Orthodox news

95% of the Romanians believe in God, survey reveals

About 95% of the Romanian citizens believe in God, but only 21% go to church every week, says a survey on the religious belief in Romania, conducted by Friedrich Ebert Romania Foundation, cited by Agerpres. According to the same study, 27% of the Romanians say the referendum to re-define the family concept is necessary. The…

Apr 26, 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

Metropolitan Teofan urges believers to attend Romanian referendum on marriage definition

At the end of the Divine Liturgy celebrated Monday at St George Church in Botosani, Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina urged the believers to attend the Romanian referendum on marriage definition. ‘If God blesses us and the country’s authorities will listen to the people’s voice to organize the referendum on family protection, may none…

Apr 25, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Ordination date for Bishop-elect Atanasie of Bogdania

The Very Rev. Archimandrite Atanasie Rusnac will be ordained to the Episcopacy during a Divine Liturgy that will be celebrated Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at the Diocesan headquarters in Rome. The ceremony will be led by His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe. Bishop-elect Atanasie of Bogdania will be the first assistant bishop…

Apr 25, 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

Foundation stone laying ceremony for the Life-Giving Spring Church in New Jersey

On the 2nd Sunday after Easter (St. Thomas’ Sunday), HE Nicolae, the Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas, was in the midst of the faithful of the Life-Giving Spring parish of Long Valley, New Jersey, the Deanery of New York, New England and East USA. The pastoral visit of His Eminence began…

Apr 20, 2018Florin Nicolaie

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