International

Two New Saints from Finland Canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate

According to the official communiqué of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Throne on November 29, 2018: “The Holy and Sacred Synod, in unanimously accepting the proposal of the Autonomous Church of Finland under the Ecumenical Patriarchate, recorded in the Hagiologion of the Orthodox Church the Venerable John of Valaam (1873-1958), and the Holy Martyr…

Dec 5, 2018Florin Nicolaie

Bishop Arsenin of Joensuu elected Metropolitan of Kuopio and Karelia

The assistant Bishop Arsenie of Joensuu was elected Metropolitan of Kuopio and Karelia at the previous session of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Finland. The meeting took place during November, 26-29, 2018, at New Valaam Monastery and was chaired by His Eminence Leo, Archbishop of Helsinki and all Finland, the Orthodox Church…

Dec 4, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Ecumenical Patriarch to pray for inter-Korean peace

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I stated on December 4 that the Church will continue to pray for peace between the two Koreas. During the meeting with reporters in Seoul, the patriarch said the Church prays for the separated families from the two Koreas as well, YonHap News Agency reports. The two countries technically remain at war as the…

Dec 4, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in South Korea

His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew landed Monday morning at Incheon international airport at the start of his six-day visit to South Korea where he will participate in the celebrations dedicated to the 50th anniversary of St Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Seoul. According to the Ecumenical Patriachate’s website, during his stay in Seoul, His Holiness will…

Dec 4, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Archdiocese takes significant steps for the resumption of construction and completion of St. Nicholas church

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has taken additional significant steps towards the resumption of construction and completion of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. A new Board of Trustees for St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine has been named, and on December 6, 2018, the feast-day of St. Nicholas, a…

Dec 3, 2018Florin Nicolaie

Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem officially welcomed at Bucharest Patriarchal Cathedral: Video

On Thursday, Nov. 29, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and All Palestine was officially welcomed at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest by the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Tronos Byzantine Choir chanted the polychronion for the two Orthodox Patriarchs. ‘Welcome to our country and our Church,’ Patriarch Daniel said addressing the Patriarch…

Nov 29, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

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