interchurch relations

Ecumenical Patriarch describes St John of Rila as ‘a golden coin bearing God’s imprint’

“St John himself is a golden coin bearing God’s imprint,” His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said on Monday at Rila Monastery in Bulgaria, where he concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria. Referring to the saint’s image on Bulgarian currency, Patriarch Bartholomew drew on a saying attributed to St Ignatius the God-Bearer…

Oct 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Sofia: True faith seeks communion and lives in unity

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I delivered a message on Sunday at St Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral in Sofia, where he joined Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria for the Divine Liturgy. “True faith seeks communion, is confirmed through encounter and lives in unity. This is precisely what we are doing today: we visit one another, listen…

Oct 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniil welcomes Ecumenical Patriarch to Bulgaria, calls for stronger Orthodox unity

Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria welcomed His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on Sunday at St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, emphasising the importance of unity in the Orthodox faith and the spiritual legacy of St John of Rila. The Ecumenical Patriarch visited Bulgaria to take part in celebrations marking 1,150 years since the birth of…

Oct 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Primates of Albania and Greece discuss social outreach and education in Athens

His Beatitude Archbishop John of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania met His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece on Thursday. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Athens, where Bishop Barnabas of Christoupolis welcomed the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania. Archbishop John presented the initiatives and…

Oct 17, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox scholars and hierarchs review decade since Holy and Great Council of Crete

An international conference examining the Holy and Great Council of Crete began in Chantilly, France, on Monday, 5 October, marking the tenth anniversary of the landmark Orthodox Church gathering. The International Scientific Conference, titled The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (2016–2026): Assessment and Prospects, was organised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and ran…

Oct 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Antonie attends Republic of Moldova independence anniversary, discusses dialogue with Metropolitan Vladimir

His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia attended a solemn session on Wednesday marking 35 years since the proclamation of the Republic of Moldova’s independence. The event was held at the Presidential Palace in Chișinău. The anniversary gathering was attended by President Maia Sandu of the Republic of Moldova, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu, members of the…

Aug 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Metropolitan Serafim attends installation of new Vienna Catholic archbishop

His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, attended the enthronement ceremony of the new Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Vienna, Josef Grünwidl, on Saturday. The installation took place at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the Austrian capital, in the presence of around 3,000 people. The ordination and installation…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox–Lutheran Dialogue Commission holds 19th plenary session in Cyprus, focuses on synodality and primacy

The 19th plenary meeting of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Lutheran World Federation took place from May 19 to 24 in the city of Larnaca, Cyprus. The theme of this year’s session was “Synodality and Primacy.” Representing the Romanian Patriarchate was Fr. Cosmin Daniel Pricop, Dean of…

Jun 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu