News

Greek Orthodox faithful to dedicate new church

The parishioners of St. George Greek Orthodox Church will celebrate the official ceremony of the Thyranoixia, the grand opening and dedication of their new church and Hellenic Center of SouthCoast, beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 6 at 186 Cross Road. "We praise God for this historic event in the life of our parish and community," said the Very Rev. Constantine S. Bebis, pastor of the congregation for the past 55 years. "It is the realization of a dream to build and erect this new church with modern, convenient and accessible facilities and a religious, cultural and educational center to maintain our Orthodox faith and heritage."

Religious factor will play more significant role in future policy of the EU

The Russian Orthodox Church believes a religious factor will play more significant role in future policy of the European Union. "There is potential for this," acting representative of the Russian Church at the European international organizations Archpriest Antony Ilyin said in his interview published by the NG-Religii newspaper on Wednesday.

Patriarch Kirill believes World War II was punishment for sins of Russians

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia believes World War II was a redemptive sacrifice of Russian people for the sin of apostasy. "Some people wonder why the last war was so terrific and bloody, why so many people died!" the Patriarch has said after Wednesday Liturgy in the Moscow Sretensky Monastery.

Russian Church concerned about the probability of religious minorities' "dictatorship" in Europe

Archpriest Georgy Ryabykh, deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, urges European religious leaders to pursue protection of their believers' rights at the legislative level to offset the dominant influence of new religious movements.

"Sometimes, we can even witness the minorities' dictatorship. They demand more rights and benefits for themselves than the major religions have in the public sector in many European countries," Fr. Georgy said at a meeting of the European Council of Religious Leaders in Lille, France.

Nikita Mikhalkov: Fostering Orthodox spiritual revival will gain Russia the world's leading position

Nikita Mikhalkov, a renowned Russian film director, believes that Russia's main challenge today is to develop spiritual immunity to withstand external influence and gain a leading position in the world.

"If this immunity is implanted, no influence can affect us, because poison penetrates only vulnerable souls and burns them to ashes. If souls are shielded with culture, religion, history, and tradition, they have nothing to be afraid of," Mikhalkov said in an address to the 13th World Russian People's Council opened Friday in Moscow.

Tom Hanks is happy to be a member of the Orthodox Church

Hollywood actor Tom Hanks appreciates his membership in the Orthodox Church and intends to raise his four children in similar vein.

"I am aware that it is vitally important to come to church and contemplate those substantial questions put by the Orthodoxy and the answers it offers," Hanks said in an interview published by Argumenty i Fakty.