How has His All-Holiness touched your life, inspired your faith, or strengthened your spiritual journey? If you had the opportunity to speak with him and share your thoughts, what would you say? The Orthodox Observer invites you to submit short reflections to be shared when he arrives in the U.S. this September. Your reflections, questions,…

On June 1, 2025, St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Orange, Connecticut awarded $56,350 in scholarships to thirty-six parishioners in support of their undergraduate and graduate studies. Since its inception, the Saint Barbara Scholarship Program has awarded a total of $1,039,350 in scholarships, helping students pursue their academic and professional goals. Established in 1990, the…

Yesterday, Orthodox faithful across the globe marked the Feast of the New Indiction, signifying the beginning of the liturgical year. His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew offered a blessing over the upcoming year at the Venerable Patriarchal Church of St. George in Phanar, Istanbul, Türkiye before signing the Act of the New Indiction. This signature signifies…

Nicosia, 27 August 2025 – His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain, accompanied by His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Claudiopolis, was received on the morning of 27 August by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, in a meeting held in a cordial atmosphere. During the meeting, His…

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia is participating in the new composition of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, for the period from 1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026. According to an official announcement, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been reconstituted for the six-month term running…

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE On Sunday afternoon, 31 August 2025, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided at the Great Vespers for the Feast of the Indiction, at the All-Venerable Patriarchal Church of Saint George at the Phanar. Present in prayer were Hierarchs of the Throne, clergy, Archons of the Great Church of Christ, as well as faithful…

With ineffable joy, “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, together with the Bodiless Powers and the Apostles, keeping festival with gladness,” our devout people today celebrate the revered Dormition and Translation of the All-Immaculate Theotokos. We celebrate rather than mourn, for She “who bore Life,” three days after Her Dormition, “was translated unto life.”…

SAINT CATHERINE’S MONASTERY AND ARCHBISHOPIC OF MOUNT SINAI In Sinai, 13th August 2025 To His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III   Your Beatitude Father and Master, We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude both to Your Beatitude for Your truly paternal and spiritual interest, as well as to His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of…

On Sunday evening, 10 August, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who was joined by Their Graces, Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne and Bishop Evmenios of Chora, visited the Parish of The Presentation Our Lady to the Temple in the suburb of Balwyn North in Melbourne. His Eminence presided over the Great Supplicatory Canon to the…