The Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Romania restore Ecclesiastical communion between them

On Monday, the 21^st of January/3^rd of February 2014, the “Patriarchal decision on the agreement and restoration of the ecclesiastical communion” between the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Romania was completed and sealed.

The decision had been interrupted because of the construction, on behalf of the Patriarchate of Romania, of a Church in Jericho without the approval of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The aforementioned agreement was prepared during the year 2013 over meetings between delegations of the two Patriarchates in Jerusalem, upon the peacemaking mediation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Common Appeal on Syria by Patriarch John X of Antioch and all the East and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

Ecumenical Patriarch visits the Metropolis of France

His All-Holiness traveled to Paris for a formal pastoral visit to the Metropolis of France from January 27-31, 2014.

On Tuesday, January 28, the Ecumenical Patriarch delivered a lecture on human rights and religious freedom at the Academy of Moral and Political Science. Other events organized during the visit include the conferral of an honorary doctorate on His All-Holiness by the Institut Catholique in Paris, where Patriarch Bartholomew will speak on the ecological activities and vision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. His All-Holiness also met with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Laurent Fabius, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova.

Enthronement of Metropolitan Nikodimos of Memphis

On Friday, 10th January 2014, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa conducted the enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan of Memphis, in the beautiful Cathedal of the Theotokos in Heliopolis in Cairo.

Participating in the ceremony of enthronement of His Eminence were His Eminence Gabriel Metropolitan of Leontopolis Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, His Grace Niphon, Bishop of Babylonia Hegumen of the Holy Monastery of St George in Old Cairo, the Exarch of the Church of Russia Fr. Viktor Kulaga, Clergy of the Throne as well as Clergy from Sinai and Greece. Also present were His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece to Cairo, Mr. Ch. Lazaris, the Honorable Consuls General of Greece and Cyprus, Messrs. I Hatzantonakis and F. Fotiou, the Vice Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Cairo Mr. K. Flevotomas, the Chairman of the Arabic Speaking Community of Cairo Mr. R. Hosni, the Chairman of the Cypriot Brotherhood Mr. A. Mavromatis, the Chairman of the Greek Orthodox Club of Arabic Speakers of Heliopolis Mr. Z. Seraphim, the Chairlady of the Philanthropic Society St Mary of Egypt and Lady of the Patriarchate Mrs. S. Kyriazis who, together with her husband Mr. K. Kyriazis funded the entire renovation of the Cathedral of the Metropolis, many faithful from the community as well as visitors from Greece.

Common Appeal on Syria by Patriarch John X of Antioch and all the East and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

On 26 January 2014, His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Great Antioch and All the East and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia made a joint statement addressed to the participants in the Geneva II International Conference on Syria. Taking part in the Conference are representatives of the opposing parties and the world community. The text of the Statement is given below.

We, Primates of fraternal Orthodox Churches, the Church of Antioch and the Russian Church, met in Moscow in order to once again bear witness to love in Christ, the love which our Churches have preserved intact through centuries and which is addressed to all people regardless their nationality, religion or political views.

Today our common prayers go to the long-suffering Syrian people undergoing unprecedented ordeals. The land, in which Muslims and Christians have lived together for centuries, has been filled with tears of those who are lamenting the death of their relatives and friends and who have beendriven away from their homes. The calamity that has come to the oncepeaceful landspares neither old peoplenor children, neither Muslims nor Christians. No heart can remain indifferent to the horrible tragedy in Syria.

Celebration of Saint Sava at Saint Sava Memorial Cathedral on Vracar

Let us sing with love
To Saint Sava!

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch celebrated today, on Saint Sava Day, the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy at Saint Sava Memorial Cathedral on Vracar. The clergy of the Archbishopric of Belgrade-Karlovac concelebrated, but also guests from Russia, Greece, as well other dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church.