Historic Greek Orphanage to Become Environmental Center Under Patriarch Bartholomew
17. April 2012 - 10:20
The Büyükada Greek Orphanage of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is set to become an international environmental foundation, according to a recent article of the Turkish newspaper todayszaman.com.
A ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in June 2010 stated that the Turkish government should re-register the historic Orthodox orphanage on Büyükada to the İstanbul-based Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. Following the ECtHR ruling, the orphanage will probably be turned into a global environmental center, according to comments made by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I to the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
Holy Fire Descends upon Jesus' Tomb in Jerusalem
16. April 2012 - 9:15
Thousands of Orthodox Christians filled Jerusalem's ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre and spilled out into the narrow streets on Saturday for the "Holy Fire" ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter, reports AFP.
Believers hold that the fire is miraculously sent from heaven to ignite candles held by the Greek Orthodox patriarch in an annual rite dating back to the 4th century that symbolises the resurrection of Jesus.
Israeli public radio said around 10,000 faithful attended this year's ceremony, fewer than in recent years, as police were deployed around the church and in the streets of the surrounding Old City to keep the jubilation from getting out of hand.
Commission on World Mission and Evangelism Meets in Manila
3. April 2012 - 14:30
His Grace Bishop Irinej of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, as appointed by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, joined other Orthodox Church delegates with more than 200 participants from around the globe, for an event of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) in Manila, the Philippines. Its aim is to rethink, in terms of Trinitarian Theology, mission and evangelism, developing a draft of the WCC statement on mission and evangelism that succeeds a statement of thirty years ago.
NSW Premier’s Multicultural Harmony Dinner
3. April 2012 - 14:27
NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney, Barry O'Farrell, has unveiled the NSW Government's strategy for the advancement of multiculturalism during the inaugural Premier's Harmony Dinner on 28 March 2012.
Speaking to 600 community guests, Mr. O'Farrell launched the Multicultural Advantage Action Plan with the Minster for Citizenship and Communities, Victor Dominello.
Reopening of Greek Orthodox Seminary back on agenda
30. March 2012 - 9:50
Turkey has decided to reopen a former Greek Orthodox seminary on an island off the coast of İstanbul, according to a statement made by US President Barack Obama.
The EU and the US have frequently criticized Turkey for not reopening the Halki Greek Orthodox seminary — which experts say is related to Turkey’s interpretation of secularism — and failing to take measures to protect the patriarchate’s property rights. The patriarchate is under the protection of international law, as outlined in the Treaty of Lausanne. The patriarch has long complained about the status of the seminary, located on the island of Heybeliada near İstanbul, as well as other property issues. The government says it has been assessing a number of legal options to reopen the Halki seminary, which Bartholomew says is of vital importance for the survival of the Greek Orthodox clergy.
