Church of Greece

Pan-Orthodox conference calls for discernment over astrology, divination and magic

The Pan-Orthodox Conference on Heresies and Para-Religions concluded by adopting 17 conclusions in which representatives of the Orthodox Churches called for discernment in the face of occult practices. The final document was unanimously approved on Thursday and sets out the Orthodox Church’s theological and pastoral position on these practices, drawing on Holy Scripture and the…

Nov 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Churches discuss astrology, magic and fortune-telling at conference in Greece

The Metropolis of Corinth, Greece, hosted the 36th Pan-Orthodox Conference on Heresies and Para-Religions from 3 to 5 November, organised by the Church of Greece. This year’s theme is “Magic, Divination, Astrology and the Prediction of the Future”, and the Romanian Patriarchate was represented by Bishop Siluan, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Hungary, according to the…

Nov 5, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek Orthodox metropolitan visits Ghighiu Monastery in Romania, venerates wonderworking icon

His Eminence Metropolitan Georgios of Kitros, Katerini and Platamonas (Church of Greece) visited Ghighiu Monastery in Romania’s Prahova County on Saturday, where he venerated the wonderworking Syriac icon of the Mother of God, according to Lumina Newspaper. The visit coincided with his participation in the celebrations honouring St Paraskeva in Iași. The Greek metropolitan was…

Oct 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church marks 30 years since St Andrew’s relics drew over a million pilgrims to Iași

Monday marked 30 years since Iași received the relics of the Holy Apostle Andrew for the feast of St. Parascheva. The historic event drew more than one million faithful to the city, Moldavia’s traditional capital. The reliquary containing the Honourable Skull of the Holy Apostle Andrew arrived on 12 October 1996, accompanied by a delegation…

Oct 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek Orthodox metropolitan proposes eight measures to tackle loneliness through parish communities

The hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece discussed loneliness in contemporary society and its pastoral implications last week, with eight measures proposed to help address social isolation through communities of faith. Metropolitan Dorotheos of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea, Milos, Delos and Mykonos presented a paper entitled The Pastoral Care of Loneliness…

Oct 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Church of Greece examines clergy’s online presence, warns of risks of social media

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece devoted particular attention on Wednesday to an increasingly relevant issue: the online presence of clergy. Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida outlined the benefits and risks of online pastoral ministry, along with several guiding principles, in a presentation to the Synod. “I believe that reality itself has given a…

Oct 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Relics of St Chryse discovered in her native village in northern Greece

Relics believed to belong to an 18th-century neomartyr have recently been discovered in a village in the Pella region of northern Greece, according to the Orthodoxia News Agency. Her name — Chryse, meaning “golden” in Greek — matches that of the village where the relics were found, near a church among the ruins of the…

Sep 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina received in Thessaloniki by Metropolitan Philotheos during pilgrimage

Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina, accompanied by 60 pilgrims from his metropolia, was received on Monday afternoon by Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki. The meeting took place at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Gregory Palamas, where Metropolitan Philotheos welcomed the visitors, expressing his joy at the visit of “Romanian brethren of the same faith.” Also…

Apr 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek Orthodox Church reiterates opposition to same-sex marriage and adoption after court ruling

The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece has reiterated its position on the recognition of civil same-sex marriages and the possibility for such couples to adopt children, the Orthodoxia News Agency reported. The statement comes after Greece’s Supreme Administrative Court ruled in March that the right of same-sex couples to adopt children is…

Apr 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

1,000 Greek pupils chant hymns to Virgin Mary at Thessaloniki Cathedral service (video)

Around 1,000 pupils from 37 schools at all levels of education in Thessaloniki chanted hymns to the Virgin Mary at the city’s Hagia Sophia Church. The pupils, together with the choir of the Hellenic Army Officers’ School and the Eirmos Byzantine Children’s Choir of the Metropolis of Thessaloniki, provided the liturgical responses on Friday, 13…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Church of Greece urges families to support priestly vocations

The Church of Greece has called on families—especially wives—to support with love and understanding those who feel called to serve as ministers of the Church. The appeal was made by the Permanent Holy Synod of the Church of Greece in a pastoral message issued ahead of the Week of Priestly Vocations. In the encyclical letter,…

Mar 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu