. At the proposal of Pat. Theodors, the Synod decided to establish the new…

Nov 28, 2018Sorin Ioniţe

Ecumenical Patriarch concludes visit to Romania: ‘Brothers and sisters, rejoice! Be of one mind!’

The delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate departed Monday morning, November 26, from the Henri Coanda International Airport to Istanbul, concluding the visit of His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Romania. Be of the same mind! The last words addressed by the Ecumenical Patriarch to Romanians were cited from St Paul’s second epistle to Corinthians, ‘Finally,…

Nov 28, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

The Arsenal Hill turned into the hill of grace and blessing for the entire Romania: Ecumenical Patriarch

At the end of the Divine Liturgy celebrated Sunday at the newly-consecrated National Cathedral in Bucharest, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew thanked God for “the blessing and grace he has poured out” noting that the Arsenal Hill turned into the Hill of Grace and Blessing. His Holiness wished Patriarch Daniel, the hierarchs, clergy, state officials and the…

Nov 25, 2018Iulian Dumitraşcu

I am sure the Romanian Orthodox Church will be involved in preserving church unity: Ecumenical Patriarch

On Saturday, His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew addressed the members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church gathered in solemn session at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest expressing his hope that ‘the Romanian Orthodox Church will be involved in preserving church unity and justice.’ The solemn session of the Holy Synod was opened…

Nov 24, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

In pictures: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visits Greek Embassy in Bucharest

On Friday, Nov. 23, the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, led by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, paid a visit to the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in Romania. Also present were Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patra, and other representatives of the Romanian Patriarchate. The delegations were welcomed by His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece in…

Nov 24, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

We became worthy once again to come to the blessed land of Romania: Ecumenical Patriarch’s message

At his arrival in Bucharest for the tenth time, His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his emotion and joy to attend the historic event of the inauguration of the National Cathedral. During the official reception held at the Patriarchal Cathedral on Friday, the Ecumenical Patriarch held a speech pointing to the good ties between the…

Nov 24, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Missing 1600-year-old mosaic returned after four decades

A 1,600-year-old missing mosaic has finally returned to its home in Cyprus, more than four decades after it was looted from a church. Dutch art historian and art crime investigator Arthur Brand spent the past three years tracking down the stolen artifact, a Byzantine-era depiction of Saint Mark, Brand said on his website. The relic was handed over to…

Nov 23, 2018Florin Nicolaie

Ecumenical Patriarch officially welcomed by Patriarch Daniel at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest: VIDEO

His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Friday was officially welcomed at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania. The church bells rang at noon announcing the arrival of the two delegations of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and of the Holy Metropolis of Patra invited to Bucharest for the consecration of the…

Nov 23, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Protecting children from any violence is essential message of Christianity, says Ecumenical Patriarch

Protecting children from any kind of violence has always been and should remain an essential message of Christianity, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has told a gathering at the World Council of Churches (WCC) for World Children’s Day. The patriarch was the keynote speaker at an event involving the WCC and the United Nations Children’s…

Nov 22, 2018Gheorghe Anghel