News

Solemn opening of Andricgrad

On the occasion of the centenary of the beginning of the First World War and the Sarajevo Assasination Andricgrad was  solemnly opened in attendance of the highest officials of Republic of Srpska and Serbia in Visegrad, on 28 June 2014.

By cutting the red tape Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, President of Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik and film director Emir Kusturica solemnly opened cultural and historic center - Andricgrad. 

Hundreds of Egyptian women and girls kidnapped, forced into Islam, claims report

Fifteen-year-old Amira Hafez Wahim slipped out of the Christian church in Luxor, Egypt, where she had attended services with her mother in February, promising to dash to a nearby store and return quickly.

Five months later, she has not been seen since, although her parents immediately suspected a 28-year-old Muslim man named Yasser Mahmoud, who had tried to kidnap her before, had succeeded this time.  When her father went to the Civil Status Authority for a copy of her birth certificate, his fears were confirmed: Her name had been changed and she was now listed as Muslim.

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome to make its Loggia, Crypt and Treasury accessible to Visitors

The papal Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome has changed its visit schedule. From Saturday, June 21, and on five following Saturdays the church doors will be open in the evenings in order to provide a special access to its loggia, crypt and treasury, reports Sedmitza.ru, citing Vatican Radio.

A tour which lasts an hour and a half must be pre-booked. For 18 Euros you can admire the loggia’s mosaic décor, which has survived since the 13th century, see the statue of an angel by the Italian sculptor Pietro Bracci (the 18th century), the papal hall (early 17th century), the baroque stairs by the Italian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The tour continues in the crypt below the church and goes through the basilica’s Sistine Chapel, where the crypt of the sculptor and architect Arnolfo di Campio is located. 

Greeks Recognized as the Most Religious People in the European Union

A pan-European survey conducted by the Department of Social Research in nineteen European Union countries recognized Greeks to be the most religious people in the EU.

The results of the survey were published in a Guide to Mount Athos with reference to the newspaper «ΕλεύθεροςΤύπος».

Historic Meeting of Patriarchs of Alexandria and Archbishop of Finland in Helsinki

 The Finnish Orthodox Church celebrates the historic meeting of three Hierarchs from the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox family. Pope & Patriarch Tawadros II of Alexandria All Africa – Primate of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope & Patriarch Theodros II of Alexandria and All Africa – Primate of the Alexandrian Patriarchate and Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland who is the Primate of the Finnish Orthodox Church met in the capital city of Finland on 23rd June 2014.

Everyday Saints and Other Stories being translated into Chinese

On June 9-11, 2014, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and on the Shanghai International Studies University’s invitation, executive secretary of the Patriarchal Council for Culture and Abbot-Superior of the Moscow Sretensky Stavropegic Monastery Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov) visited Shanghai.      The university’s Russian language and literature department has launched an initiative to translate Archimandrite Tikhon’s book, Everyday Saints and Other Stories, into Chinese. Dean of the department professor Chan Zh Li and Archimandrite Tikhon have signed an agreement about translation and publication of the book. The university President professor Cao Deming, teachers, undergraduate and postgraduate students were present at the signing. Also negotiations for cooperation between the Patriarchal Council for Culture and the Shanghai International Studies University were held.