In communist Albania, atheism was enshrined in the constitution. Owning a copy of the Gospel was enough to land a person in prison for a decade–if they were lucky. Churches had been destroyed, clergy executed, and the entire nation’s spirituality driven underground. It was in this world that His Beatitude Archbishop Joani of Tirana, Durrës…

With ecclesiastical splendour and reverence, the Sunday of Orthodoxy was celebrated at the Church of Panagia Kamariani in Red Hill, Melbourne. On this day, our Holy Church honours the restoration of the Holy Icons and the triumph of the Orthodox Faith. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by the Parish Priest, Archimandrite Fr. Irinaios Koikas,…

NEW DATE THURSDAY 5 MAR 2026 at 19:30 EET The e-Meeting is organized by PEMPTOUSIA and the HRISTOCENTRIC PROJECT (Romania) Interpretation available in Romanian, English, Polish, Russian, Georgian, French, Arabic, and Italian Greek Sign Language Interpretation available You may register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/kL3qudNESpWSbmvbV6AP2Q After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing…

With deep emotion and prayerful reverence, the city of Xanthi welcomed His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria on Sunday, 1 March 2026. The Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa presided at the Lenten Vespers service held at the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, in an atmosphere marked by devotion and spiritual…

On Sunday 1 March 2026 – the Sunday of Orthodoxy – His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas presided at Matins and celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of SS Cosmas and Damian in Ipswich. Those concelebrating with the Archbishop were: the Revd Protopresbyter John Garnett, Priest-in-Charge, the Revd Presbyter Kenneth Parker, and the Revd Archdeacon…

The Feast of the Restoration of the Holy Icons holds particular significance for the Orthodox Church of Albania, as the sacred icons were removed and desecrated during the years of state-imposed atheism. Even today, many of these icons have not yet been returned to the Orthodox Church of Albania, a matter that remains a standing…

By the Grace of God and with the prayers, blessings, and guidance of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, on Tuesday, 3 March of this year, the Holy Diocese of Adelaide convened a Priests Synaxis under the presidency of His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide. During its Session, the Priests Synaxis addressed the matters of…

By Corinna Robinson March 3, 2026 Monday evening at Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology (HCHC), His Beatitude Archbishop Joani of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania delivered the keynote address opening a three-day international conference, “Anastasios: Archbishop, Theologian, Missionary,” marking the first anniversary of his predecessor’s repose. Jointly organized by HCHC’s Huffington Ecumenical Institute…

From February 19 to 22, 2026, Metropolitan Ambroseios of Korea and Exarch of Japan visited Okinawa and Tokyo, Japan, to address the liturgical and pastoral needs of the Orthodox faithful and catechumens. In Okinawa, which is the fifth largest island in Japan, the metropolitan met with the Executive Director of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center…