Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and St Vlassios At the end of an earlier article I said that in a future article I would deal with the term Autocephalous Church, which is misinterpreted. I am undertaking this task with this present study, in which I expand on the views that I have expressed briefly in the past. When we…

The emblematic Panagia Soumela Monastery in Trabzon, Turkey will not be open for the Dormition of Virgin Mary Divine Liturgy on August 15 since restoration works are not completed yet, according to a Skai television report. The monastery, which is the most sacred place for Pontian Greeks because of the miraculous holy icon of the…

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America travelled yesterday, June 28, to Jacksonville, Fla. where the Clergy-Laity Assembly of the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta is taking place June 25-29. The theme of the Assembly is “Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). Upon his arrival, the Archbishop…

  The Orthodox Bishop of Gulu and Eastern Uganda, His Grace Silvester, over the weekend presided at a service at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, outside the capital of Kampala, on the Feast Day of the Holy Apostles. Silvester was ordained as a bishop by the Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, His Divine…

  The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Kirill, this week signed an agreement with Russian Labour and Social Protection Minister Maxim Topilin, aimed at promoting the development of volunteerism by the Russian Church’s bodies and the state’s social agencies.

  A celebratory Evening Vespers service was held on Sunday in northwest Athens’ Nea Ionia district Cathedral of Sts. Cosmas and Damianos, the 3rd century physician brothers and martyrs. The latter bear the title of Holy Unmercenaries, bestowed by the Church – in other words, saints who did not accept payment for good deeds. The…

  Monday marked the 10-year anniversary since the passing of the Reposed in the Lord Elder Iosif of Vatopedi, one of the most distinguished figures of Mt. Athos’ monasticism over the past decades. The Elder Iosif’s spiritual offspring continue to remember his humility, piety and devotion to prayer. A memorial service will be held this…

  Poignant scenes took place on Sunday in the southern Greece city of Corinth, with the departure of the Cincture of the Theotokos, also known as the Haghia Zoni, or Holy Sash in Greek. Before the Holy Relic’s return to the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi, on Mt. Athos, the monastery Elders accompanying the…

  A revised penal code in Greece takes effect today, after being hastily passed through Parliament last month by the outgoing leftist government. Relevant revisions, in fact, were passed by a slim Parliament majority even after the now incumbent prime minister said he would resign and seek an early election – which is set for…