International

Thousands of people venerate Saint Paisios of mount Athos at his tomb

Thousands of people queued from early in the morning on Wednesday to pray at the tomb of Saint Paisios in northern Greece, Greek Reporter reports. On Thursday, July 12, the Orthodox Church celebrated the memory of Elder Paisios, whose canonization was made on January 13, 2015 with a decision by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In the Sanctuary where the…

Jul 13, 2018Florin Nicolaie

Serbian Patriarch Irinej: ‘Family as a Holy Union is Increasingly Threatened and Ruined under Various Impacts of the Modern World’

Serbian Patriarch Irinej Sunday presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Church of the Russian Orthodox Church’s representation speaking about family as a holy union and about the threats brought about by the modern world to the institution of family. On July 8, Orthodox Christians of the Slavic world celebrate Sts Peter and…

Jul 11, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

In pictures: Ecumenical Patriarch opens new Synodal Hall at Halki Monastery

His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew inaugurated Tuesday the new Synodal Hall at the Holy Trinity Monastery of Halki before the official opening of the July working session of the Holy Synod. Prior to the works of the Holy Synod, Patriarch Bartholomew officiated the blessing service of the Synodal Hall organized at Halki Monastery through the…

Jul 11, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarchate elects Metropolitan of Ancyra for first time since 1922

The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected three new metropolitans at its session Tuesday, including the election of a Metropolitan of Ancyra for the first time since 1922. The Metropolis of Ancyra was a metropolitan see of Galatia Prima. It survived the Seljuk Turkish conquest at the end of the 11th century, and remained…

Jul 11, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Church consecrated at base of Mount Kilimanjaro

A new Orthodox church named in honor of the Three Holy Hierarchs—Sts. Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, and Basil the Great, was consecrated on Sunday at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, reports Romfea. The service of consecration for the remote church was celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Nairobi, with the assistance…

Jul 11, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

An Orthodox church reopens after a century on ship Aurora

An Orthodox church has reopened on the Aurora cruiser, reports the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The Church of St. Nicholas, located in the center of the ship, was restored from archival photographs and drawings. It was originally closed in 1917. The cruiser will host regular Divine services on weekends and Church feast days. The…

Jul 11, 2018Florin Nicolaie

CROCEU Members on the Istanbul Convention: The sanctity of the institution of the family must be promoted for the future of Europe

The representatives of the Orthodox Churches to the European Union have expressed their opinion regarding the Istanbul Convention on the prevention and combating of violence against women and domestic violence condemning all kinds of domestic violence. In a statement sent to the Basilica News Agency, CROCEU members expressed “serious concerns about the introduction of a…

Jul 10, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

The 500th anniversary since St. Maxim the Greek of Vatopedi monastery arrived in Russia marked on Mount Athos

On July 3-4, 2018, the festivities marking the 500th anniversary since St. Maxim the Greek of Vatopedi Monastery arrived in Russia took place on Holy Mount Athos, mospat.ru reports. In 1518, monk Maxim came to Moscow at a request of Grand Prince Vasili III to translate and edit religious books.   With a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch…

Jul 7, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Famous Greek Chef Akis Petretzikis meets with ‘Athonite Chef’ Monk Epiphanios of Mylopotamos

The famous Greek Chef Akis Petretzikis began the month of July on the Holy Mount Athos in the company of Father Epiphanios of the Great Lavra’s Mylopotamos Cell, who is surnamed the Athonite Chef or the Chef of Mount Athos. Akis Petretzikis is the winner of the 2010 MasterChef cooking competition in Greece and the…

Jul 6, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

In pictures: Nine-year commemoration of Elder Joseph of Vatopedi

Nine years have passed since the falling asleep of Elder Joseph of Vatopedi, one of the closest disciples of Venerable Joseph the Hesychast (†1959). On Elder Joseph’s death anniversary, His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida officiated a memorial service at the Annunciation katholikon of Vatopedi Monastery. The service that took place Friday, June 29, 2018,…

Jul 5, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch: “It is reasonable to desire the restoration of unity for the divided ecclesiastical body in Ukraine”

The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed the Ecumenical Throne’s unabating interest for the healing of the Ukrainian ecclesiastical problem and the restoration of unity for the divided ecclesiastical body in that country during his address in the Chamber of the Throne, following the 40-day memorial of Metropolitan Evangelos of Perge, which took place on Sunday, July 1,…

Jul 3, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu