News

The Moscow Patriarchate parish in Oxford acquires a former Anglican church

The Russian parish of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Oxford purchases former Anglican church situated close to the city center and named after the same saint, parishioners told Interfax-Religion.

Since its foundation, the parish has been worshipping in a variety of rented accommodation, but most often services are celebrated in Anglican Church of St. Egidio.

Finnish Goths believe Patriarch Kirill is a man of faith

Musicians from Finnish gothic rock group From Ashes can't help sharing their impressions of the new Patriarch with their friends from the Russian Orthodox Church. "I read an interview of your new patriarch Kiril and it feels he's really a man of faith," the group leader wrote in his letter to Rector of the Descent of the Holy Sprit Church on Lazarevskoye cemetery Hegumen Sergy (Rybko) and coordinator of the Orthodox Fraternities Union Yury Ageschev.

Orthodox service conducted in Notre Dame de Paris

Orthodox vespers was conducted last week in Notre Dame de Paris following the tradition of Lent. Over 500 pilgrims from various cities of France and neighboring European countries venerated the Savior's crown of thorns. Rector of the Three Holy Hierarchs Church Hegumen Nestor (Sirotenko) conducted the vespers, the Korsun Diocese website has reported.

Bulgarian Orthodox Church, leadership have always Been legitimate: Prime Minister of Bulgaria

Bulgarian Orthodox Church and its leadership have always been legitimate, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev told journalists Monday, emerging from a meeting with Patriarch Maxim. Stanishev specified he had requested the meeting to discuss yet again the situation involving a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. He said he regarded the judgment with great concern because it was important and all ways and instruments should be found to defend the authority and unity of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Reconstruction of the Orthodox temple in Hungary

Reconstruction work has begun at the Hungarian Orthodox Cathedral on Petőfi tér. The church's southern spire, which was destroyed in the last days of the Second World War, will be rebuilt in the project.

"Attempts were made in the ‘70s to rebuild the spire," said István Magyar, protoierej (priest) of the Budapest Hungarian Orthodox congregation. At that time there were insufficient funds for the whole spire, allowing only an additional level to be added. A second effort failed in 2000. Then in 2003 Bishop Hilarion became Bishop of Vienna and Austria, and administrator of the Hungarian Orthodox diocese, which had been established shortly before. He immediately pressed for the spire to be reconstructed. According to Magyar, sufficient money has recently become available thanks to foreign benefactors.

The Resurrection Of The Russian Church

When Serge Schmemann arrived in Moscow in 1980 as the bureau chief for The New York Times, the Russian Orthodox Church was in dismal shape. Since then, he says, the path of the church has followed the fate of the country.

In April's issue of National Geographic magazine, Schmemann examines the return of the church in Russian society. Under communism, the church had barely been allowed to function.