News

Mount Athos Now Has its Own Smartphone Application

Mount Athos now has its own smartphone application. The user can download the free application that will remind them of religious holidays, days of fasting, Greek Orthodox feasts, while also provides all the information about monasteries.

The application includes the old calendar, which is used at Mount Athos, and the new calendar as well. It has a presentation of all Greek Orthodox feasts, information on the lives of saints, locations of holy relics, dates of religious fairs, wise quotes and advice from the Holy Fathers, detailed information on how to contact monastery administrations and clergy, and so on.

Croatia: Vandals desecrate Serbian Orthodox Church temple in Karlovci

On the night between Saturday and Sunday unknown persons broke into the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Karlovac. Sacred and other objects were stolen, the inventory scattered and material damage was done, Gornji Karlovac Diocesan said in a statement.

Vandals broke in through the side door, it was confirmed by the priest Slavisa Simakovic, adding that they desecrated the altar and liturgical objects and books, stole part of the items, and what they did not steal, they scattered on the floor, Tanjug reported.

Winter 2015 Issue of The Path of Orthodoxy Online

The Winter 2015 Issue of The Path of Orthodoxy is now available online. Read in this issue The Sermon of St. Sava on the True Faith, delivered by Saint Sava during the first Ecclesiastical - national Council in Monastery Zica on the Ascension Day in 1220. Also, Fr. Dragan Kainovic, in his article "In the Days of Fasting" takes a serious look at how important our diet is during Lent, in light of the words and instruction given by our Lord found in Scripture. In his editorial, Fr. Bratislav Krsic, takes a closer look at the role of the so-called diaspora in the mission of Christ's Church and the role all of us play in spreading Orthodoxy. 

You'll find the Youth pages, parish news, Serbian section and much more.

Pope Francis: The blood of murdered Copts a "witness that cries out"

Pope Francis on Monday denounced the murder of 21 Coptic Christians by ISIL militants in Libya. The Islamist terrorist organization released a video of the killings on Sunday. 

Speaking in Spanish to an ecumenical delegation from the Church of Scotland, the Holy Father noted those killed only said “Jesus help me.”

“They were murdered just for the fact they were Christians,” Pope Francis said.

“The blood of our Christian brothers is a witness that cries out,” said the Pope.  “If they are Catholic, Orthodox, Copts, Lutherans, it is not important: They are Christians. The blood is the same: It is the blood which confesses Christ.''

Pope Francis appoints 19 new cardinals in Rome ceremony

Pope Francis has appointed 19 new cardinals at a ceremony in Rome - the first such appointments of his papacy.

Cardinals are the most senior Roman Catholic clergymen below the pontiff. Correspondents say the inclusion of prelates from places such as Haiti and Burkina Faso reflects the Argentine Pope's commitment to the poor.

ISIL rename a Christian city which had the word "Monastery" as a part of its name

The Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor which for many centuries was the haven for Christians of north-eastern Syria today has lost its Christian name—now its occupants-islamists call it “Wilayat ul-Hayr”, reports the Calam1 portal.

Thus, islamists, members of “The Islamic State” terrorist organization have decided to abolish the very name of the city which since the 8th century has had the word “deir”, that is, “monastery”, as part of its name that refers to Christianity and the Christian heritage of Syria.