One hundred care packages were distributed to local residents in need over the past week by the Albanian Church’s Metropolis of Elbasan. The initiative is one of many charitable activities by local metropolises and parishes of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, especially ahead and during religious holidays.

One-hundred-and-ninety residents of two shelters run by the Archdiocese of Alexandroupolis, in extreme northeast Greece, were hosted as guests by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou for the presidency’s annual Christmas dinner.

The enthronement of the Romanian Patriarchate’s new Bishop of Deva & Hunendoara, His Grace Nestor, was held on Sunday at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in the city of Deva, in western Romania. A Divine Liturgy proceeded, officiated by the Archbishop of Sibiu and Metropolitan of Transylvania, His Grace Laurențiu, and co-officiated by several hierarchs…

The Patriarch of Serbia, His Holiness Porfirije, on Monday officiated at a requiem service at the Monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God for reposed Bishop Luka of Western Europe. The service was concelebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, along with several other hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Members of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete commenced a process on Tuesday to select, via a secret ballot, three hierarchs of the Church who will be candidates for election as the new Archbishop of Crete. The Sacred and Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople will select one of the…

An exodios funeral service will be held on Wednesday for former two-time Greek president Karolos Papoulias, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 92. The service will be held at the Cathedral of St. Spyridonas in the east Athens district of Pangrati. Due to public health precautions and social distancing protocol in place…

A new record in terms of confirmed single-day Covid-19 infections was reported by public health authorities in Greece on Monday, with the more contagious Omicron variant accounting for roughly 70 percent of those instances in the greater Athens area. Specifically, 9,284 infections were reported, while the relevant health minister ominously warned that confirmed infections today…

The Church today commemorates the memory of the 20,000 Martyrs burned in Nicomedia, in northwest Asia Minor. All these Saints were burned alive in the year 303, while they were gathered in church.

Patriarch John X made a phone call to greet the President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Aoun, with the Nativity. In His call to President Aoun, His Beatitude wished glorious holidays, praying to God the return of stability and security to Lebanon. His Beatitude also stressed to President Aoun that utmost efforts should be…