News

Serbian Patriarch Irinej meets with delegations of Georgian and Syriac Orthodox Church

Basics of Religion and Secular Ethics likely to be introduced in all Russian schools next year

Course of Basics of Religion and Secular Ethics is likely to be introduced in all Russian schools next year, Russian Deputy Minister for Education and Science Maxim Dulinov said. "We're collecting information about readiness of all regions to introduce the course next year," Dulinov said on Wednesday at a Moscow press conference.

He reminds that today this course is introduced in 21 Russian regions. Pupils study religion in the last quarter of the forth form and the first quarter of the fifth form. Dulinov stressed that to the moment "there are problems rather with methodic textbooks for teachers than for pupils as they are worked out pretty well."

Turkey to return religious minorities' property

The Turkish government said it would return hundreds of properties that were confiscated from religious minorities by the state or other parties over the years since 1936, and would pay compensation for properties that were seized and later sold.

Historic Church of St. George in Tripoli Ransacked

The historic church of St. George located in Libya, in Tripoli, dating back to 1647 was ransacked. The church is the oldest Orthodox church in North Africa.

First time in history of Russian Navy a sailor becomes rector of a church opened at the Baltic Fleet

An Orthodox church of St. Feodor Ushakov was opened in the rocket ships brigade on the Baltic Fleet where a sailor of involuntary service has become a rector, the Navy press service said.

Rector of St. George Navy Cathedral of the Baltic Fleet Hegumen Sofrony (Kolosov) opened the new Orthodox church. He introduced the rector of the new church, who was a priest in the Penza Region before conscription, to the parish.

Chechnya saw the first mass baptism in its today’s history

Archbishop Zosima of Vladikavkaz and Makhachkala performed the first mass baptism ceremony in Chechen history in the river Terek of Naursky dirstrict.

35 five citizens of Naursky and Shelkovsky districts were converted to Orthodoxy, press service of Chechen leader reports Friday.

"Keep your Orthodox faith, live in peace with each other, avoid evil, make your families and grow your children," Father Zosima wished to the young Christians.