By mid-century the USA, China and Africa will have the most Christian population – forecast

President of the Ukrainian Association for Religious Freedom Victor Yelensky predicts that Christianity will soon completely "lose its European exclusivity". "By mid-century the ten countries with the most Christian population will include the USA, China, Brazil, Congo, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Ethiopia, and Uganda", he stated in his interview published by NG-Religii newspaper on Wednesday.

European court fines Turkey in Greek Orthodox case

The European Court of Human Rights Tuesday ruled Turkey had violated the property rights of a Greek Orthodox foundation by seizing its land and ordered the government to pay damages. Judges said Turkey had breached the European Convention on Human Rights by barring the foundation from registering its title to a church and surrounding lands on the Aegean island of Bozcaada, a statement from the court said.

Holy Synod of Romanian Orthodox Church calls alternative to biometric passports

In work session on Wednesday, 25 February 2009, the Holy Synod adopted unanimously, Case no. 638/2009 regarding the issue of new electronic passports that include biometric data:
1. 1. Take note of the letter no. 638 of 28 January 2009 Patriarch Daniel to the Ministry of Administration and Interior, which requires some clarification about the new electronic passports that include biometric data.

SCOBA Statement: The Feast of the Sunday of Orthodoxy

The Synodikon of Orthodoxy

March 8, 2009
The Feast of the Sunday of Orthodoxy

The Hierarchs of the Standing Conference
of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas

To all the Clergy and the Laity of the Holy Orthodox Churches in the Americas

We, the Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, greet you with love and blessings on the Feast of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the first Sunday of Holy and Great Lent. This year, amidst the tumult and the insecurity that seem to pervade the globe, we exhort all of you to stand firm in your Orthodox Faith in God, the Faith that has established the world, the Faith that is the bedrock of our Holy Church, the pillar and ground of truth (1 Timothy 3:15).

Alexy II’s personal diary to be published

Patriarch Alexy II was writing his diary all through his patriarchal ministry, in autumn 2009 it is going to be conveyed to the museum of Christ the Savior Cathedral and then it will be published, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing Council Archpriest Vladimir Silovyev told Interfax-Religion. "His Holiness the Patriarch's personal notes require further research as Alexy II didn't think they would be exhibited and published," the priest said.

Russian President, Patriarch meet with winners of Orthodox Unity Prize

President Dmitry Medvedev and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with the winners of the Prize of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations for 2008 in the Kremlin Patriarch's Palace on Thursday. In the middle of the working day Medvedev came to the Patriarch's Palace to personally meet with the winners - Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic, Metropolitan Christopher of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, St.Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko and representative of the Bucharest University, Archpriest Stephan Buciu.