International

Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem to visit Romania in November

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem is expected to visit Romania this autumn to attend the first patronal feast of the National Cathedral only a few days after its consecration ceremony will be performed. His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos accepted Patriarch Daniel’s invitation to lead the festivities occasioned by the patronal feast of the Romanian…

Apr 27, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

New feast of All Saints of Iberian Peninsula to be proclaimed in October

During their working session last week, the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in Spain and Portugal decided to add a new pan-Orthodox feast of the Synaxis of Iberian Saints to the liturgical calendars of the local Orthodox Churches. The meeting that took place Friday, April 20, in Madrid, was attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Polycarp of…

Apr 26, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Cyprus regains rare Orthodox Christian mosaic stolen in 70s

A rare 6th century mosaic depicting the St. Andrew that was taken from a looted church in the Cyprus’ breakaway north has been returned after four decades, His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos said Monday. Archbishop Chrysostomos II said that the artistry that went into the mosaic coupled with its rarity made the work a symbol of…

Apr 25, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarchate to initiate dialogue with sister Churches on Ukrainian Autocephaly

Following its working session on April 19-20, 2018, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate released a communiqué stating that it has decided to begin a dialogue and coordination with its sister autocephalous Orthodox Churches on the matter of creating an autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church.  The Ecumenical patriarchate noted it will examine the matter according…

Apr 25, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Syria: Joint statement issued in memory of abducted Aleppo bishops

A Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Patriarch John X at the Church of the Holy Cross in Damascus on April 22 on the 5th anniversary of the kidnapping of the Aleppo bishops, namely Bishop Youhanna Ibrahim and Bishop Paul Yazigi as well as for all the abducted people. The Liturgy was concelebrated by several bishops,…

Apr 24, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Abp Ieronymos: Elder Joseph is a member of the choir of contemporary venerable fathers together with Sts Paisios and Porphyrios

Attending the presentation of a book about the renowned athonite monk Joseph of Vatopedi (d. 2009) was Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens who said that ‘Elder Joseph is a member of the choir of contemporary venerable fathers together with Saints Paisios and Porphyrios’. Vatopedi Monastery organized Thursday, April 19, the launch of the volume signed by…

Apr 23, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Representatives of the Orthodox Churches hold CEC Pre-Assembly consultation in Paris

At the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s initiative, the representatives of several local Orthodox Churches gathered in Paris for consultation regarding their participation at the Conference of European Churches General Assembly that will take place in Novi Sad, Serbia, on May 31 – June 7, 2018. Attendees at the April 19 meeting included Metropolitan Emmanuel of France (Ecumenical…

Apr 21, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch offers solutions to the ‘Dilemma of the Century: Technology vs. Politics’

On 12 April 2018, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew addressed the 21st Eurasian Economic Summit that took place in Istanbul, with the support of the Marmara Foundation, on the theme: “Dilemma of the Century: Technology vs. Politics. Beyond Dilemmas”. In his address, the Patriarch said: “Our world today is undoubtedly changing with rapid pace. The cause of these…

Apr 19, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte urgently admitted to hospital

His Beatitude Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria was admitted to the hospital Wednesday, according to the Church’s website. As posted on Orthochristian.com, the statement reads: Yesterday, April 18, due to a health problem, His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte was admitted to the Tokuda Hospital of Cardiology in Sofia. According to information from the doctors on duty this…

Apr 19, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch: There is a ‘virtual priesthood’ that wants more showing-off than self-sacrifice

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew cautioned Tuesday the clergy of the Archdiocese of Constantinople that there is a ‘virtual priesthood’ that wants to show off rather than to sacrifice themselves. On Tuesday, April 17, His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew convened for the first time the Synaxis (Conference) of priests and deacons in Turkey at the Balukli Monastery…

Apr 19, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Kirill to pay first visit to Albania in late April

His Beatitude Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will pay an official visit to Albania for the first time in late April, and will hold a joint service with His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania, patriarchal press service Fr. Alexander Volkov told Tuesday RIA-Novosti, Orthochristian reports. The two primates have known…

Apr 17, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu