The coming period in Church-state relations is particularly crucial, with a second vote in Greece’s parliament coming this month over a Constitutional revision that aims to enforce the state’s neutrality to religion.   As reported on Thursday by the Orthodoxia news agency, the standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece will again convene…

On March 2, 2019, Metropolitan Sergiy of Singapore and South-East Asia, Patriarchal Exarch for South-East Asia, acting administrator of the diocese of Thailand, began his visit to the Kingdom of Thailand. At the Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, he was met by Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), secretary of the diocese of Thailand; Archpriest Daniel Vanna, chairman of…

The Metropolitan of Singapore and SE Asia and Russian Orthodox Exarch, His Eminence Sergiy, visited Thailand this week. The visit comes within the framework of a decision by the Patriarchate of Moscow  to create a Metropolis in Thailand.

The Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Irinej, this week expressed the Church’s disapproval of actions by women’s groups in Belgrade to place aprons featuring political slogans on monuments and statues in the Serbian capital. Protesters even targeted a monument dedicated to Serbian Patriarch Pavle, something Irinej said was “barbaric” and “shameful”.

The Romanian Orthodox Church this week announced initiatives to boost religious tourism, and as such, will participate in several international exhibitions. The Romanian Church, which retains several iconic Orthodox Monasteries and magnificent Cathedrals, desires to increase religious tourism to the SE Europe country.

The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His All Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia II, met with college students, professors and rectors of universities in the country. The meeting came after an initiative by the student unions of Georgia.  According to reports, representatives of the students expressed a desire for closer cooperation with the Georgian Patriarchate.

The Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, His Holiness John X, spoke on the advantages of fasting and forgiveness — in his message to the Orthodox faithful ahead of the commencement of the Great Lent. In his message ahead of the Great Lent, the 40-day period of fasting, prayer…

The Metropolitan of Bursa and the Exarch of Bithynia, His Eminence, Elpidophoros, this week expressed his optimism over the prospect of a re-opening of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Theological School on the island of Chalki. In statements carried by Greece’s national news agency, His Eminence referred to the significance of the seminary for the Ecumenical Patriarchate,…

In other news, the Metropolitan of Kissamos and Selino, His Eminence Amphilochios, paid a pilgrimage this week to the Holy and Great Monastery of  which is located in the semi-autonomous monastic community of Mt. Athos. His Eminence, Amphilochios, venerated the miraculous Holy Icons of the Monastery and also officiated at a divine liturgy at the…