Greek Orthodox Archdiocese issues statement on the rebuilding of NYC's St. Nicholas Church

The growing controversy over the construction of a mosque in close proximity to Ground Zero has raised a new awareness of the plight of the faithful of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which was completely destroyed when World Trade Center Tower Two collapsed on it on 9/11. On Wednesday, August 18, 2010, Fox News aired a special report on the church, transforming what primarily had been a local/regional issue into a national one. The following day, Fox reported that Port Authority officials alleged that the issue was "dead."

Russian Orthodox Church collects over 39 million roubles in aid to victims of wildfires

By August 20, the amount of 39 052 000 roubles, 26 254 US dollars and 5 451 euros has come to the accounts of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service by August 18, the Miloserdie.ru has reported.

The present needs are as follows:
- oxygen cylinders (medical) and 240-litre plastic bags
- foodstuffs: canned meat and fish, tinned stewed meat, cereals, macaroni, milk and drinking water
- fire fighting appliances: 51-mm fire hoses and adapter connectors for pumps, petrol-powered pumps; 110×51-triplex valves, special clothes, axes, tarpaulin gauntlets, petrol-powered saws, respirators, special footwear with a thick sole, backpack fire-extinguishers.
- clothes and other things: (please bring only new clothes with labels) bed linen, underwear, socks for men and women, mattresses, beds, refrigerators, waffle-cloth towels, women's large-size nightgowns, large-size and light dressing gowns, field showers, deposable tableware, tarpaulin sleeping bags, tarpaulin tents.

Topic of Orthodoxy in China should be lifted up to level of the whole church

Rector of Sts Peter and Paul Parish in Hong Kong Archpriest Dionisy Pozdnyayev is convinced that the whole Moscow Patriarchate should consider the problems of Orthodoxy in China. "It's extremely important, we have to spare no effort. The whole Church should consider the question: on one side, it involves bordering dioceses, on the other, theological educational establishments, and, on the third, the Department for External Church Relations. In fact, each synodal department can do something in this direction. The topic of Orthodoxy in China should be lifted up to the level of the whole church," Fr. Dionisy told Interfax-Religion.

Patriarch Irinej serves in Rajinovac monastery

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch served yesterday, on a feast day of Saint Matthias the Apostle and Saint Anthony the Martyr, the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the monastery of the Birth of Holt Theotokos in Rajinovac. His Grace Vicar Bishop Atanasije of Hvosno served the Divine Liturgy in the Belgrade church of St. Marko.

Transfiguration of Our Lord in Krka Monastery

By the tradition the feast day of the Transfiguration of Our Lord also this year was formally celebrated in the monastery of Krka. The celebration was commenced with a formal vesper service, which was served by His Grace Bishop Fotije of Dalmatia. He was concelebrated by priests and monks of the Diocese of Dalmatia.

Tadashi Nagai – honorary citizen of Belgrade

With the blessing of His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, His Grace Vicar Bishop Atanasije of Hvosno attended today a celebration in the Belgrade City Hall where the former Ambassador of Japan in Serbian Mr. Tadashi Nagai presented with Belgrade's most prestigious award - the title of honorary citizen.