The first online Synaxis, or assembly, from Mt. Athos with the Elder Archimandrite Ephraim, the Abbot of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi, with Romanian Orthodox chanters, was held this week. The assembly from Mt. Athos was hosted by the online Orthodox platform Pemptousia, in cooperation with the Holy Metropolis of Bukovina and the…

Despite the dire situation and pandemic-restrictions in place, the Russian Orthodox Church has completed the construction of nine new churches in the Moscow area over the past few months. According to State Duma deputy Vladimir REzin, who heads up the “200 Churches” initiative, Moscow’s residents are supporting coming generations’ needs for religious and spiritual values….

The Metropolis of Sofia’s department of charity has commenced a program whereby clerics visit hospitals in the Bulgarian capital. The program, an initiative by and under the blessing of the Patriarch of Bulgaria, His Holiness Neofyt, aims to spiritually support the ill, and all healthcare professionals, who are sorely tested amid the ongoing pandemic.

The Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain, His Eminence Nikitas, this week issued a Christmas encyclical, in which he beseeched the Lord to redeem humanity and save all of creation. His Eminence pointed out that this year’s Christmas will be a different experience, “…as the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 virus have changed our…

The Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos, on Tuesday received Greek Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias at the Archdiocese of Athens. The latter requested the Church’s support in a public awareness campaign regarding the upcoming mass vaccinations against the Covid-19 virus. Archbishop Ieronymos expressed his satisfaction and praised the country’s health care professionals…

The Church today venerates the memory of Anastasia the Great Martyr. This saint, who hailed from Rome, through her intercessions, healed many from the ill effects of spells, potions and poisons. As such, she received the name “Deliverer from Potions.” As word of her good deeds spread, she was arrested by the Emperor Diocletian’s minions,…

Bishop Vasilije of Srem ordained deacon Nikola Erceg to the rank of presbyter The feast day of Holy father Ncholas, Archbishop of Myra, was solemnly celebrated in Sremski Karlovci, where a magnificent Cathedral church is dedicated to this Saint. His Grace Bishop Vasilije of Srem officated the solemn Liturgy with the concelebration of protopresbyter-staurophores: Dusan…

“Save the world, O Saviour. For this you have come. Set your whole universe aright”. With the above words, Saint Romanos the Melodist introduces the last stanza of the famous Christmas kontakion. The lines are a supplication and an acknowledgement that the Lord will redeem humanity and save all creation. He Who was before all…

On Saturday, December 19, the feast of St. Nicholas of Myra in Lycia, a unique icon of the great wonderworker, known as “the Shot,” was blessed in Moscow State University’s Church of St. Tatiana. The peculiarity of this icon of St. Nicholas is that a flattened bullet is inserted into it. The bullet is one…