International

Thousands of faithful celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord in Tirana

“The Lord is risen” – “Indeed, He is risen” one could hear all over Albania. The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania, Archbishop Anastasios, presided the Service at the Cathedral in Tirana assisted by the Metropolitan Nathaniel of Amadiya (Amadia) and Bishop Astis of Vilidos as well as priest of the Archdiocese, Romfea News…

Apr 28, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

Holy Fire has descended in Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem

The Holy Fire has descended in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, as seen on the live stream on the Facebook page of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. The Holy Light descended at about 2:30 PM. The Holy Fire appeared in the edicule (the small chapel built over the burial place of Christ) after the Orthodox…

Apr 27, 2019Iulian Dumitraşcu

Photo | The Service of the sacred washing of the feet at the Jerusalem Patriarchate

On Holy Thursday morning, April 125, 2019, the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great was celebrated at the Holy Cathedral of St. James the Brother of God, led by  His Beatitude Teophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine, with co-celebrants the Most Reverend Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Most Reverend Archbishop Theodosios of…

Apr 26, 2019Iulian Dumitraşcu

In Easter message, Ecumenical Patriarch rejects conception that Orthodoxy is “introverted, unworldly and indifferent”

In this year’s patriarchal encyclical for Holy Pascha, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew rejected the conception that ‘Orthodoxy is introverted, unworldly and indifferent to history and civilization’, saying that this is ‘a complete misinterpretation of Orthodox self-consciousness as well as of the social and charitable work of the Church’. Pascha is not only the greatest feast of…

Apr 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Land Easter message: lasting peace in Jerusalem and the world

Thirteen Patriarchs and Heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem have issued an Easter Message praying for lasting peace throughout the world and urging that the multi-religious and multi-cultural status of Jerusalem be maintained. The 13 spiritual leaders in Jerusalem have expressed their Easter greeting to the people of the Holy Land, the larger Middle East…

Apr 25, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Syria | Joint statement issued in memory of abducted Aleppo bishops

The joint statement issued by Patriarch John X of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East and Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, on the 6th anniversary of the kidnapping of the Aleppo bishops, namely Bishop Youhanna Ibrahim and Bishop Paul Yazigi: Beloved Brothers…

Apr 25, 2019Iulian Dumitraşcu

Inter-religious Council of Albania asks for property restitution by the Albanian State

On Friday, the Inter-religious Council of Albania conducted a meeting between religious leaders, to discuss, among other things, the issue of the return of religious property by the Albanian State, Romfea News reports. The meeting was attended by Archbishop Anastasios of the Orthodox Church of Albania, who is also the president of the Council, the…

Apr 23, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expresses horror at Sri Lanka attacks

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his solidarity with the Sri Lankan people and voiced his horror at a series of explosions at churches and hotels that killed more than 200 people and injured hundreds during Easter observed by the Catholic Church. His Holiness unambiguously condemned all acts of terror, as well as any act of hatred,…

Apr 22, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Primates of Orthodox Churches in Middle East release statement following meeting in Cyprus

Four Primates of Autocephalous Orthodox Churches in the Middle East met at the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Cyprus in Nicosia where they discussed inter-Orthodox topics on Thursday, April 18, 2019. The conclusions of the meeting were summarized in a joint statement signed by the four religious leaders. Statement by Primates of Orthodox Churches in…

Apr 19, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

The new Metropolitan of Glyfada has been enthroned

In the presence of many people, the enthronement of the new Metropolitan of Glyfada, Antonios, took place today, Tuesday, April 16, Romfea News reports. The Metropolitan arrived in the courtyard of the Holy Metropolitan Church of Sts Constantine and Helen in Glyfada, where Bishop Konstantinos of Androusa handed him over the Archieratic rod. The new…

Apr 17, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

Ecumenical Patriarch: Notre-Dame is not just a cathedral, it is the symbol of common ideals of humanity

In a letter of compassion sent to the President of France Emmanuel Macron following the fire that broke out at Notre Dame Cathedral, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said that ‘it is not just a Cathedral, but it represents a visible meeting point of Christian faith and human genius, a symbol of the common ideals of humanity,…

Apr 17, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu