The second part of the first online synaxis, or assembly, from Mount Athos with the Elder Archimandrite Ephraim, the Abbot of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi, with English-speaking chanters has been posted today. The online assembly was held late last November.      Watch Part 1: 

Well-known benefactor Eleni Vafiadis, a mainstay of the ethnic Greek community in Egypt and vice president of the community of Alexandria, was laid to rest on Wednesday, after passing away a day earlier. An exodios funeral service was officiated by the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, His Most Divine Beatitude Theodoros II.   …

Volunteers from the Patriarchate of Romania, in cooperation with two Romanian Orthodox parishes in Germany, collected aid and delivered it to 100 families in need in the southeast Europe country.                    

The annual cutting of a New Year’s Cake, known as vassilopita in Greek, was held on Wednesday evening at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which celebrated New Year’s Eve, as based on the Julian calendar. The Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Most Godly Beatitude Theophilos III, presided over the ceremony and then addressed those in attendance. Afterwards,…

A handful of prefectures and regions around Greece were placed this week in a state of a stricter lockdown by public health authorities, due to a surge in the number of confirmed Covid-19 infections, and for at least until Jan. 18. The decision affects the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos, the south-central Viotia prefecture, the…

The Sacred and Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople on Thursday elected the Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal, His Eminence Polykarpos, as the new Metropolitan of Italy and Melitis. His Eminence succeeded Metropolitan Gennadios, who reposed in the Lord last October. The Holy and Sacred Holy Synod was chaired by the Ecumenical Patriarch,…

The Church today commemorates the Leave-taking of the Theophany of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today is also the feast day of Sava, Archbishop of Serbia – one of the most beloved of all saints of the Serbian nation and co-founder of the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos.   Apolytikion of Sabbas (Sava), Archbishop…

Students at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology have several new opportunities to broaden their intellectual and spiritual knowledge this spring semester by learning from distinguished visiting scholars. His Grace Bishop Maxim (Vasiljevic), the Bishop of Los Angeles and the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, will offer an elective course in…

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s Interview in “Vima” (Greek Newspaper): Full Interview Ecumenical Patriarch opened his heart and spoke about the autocephaly of the Church of Ukraine, the pandemic and its deniers. He declared that he will be vaccinated, doing it as an act of responsibility to his fellow human beings, and urged young people to be…