Orthodox news

The Week in Pictures: July 8 – 14, 2019

The news in pictures. A selection of photographs from around the Orthodox world, covering a variety of topics from church celebrations to national holidays and spiritual life.

Jul 17, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

New draft law in Romania raises awareness about violence against Christians

MP Daniel Gheorghe has submitted a draft law to parliament that declares August 16 an official Remembrance Day of the Holy Brancoveanu Martyrs and a National Day of Awareness of Violence against Christians. If the draft law will be approved by the Parliament, the following buildings will be illuminated in red on August 16, between…

Jul 17, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Relics of St Nephon the Patriarch of Constantinople moved to new silver reliquary

The Honourable Head and the right hand of Saint Nephon II the Patriarch of Constantinople, which are kept at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Craiova, were moved to a new silver reliquary last Sunday. The new reliquary was blessed by His Eminence Metropolitan Irineu of Craiova on July 14 following the Divine Liturgy. St Nephon’s holy…

Jul 17, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Huși Bishop Ignatie: Simona Halep means faith in God, perseverance, love of family and country

Romanian tennis star Simona Halep won the Wimbledon 2019 final and gained her second Grand Slam title, after the Roland Garros 2018. In the final, on July 13, Halep defeated former world number one and multiple Grand Slam title winner Serena Williams in two sets: 6-2, 6-2. His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Huși, the only Romanian…

Jul 17, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate awards Patriarchal Cross Order to Wimbledon 2019 Champion Simona Halep

The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep has long become a symbol of international sporting performance, culminating in winning the Wimbledon 2019 trophy, the oldest and the most prestigious tennis event of the four Grand Slam tournaments. Appreciating her achievements in the field of women’s performance tennis and at the same time her Orthodox Christian faith,…

Jul 15, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

First church of St. Luke of Crimea in Poland consecrated, dedicated to victims of nazism

St. Luke of Crimea, known as the “Blessed Surgeon,” is loved and venerated throughout the Orthodox world, and churches dedicated in his honor have been built in a number of Orthodox countries. On June 22, the Polish Orthodox Church joined them, consecrating its first church to the great 20th-century saint in the village of Łaźnie…

Jul 11, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

Neurosurgeon Ștefan Mindea receives distinction from Huși Diocese

The renowned neurosurgeon and former Professor at Stanford University Medical Center, California, Rev. Deacon Ștefan Mindea, received the Diocesan Cross from the Huși Diocese ‘for the very intense activity carried out for the recovery of fellow people.’ The award was bestowed during a ceremony held on Sunday, July 7, 2019, on the feast of St…

Jul 11, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

UNESCO Adds Russia’s Ancient Pskov Churches to World Heritage List

Seventeen unique buildings in the northwest Russian city of Pskov were among the latest cultural gems to join UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.  Pskov is one of Russia’s oldest cities, first mentioned in ancient annals of the 9th century. In the Middle Ages, it was the bustling, wealthy capital of the Pskov Republic, acting…

Jul 10, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Ieronymos to the new Prime Minister: I wish you strength and patience

The new Prime Minister and President of New Democracy, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was sworn in on Monday, July 8, in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Romfea News reports. The inauguration was carried out by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, along with the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod,…

Jul 9, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

Bishop Paisie of Lugoj attends 25th anniversary celebrations of canonization of St John Maximovitch in San Francisco

The assistant bishop to the Archdiocese of Timisoara, Paisie of Lugoj, concelebrated at the Divine Liturgy held at the Cathedral of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in San Francisco marking the 25th anniversary of the canonization of St John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco the Miracle-worker. Heading the June 29…

Jul 9, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Austria: An increasing number of students attend Orthodox Religious Education

In Austria, an increasing number of students are attending Orthodox Religion in school, katholisch.de reports. In the school year 2018/19, there were around 13,600 students at almost 1,000 locations. A year before (2017/18), there were 12,682 students at 912 locations. By comparison, in 2012/13, only 10,003 students attended Orthodox Religion classes, while 15 years ago…

Jul 9, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu