News

Orthodox Bishops’ Assembly in Switzerland meets for a regular session

The Orthodox Bishops’ Assembly in Switzerland (OBAS) met for a regular session on September 23, 2011, in Chambesy near Geneva, the website of the Diocese of Chersonese has reported. Among the participants was Bishop Nestor of Chersonese, vice-president of the Assembly.

The meeting approved the membership of four advisory commissions of the Assembly and defined their terms of reference. In addition, the Assembly set up a working group to make preparations for the celebrations on the Day of Orthodox Unity to be held for the first time in Switzerland on May 17, 2012.

Bulgarian Iron Church's Restoration in Istanbul

The Istanbul Municipality and the provincial administration have joined efforts to restore the Bulgarian "St. Stefan" church.

According to Hurriyet Daily News, "the parts of the church that have become dirty and carbonated will be cleaned thoroughly with detergent water, while the missing ornaments on the façade will be replicated using original material. The crooked parts of the roof will also be renewed."

Schismatic community received into canonical Orthodox Church in Suma Region of the Ukraine

On September 26, 2011, the eve of the feast of the Exaltation of the Honorable and Live-Giving Cross of the Lord, in the town of Shostka (Suma Province, Ukraine) a schismatic community lead by a former "priest" of the so-called Kiev Patriarchate returned to the bosom of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Earlier, "Hieromonk Silhouan," (Vladimir Skiba) a clergyman of the Konotop diocese of the UKC, KP" went to Bishop Joseph of Konotop and Glukhov with repentance and a request that he be accepted along with the members of the Holy Trinity community into communion with the canonical Konotop diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Missionaries performed mass baptism of soldiers at northern cosmodrome

Teachers and students of the St. Tikhon Orthodox Humanitarian University visited the "Plesetsk" cosmodrome near Achangelsk with a missionary program. The trip was made at the invitation of Archpriest Artemy Emke, rector of the Church of Archangel Michael in the town of Mirny.

Temporary army service is an opportune time for preaching about Christ, considers Fr. Artemy. The missionary trips have been organized over a period of eight years, twice per year, in conjunction with the educational department of the cosmodrome. St. Tikon's faculty has periodically participated in these programs.

International peace meeting of religious leaders in Munich

An international meeting under the theme ‘Bound to Live Together. Religions and Cultures in Dialogue’ was held from September 11 to 13, 2011, in Munich, Germany. It was organized together by the Community of St. Egidio and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.

Fred Boissonas Exhibition on Mt. Athos in Paris

Mount Athos Center will be presenting photos by Fred Boissonas taken on his visits to Mt. Athos in 1928 and 1930, in Fondation Hellenique, Paris, from September 17th to October 30th, 2011.