Patriarch Kirill consecrates major cathedral in Russia’s Far East

On Sunday, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill consecrated the Trinity Cathedral in the Far Eastern city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It took almost ten years to build what is now one of the Kamchatka Peninsula's largest cathedrals. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the five-cupola Trinity Cathedral can simultaneously accommodate at least 1,000 believers. During the Sunday ceremony, Patriarch Kirill expressed hope that the Cathedral will contribute considerably to the Russian Orthodox Church's clout in the region.

Orthodox Sacred Music Festival taking new heights

Estonia is known for its long tradition of big music and song festivals. An international festival of Orthodox sacred music, "Credo," has taken place in Estonia since 1994 and has, since then, been an important event of musical life every September. The festival's goal is the preservation, development and popularization of Orthodox musical culture. Masterly performances, a wide variety of concert programs and a considerable increase in the interest in Orthodox culture among the contemporary world, give promise of a great European-scale event.

230 years of the church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Zemun

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch served the Divine Liturgy on the feast day the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Zemun.

Accreditation of media representatives for the solemn act of inauguration of Serbian Patriarch Irinej

On the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch which will be held on Sunday, October 3, 2010 at the great lavra of the Patriarchate of Pec, the historic seat of the Serbian patriarchs, the Organization committee invites interested media to send to e-mail address info@spc.rs no later than Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 15:00 the name of a journalist, who will be provided with the transportation by the Serbian Orthodox Church from Belgrade to Pec and a convinient place in the monastery courtyard. 

Egyptian security forces storm the Monastery of St Macarius, three monks badly Injured

Hundreds of Egyptian security forces, backed by a large number of cars and armoured vehicles, attacked the monastery of St Macarius of Alexandria in Wadi Rayan, Fayoum Province, 150 kilometres south of Cairo. The action began at 8 pm on 7 September, but news about it only filtered recently. About 300 agents took part in the assault, using tear gas, batons and stones against monks, three of whom were seriously wounded.

According to the AINA news agency, security forces prevented the delivery of limestone bricks for the construction of cells for the monks inside the ancient Monastery. They also tried to seize the bricks already delivered but the monks sat on them, refusing to move.

Patriarch Irinej meets with French ambassador Terral

His Holiness Irienj, Serbian Patriarch in a presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and Vicar Bishop Atanasije of Hvosno received today in the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade in a farewell visit His Excellency Jean-Francois Terral, the Ambassador of France.