The Russian Orthodox Church and the Ministry of Emergency Situations this week signed a memorandum of cooperation in the northwest Russian city of Khimki. The MoC aims to coordinate efforts by the two sides regarding humanitarian assistance. The Moscow Patriarchate was represented by the the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna, His Eminence Juvenal.  

The Orthodoxia News Agency’s webpages today host a feature on the Holy Annunciation Monastery on the Dodecanese island of Patmos, the largest nunnery on the isle where St. John the Theologian wrote the Book of Revelation. In 1937, the Elder Amphilochios Makris, himself a native of Patmos, turned the hermitage into a monastery, by adding…

Five Greek culture ministry conservators arrived at the village of Menetes, in the southeast Aegean island of Karpathos, in order to begin restoration works of rare ceiling and dome frescoes at the historic Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos. The Cathedral was built in 1845, adjacent to the Churches of St. George and St….

The Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of the Lower Danube, His Eminence Casian, led a prayer service this week in the riverside city of Galatsi commemorating the return to service of a famous three-mast barque vessel, which will be used for training the country’s naval cadets. The 82-meter sail-and-diesel powered vessel, the Mircea, was built in 1938…

The Archbishop of America, His Eminence Elpidophoros, on Wednesday received hierarchs from the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States. In a statement, the Archbishop said “…We re-dedicated ourselves to you, the faithful, to pursue the call for canonical normalcy and pastoral unity on contemporary issues.”  

The Archbishop of Australia, His Eminence Makarios, continued his visit to the Holy Land on Thursday. Makarios concelebrated a Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, along with the Metropolitan of Capitolias, His Most Reverend Isychios; the Metropolitan of Arta, His Eminence Kallinikos and the Bishop of Apollonia, His Grace Seraphim….

The Metropolitan of Aitolia and Akarnania, His Eminence Cosmas, this week flatly dismissed a series of recent press reports claiming that he will resign from the western Greece Metropolis’ throne. In a statement a local television station, His Eminence said he will continue to serve as a pastor of his flock for as long as…

Beirut Greek Orthodox Archbishop, Elias Audeh, on Thursday welcomed Greek Ambassador to Lebanon, Franciscos Verros, with talks reportedly touching on cooperation between Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut and the Greek Embassy. Ambassador Verros said that he briefed Archbishop Audeh on the atmosphere of joint work in the service of the Lebanese and Orthodox communities. Source: NNA

On the day that the Orthodox Church commemorates the Elevation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, five nuns of Căşiel Monastery in Valea Cășeielului in northern Romania bravely took up their own crosses, offering their monastic vows. The rite of tonsuring was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj following the Vigil on the…