International

20th anniversary of HB Metr. Sawa’s enthronement

His Beatitude Sawa (Hrycuniak), Archbishop of Warsaw and Metropolitan of All Poland, celebrates Thursday his 20th enthronement anniversary. His Beatitude Sawa is the current head of the autocephalous Church of Poland. He is the eighth hierarch to head the Polish church since it was granted autocephaly by the Patriarch of Constantinople in 1924. As Archbishop…

May 31, 2018Iulian Dumitraşcu

Polish independence centennial celebrated at the new Agia Sophia Orthodox Cathedral

Only three years after the laying of the foundation stone, the first ever Divine Liturgy was celebrated Saturday, May 19, 2018, within the walls of Warsaw’s new Agia Sophia Orthodox Cathedral, marking the centennial of the regaining of Polish independence in 1918. As reported by the website of the Polish Orthodox Church, the Divine Liturgy…

May 30, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchs of Russia and Serbia concelebrate in Moscow on Sts. Cyril and Methodius day

Yesterday’s feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the enlightener of the Slavs, was gloriously celebrated yesterday with a solemn Liturgy in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral, Orthochristian reports. The primates of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, celebrated the service together, honoring the Equals-to-the-Apostles who are…

May 25, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Georgian Church Launches Annual March on Family Purity Day

Georgian clerics, their supporters, and parishes participated in the annual march dedicated to Family Purity Day, reports Georgia Today. The demonstrators gathered on 17 May at the Tbilisi Concert Hall (Philarmony) and on Rose Revolution Square. They went to Kashueti Church on Rustaveli Avenue, where an outdoor service was held. Afterward, the participants of the…

May 23, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Church on Naxos island wins European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage

One of Greece’s most renowned churches, the 8th Century Byzantine temple of St Kyriaki in Naxos has become a recipient of the 2018 Europa Nostra Award which stands for the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage. The picturesque Agia Kyriaki is one of the most popular sightseeing spots on Naxos island. The prize was given…

May 21, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Serbian Church canonizes three martyrs

At its latest session, from April 28 to May 10, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church resolved to canonize three holy martyrs among the saints, reports The Union of Orthodox Journalists, cited by Orthochristian. The official canonization of Sts. Gregory of Peć, Vasilije of Peć, and Bosiljka Rajičić and those who suffered with them…

May 15, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Pope meets primate of Orthodox Church in Czech, Slovac Republics

Pope Francis met on Friday with Metropolitan Rastislav, head of the Orthodox Church in the Czech and Slovak Republics. It was the first encounter between the two religious leaders. In his words, Metropolitan Rastislav compared the two Church leaders to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, who only recognised Jesus when he broke bread…

May 12, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Elder Iakovos Tsalikis to be officially declared a saint by Ecumenical Patriarch

The Greek Metropolis of Chalkida, Istaia and Northern Sporades has announced that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens will attend the canonization ceremony that will take place on Evia Island on the Sunday of All Saints, during which Elder Iakovos Tsalikis will be officially declared a saint of the Orthodox Church. Elder Iakovos…

May 10, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Prince Charles meets with Archbishop of Athens, speaks about Romania’s monasteries

During his official visit to Greece, HRH Prince Charles of Wales met Thursday with Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece. After welcoming the heir to the British throne at the Archdiocese’s office in Athens, His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II referred to the philanthropic work of the Church and the ties between the two countries.…

May 10, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Metropolitan Rastislav to Visit Pope for 1st Time on May 11

His Beatitude the Metropolitan Rastislav, Archbishop of Prešov, Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, will visit Pope Francis on May 11, announced a press release from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. This marks the first visit to Pope Francis by the Metropolitan, elected in January 2014. During his…

May 9, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

City of Tallinn donates $215,000 for restoration of orthodox church

Tallinn authorities have allocated 180,000 euros ($215,500) towards the restoration of the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos (Kazan Church) in the Estonian capital city, the mayor’s press service reported yesterday, according to RIA-Novosti. The agreement on the allocation of funds was signed by parish rector Victor Melnik and Tallinn City Council Chairman Mikhail Kilvart.…

May 8, 2018Gheorghe Anghel