News

$2 Million Gift Funds Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture

Fordham University has received a $2 million gift to establish the Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture.

The donation comes from the Jaharis Family Foundation, which provides grants to arts, cultural and religious institutions.

Patriarch Bartholomew met President Obama

President of USA B. Obama held a separate meeting with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, whose international role as the spiritual leader of hundreds of millions of Orthodox Christians worldwide is not recognized by Ankara.

Bartholomew, following the meeting, sounded optimist regarding the problems the patriarchate faces, particularly in reopening Halki Seminary.

Metropolitan Jonah on Orthodox unity

Metropolitan Jonah, St Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral, April 5, 2009

It is a great joy to see everybody here this evening from so many different communities, from different traditions. Orthodoxy is a celebration of diversity in unity, and unity in diversity. Our unityis in our one Lord and savior Jesus Christ, and our one Orthodox faithand our one commitment to living the truth, to living as Christians.Not to live according the spirit of the world, not to live accordingto our passions, not to live according to the desires that flit bythrough our minds and lead us into all sorts of trouble, but to livethe truth, to live Orthodox. And, our diversity is something wecelebrate, not a diversity of lifestyles, but a diversity thatreflects the whole spectrum of our community, people of all races,people of all colors, people from a multitude of different ethnicbackgrounds.

Tsar's slain relatives victims of political repressions - human rights activists

Russia's oldest human rights organization, Moscow Helsinki Group, has supported the House of Romanov's plans to seek rehabilitation of all members of the imperial family, who were executed by Bolsheviks after the revolution. "I do not see any reason for rejection. No doubt, they must be recognized as victims of political repressions," MHG chief Lyudmila Alexeyeva told Interfax.

Russian Church suggests using Internet to promote positive ideals

The Russian Orthodox Church accepts that it is important and necessary to fight against criminality in Internet, but doesn't think that strengthening of control over world web can play key role in struggling against social vices. "We shouldn't lay all our hopes on some prohibitive measures in Internet, it's way to nowhere," PR head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Fr. Mikhail Prokopenko told Interfax-Religion.

False interpretation of freedom gives rise to collective devil obsession - Patriarch Kirill

Wrong interpretation of freedom in the world today gives rise to massive devil obsession, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia believes. "People subdue their minds to dangerous and sinful ideas, don't they? Today many ideologies use God-granted freedom to turn man into animal, to liberate sinful, instinctive human sources with reference to freedom," the Patriarch said at his Sunday sermon in Christ the Savior Cathedral.