Orthodox news

Syriac Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God added to the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church

Together with the inclusion of Saint Matrona of Moscow, the Holy Synod decided to add to the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church the Syriac Icon of the Mother of God from Ghighiu Monastery to be celebrated on the feast of the Life-Giving Spring, on Bright Friday, beginning with 2019. During its February working session,…

Feb 23, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Enthronement of first Orthodox abbess in Fiji

The first Orthodox abbess in Fiji, Eldress Melani, was enthroned at the Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Saweni, a monastic settlement under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Metropolis of New Zealand. The enthronement ceremony was led by His Eminence Amphilochius, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of New Zealand. This was a unique event,…

Feb 22, 2018Sorin Ioniţe

Oldest Romanian monk on Mt Athos reposes in the Lord aged 95

The oldest Romanian monk of Mount Athos, Elder Gerasimos from Vatopedi’s Colciu Skete, reposed in the Lord Tuesday, February 20, at the age of 95. According to the Athonite tradition, Fr Gerasimos was buried the next day, February 21, 2018. Father Gerasimos, a Romanian by nationality, joined the monastic community of Mount Athos almost 30…

Feb 22, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod elects two bishops for Romanian Diaspora

During its Thursday meeting, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected assistant bishops for two Romanian Dioceses in the Diaspora. The V. Rev. Archimandrite Atanasie Rusnac was elected assistant bishop to the Romanian Orthodox diocese of Italy. He will bear the title of His Grace Bishop Atanasie of Bogdania. The V. Rev. Archimandrite…

Feb 16, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

‘The Romanian Orthodox Church is the greatest philanthropist in terms of its contribution to social work’ – Patriarch Daniel during NCA meeting

In 2017, the Romanian Orthodox Church invested approximatively 24 million Euros in charity work. ‘Currently the Romanian Orthodox Church is the greatest philanthropist in terms of its contribution to social work,’ said Wednesday Patriarch Daniel during the meeting of the National Church Assembly (NCA) stressing that this means ‘sacrifice, effort, and caring for the people.’…

Feb 14, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Grandpa Dobri has reposed in the Lord aged 103

The website of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church announced that Elder Dobri Dobrev, known around the world for his great love and sacrifice of charity to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and people, has reposed in the Lord. He was 103 years old. “We regret to report that Dobri Dimitrov Dobrev (Grandpa Dobri), loved by all, reposed in the…

Feb 14, 2018Sorin Ioniţe

In pictures: New Metropolitan of Symi ordained at the Ecumenical Patriarchate

His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew celebrated Sunday the Divine Liturgy at the St George Cathedral in the Phanar, during which Metropolitan-elect Chrysostom of Symi was ordained to the episcopate. During its February 7 working session, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected the Very Rev. Archimandrite Chrysostomos Pitsis, Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of…

Feb 13, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Video: Fr Makarios of Simonopetra launches new book on ‘Mystagogy of Great Lent’ in Paris

Hieromonk Makarios of Simonopetra launched Saturday his latest volume entitled Mystagogie du Grand Carême. Essai de théologie du temps liturgique (Mystagogy of Great Lent. A theological essay on liturgical time). Attending the event was His Eminence Iosif, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Western and Southern Europe. The book launch was held at the Holy Archangels Cathedral…

Feb 13, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch John of Antioch: Churches are restored in Syria despite the war

In an interview with Russia’s international news agency RIA, His Beatitude John, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, speaks about the current situation in Syria and the restoration of the country’s places of worship. He points out that both the terrorist acts and the war in Syria have no ties to “any particular religion or…

Feb 13, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchate of Alexandria establishes online Theological Academy of St Mark

His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria and all of Africa last month announced that online courses of Orthodox theology will be available at the St. Mark’s Academy of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. According to the official website of the Patriarchate, those interested will be able to access Orthodox theology courses in English through email and…

Feb 13, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek Archbishop of America receives the highest distinction in the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, the gold medal of St. Barnabas

Visiting Nicosia, at the invitation of His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos, Archbishop Demetrios of America received on Sunday the highest distinction in the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, the gold medal of St. Barnabas, in a ceremony that took place at the headquarters of the Cypriot archbishopric. The distinction offered in the presence of the President of…

Feb 13, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu