The Dialogue of Civilizations forum in Greece to have over 400 participants

More than 400 politicians, public dignitaries, representatives of religious circles and creative intellectuals, journalists will gather from the 9th to the 13th of October this year on the Greek Island of Rhodes to participate in the VI annual session of the World Public Forum Dialogue of Civilizations.

The main topic for discussion is as follows: "The dialogue community as a model of contemporary development." In one way or another, this subject will come up in the reports presented by participants in the discussions within the framework of nine panels and roundtables of the Forum: religious, political, economics, legal, education and migration.

Patriarch Lauds Catholic Magazine in Russian

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II says he is very pleased with the publication of a Russian edition of the Catholic magazine "30 Days."

In a letter to its director, former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said he is "very happy to see that this authoritative monthly, published in seven languages, now also has a Russian edition."

SVS Press title Father Arseny reaches thousands of U.S. prisoners

Through one of its most endearing and best-selling titles, Father Arseny: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father 1893-1973, St Vladimir's Seminary Press (SVS Press) will reach more than 15,000 inmates incarcerated in U.S. prisons and offer them much needed spiritual solace and strength.

Since 2001, the press and The Human Kindness Foundation in Durham, NC have cooperated in a venture to provide prisoners with the book, which recounts the spiritual struggle of a Russian Orthodox priest in a Soviet gulag and his victory in Christ over human depravity.

Address of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Plenary Session of the European Parliament (full version)

Your Excellency Mr President of the European Parliament,
Your Excellencies, Honorable Members of the European Parliament,Distinguished Guests, Dear Friends,

First and foremost, we convey to you salutations from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, based for many many centuries in what is today Istanbul - greetings replete with esteem and respect. In particular, we express our gratitude to an old friend of ours, His Excellency Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament. We likewise express our sincerest appreciation for the extraordinary honor to address the Plenary of the European Parliament, especially on this occasion that commemorates the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a major address to the Plenary Assembly of the European Parliament

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a major address to the Plenary Assembly of the European Parliament during the formal sitting of the assembly in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday, September 24, 2008. His All Holiness was introduced by Mr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament. The Press Release of the European Parliament highlighting His All Holiness' address is given in full below, as well as a link to the address in its entirety.

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"We are all brothers and sisters", Ecumenical Patriarch tells MEPs
24-09-2007 14:21

Addressing a formal sitting of the House as part of European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, Bartholomew I, spoke of the value of the European project in promoting peace and tolerance, the importance of accepting minorities and the need for the EU to accept Turkey as a member. He also underlined his church's efforts to encourage respect for the environment.

The Sacred Relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov sent from Moscow to New York

Archbishop Demetrios of America received, on September 22, 2008, at the Archdiocese headquarters, the Holy and Sacred Relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, one of the best known Russian Orthodox Saints of the 19 th century and a popular saint in Greece.

Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk, the head of the Representation of the Patriarchate of Moscow in the United States presented to Archbishop Demetrios the relics, sent directly from Moscow and by the express wish of Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia.