In a social media post marking the beginning of Holy and Great Lent, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America encouraged Orthodox Christian faithful to “intensify our spiritual practice, and to do so within our souls, as well as within our communities.” The full message is as follows: “The pattern of Great Lent is before us,…

An International Event with Wider Ramifications The Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross, in collaboration with the Missions Institute of Orthodox Christianity (also under the auspices of HCHC), is organizing an international conference on the life and legacy of the late Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, a contemporary religious leader, who advocated for interfaith…

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, on the feast of the Finding of the Precious Head of the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, presided on Clean Tuesday, 24 February, at the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. At the conclusion of the service, he celebrated a Trisagion for the repose of the souls of the victims…

On Sunday, 22 February 2026, His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa presided at the Vespers of Forgiveness at the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified in Alexandria, marking the beginning of the Holy and Great Lent. His Beatitude was joined by His Eminence Metropolitan Germanos of Tamiathus,…

On Saturday 21 February 2026, His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom (Agia Sophia) in Bayswater. The service formed part of the Cathedral’s customary English-language Liturgy, held on the first and third Saturdays of each month. During the Liturgy, His Eminence ordained…

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, at noon on Clean Monday, 23 February, received, in accordance with the established order, the Hierarchs of the Throne serving in Constantinople, with whom he exchanged brotherly greetings in mutual forgiveness on the occasion of the beginning of Holy and Great Lent. Subsequently, His All-Holiness presided from the parathronion in…

In a deeply prayerful and reverent atmosphere, on the afternoon of Cheesefare Sunday, 22 February, the First Lenten Vespers of Holy and Great Lent, known as the Vespers of Forgiveness, was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Sydney. His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over the service. Present also…

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, contacted His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, by telephone, where he warmly congratulated Him on the 18th anniversary of his election, and wished him health and longevity, along with a blessed primatial ministry, as he has exercised up to the present day. File photo   vema.com.au

The local Church of Smyrna honored the memory of Saint Bucolus (Voukolos), Bishop of Smyrna, who was a disciple and hearer of Saint John the Theologian and Evangelist. Saint John ordained him and appointed him Bishop of Smyrna. For pastoral reasons and following a decision of the Metropolitan, the feast was transferred from its canonical…