Byzantine period church exposed in Moshav Nes-Harim

A church that dates to the Byzantine period which is paved with breathtakingly beautiful mosaics and a dedicatory inscription was exposed in an archaeological excavation the Israel Antiquities Authority is conducting near Moshav Nes-Harim, 5 kilometers east of Bet Shemesh (at the site of Horvat A-Diri), in the wake of plans to enlarge the moshav. According to archaeologist Daniel Ein Mor, director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The site was surrounded by a small forest of oak trees and is covered with farming terraces that were cultivated by the residents of Nes-Harim. Prior to the excavation we discerned unusually large quantities of pottery sherds from the Byzantine period and thousands of mosaic tesserae that were scattered across the surface level."

Explanation of basic positions of traditional Churches and religious communities on anti-discrimination Bill

An  essence  of an initiative of the traditional Churches and religious communities is that the anti-discrimination Bill adjusts to the standards of the acts of the Council of Europe, the European Union and developed democracies. 

Traditional Churches and religious communities again, welcome the willingness of the Government to perfect the anti-discrimination Bill , which is not simple under the pressure of libels and disinformation about the essence of the problem.

We support every effort to restrain discrimination, so we support and help bringing the proper act as soon as possible.

Patriarch Kirill to visit local Orthodox Churches in accordance with the service list of Primates

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill plans to pay a fraternal call on local Orthodox Churches in capacity of newly elected Head of the Church in accordance with an age-long tradition. He expressed his wish Tuesday night at the annual reception held by the Greek Embassy on the occasion of Orthodoxy Sunday. Patriarch mentioned that the order of his visits would be identified in accordance with the diptych, the service list containing the names of primates of Orthodox Churches.

Russian Church considers biased the Strasbourg Court ruling on the case of Bulgarian schismatics

The Moscow Patriarchate considers biased the European Court of Human Rights ruling on the case of Bulgarian schismatics and assures full support to the canonic Church of Bulgaria. "It must be noted that the Court's acceptance of the complaint from the so-called "Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church" means implied support of its right to speak on behalf of the canonic Bulgarian Orthodox Church. This only testifies that the court rules in favour of one party in this internal church dispute", Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria said addressing the All-Orthodox Meeting called in Sofia to discuss the above court ruling.

Former captain of Ukrainian football team ordained deacon

Former captain of the Chernomorets Odessa football club has become a deacon of the Russian Orthodox Church. Kirlik's career in football finished last summer, when Chernomorets refused to prolong his contract. Before it, Kirlik had played for Metallist, Kremen, Niva and Arsenal clubs.

Pan-Orthodox Celebration Sunday of Orthodoxy in Los Angeles

The celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy was conceletrated this year by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco,, His Grace Bishop Joseph of the Antiochian Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, His Grace Bishop Maxim of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America, together with Deans, Clergy and members of their respective flocks. As one of the Hierarchs on the West Coast, His Grace Bishop Benjamin of the Diocese of the West, Orthodox Church of America had planned to attend. At the last moment however, His Grace was unable to join the Hierarchs for this Celebration.