International

Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie named academic dean of SVOTS

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) has appointed Dr. Ionuţ-Alexandru Tudorie to the position of academic dean. The Seminary’s Board of Trustees selected Tudorie, a native of Romania, on July 18 after the Academic Dean Search Committee had narrowed down the list of possible candidates to two. The announcement concludes an extended and carefully-undertaken search process that…

Jul 23, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

100th anniversary of New Martyrs Elizabeth, Barbara celebrated at their relics in Holy Land

Following on the heels of the glorious festivities for the 100th anniversary of the murder of the holy Royal Martyrs, the Russian Orthodox Church also commemorated the centenary of the martyrdom of St. Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and the Nun Barbara and Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich Romanov, the Princes Ioann Konstantinovich, Konstantin Konstantinovich, Igor Konstantinovich,…

Jul 19, 2018Florin Nicolaie

More than 100,000 participate in Liturgy, all-nigt procession for 100th anniversary of royal martyrs

The Russian Orthodox Church has been celebrating the centenary of the martyrdom of the last imperial family of Russia with numerous events throughout Russia all year, with the celebrations culminating in last night’s Patriarchal Divine Liturgy in Ekaterinburg and all-night cross procession in their honor. 100,000 faithful Orthodox Christians from around the world, including Azerbaijan,…

Jul 19, 2018Florin Nicolaie

CROCEU meeting with the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the E.U.

A delegation of CROCEU (Committee of the Representatives of the Orthodox Churches to the European Union) met with Her Excellency, Dr. Karin Kneissl, Austrian Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, in Vienna, on the 13 July 2018, romorth.eu reports. During the meeting opinions were exchanged on the priorities of the Austrian EU Council Presidency and other…

Jul 19, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

The characteristic feature of the Church of Christ is its Apostolic nature – Patriarch Theophilos

The Holy Apostles are especially honoured, because the characteristic feature of the Church of Christ is its Apostolic nature, Patriarch Teophilos said in the feast of the Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles. On Friday June 30/July 13, 2018, the Patriarch Teophilos of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of the Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles at the Holy…

Jul 18, 2018Sorin Ioniţe

New abbot of Optina Monastery appointed

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church appointed a new abbot for Optina Monastery at its session in Ekaterinburg on Saturday, reports orthochristian.com. Former abbot Archimandrite Benedict Penkov reposed in the Lord on January 22 at the age of 79, having served nearly 20 years as the abbot of the great Optina Pustyn Monastery. At…

Jul 18, 2018Sorin Ioniţe

Construction begins on Japan’s first Orthodox Monastery in honor of St. Nicholas of Japan

The holy Equal-to-the-Apostles St. Nicholas of Japan brought the holy Orthodox faith to Japan as a missionary in 1861. Now work on the nation’s first Orthodox monastery to be consecrated in his honor is underway, reports the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism of the Russian Orthodox Church, cited by Orthochristian. At its July 16, 2005 session,…

Jul 17, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Patriarch Ilia of Georgia baptizes 600+ children in 54th mass ceremony

His Holiness Patriarch-Catholicos Ilia II of Georgia, the most beloved and trusted man in the nation, has celebrated his 54th mass Baptism ceremony at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, the site of the Georgian Orthodox Church reports. More than 600 children became the patriarch’s Godchildren this time around at the mass ceremony celebrated on the feast of…

Jul 17, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago throws First Pitch at White Sox Game

Greek Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago tossed out the ceremonial first pitch at White Sox vs St Louis Cardinals Game that took place Wednesday, July 11, in Chicago, Illinois, reports The National Herald. Metropolitan Nathanael told the National Herald that he was invited by the local White Sox team since ceremonial first pitches are one of…

Jul 16, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

World Council of Churches calls for release of archbishops of Aleppo

The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed its concern at the “alarming and rapidly deteriorating situation of Christians in the Middle East.” WCC full statement: The World Council of Churches Central Committee, during its meeting on 15-21 June, issued a statement reiterating its grave concern regarding the alarming and rapidly deteriorating…

Jul 14, 2018Iulian Dumitraşcu

Ordination of Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand at the Phanar

The Very Rev. Archimandrite Myron Ktistakes was ordained Wednesday, July 11, 2018, to the Episcopate during the Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at St George Church at the Phanar. Concelebrants for the Divine Liturgy included Archbishop of Crete Eirinaios of Crete, Metropolitan Joseph of Proikonissos, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes, Metropolitan Amphilochios…

Jul 13, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu