Russian Orthodox Church commemorates slain tsar family

The Russian Orthodox Church is holding services and processions across the country on Wednesday and Thursday to commemorate the killing of the last Russian tsar and his family 90 years ago. Tsar Nickolas II, his wife, their four daughters and son, and several servants, were shot dead by the Bolsheviks in a basement in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg in the early hours of July 17, 1918. The Romanovs were canonized in 2000. Russia's Investigation Committee marked the anniversary by confirming Wednesday that the bone fragments exhumed near Yekaterinburg last July belong to the emperor's son and heir, and one of his four daughters.

Bishop to represent Russian Orthodox Church in Italy

Italy has begun to register the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia said in the meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in Moscow. "Following the consultations with the Roman Catholic Church, we have started the process of registration of the Russian Orthodox Church in Italy to be represented by a bishop," he said.

Japanese Orthodox first hierarch urges to active preaching among Japanese

Metropolitan Daniel of Tokyo and All Japan is concerned with Orthodox mission among Japanese and urged to work harder in this field.

When speaking at the recent Japanese Autonomous Church Council in Tokyo, the metropolitan said that since its founder St. Nikolay (Kasatkin) decease in 1912, it hadn't grown in number and it made him "feel ashamed."

European court allowed recourse to appeal for the Orthodox patriarch in Constantinople

The European Supreme Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg has allowed recourse to appeal for the Ecumenical Patriarchate against the Turkish States illegal occupation of the Orphanage on the prince Buyukada islands, in Marmara Sea, claiming ownership.

It is the world's largest wooden structure and though it has lain completely abandoned since 1962, its majesty still dominates the panorama of the Island. It was built in 1898 by a French company and was destined for the use of a luxury hotel and casino, but the then Sultan Abdulhamid II did not grant the licence. It was then bought over by the Turkish banker of Greek origins Zafiris, who donated it to the Ecumenical Patriarchate to transform it into an Orthodox orphanage and school. The donation received the Sultan's blessing who sanctioned the move by living formal ownership to the Patriarchate in a donation act of 150 gold lires for charity.

Georgian Orthodox Church marking Mtskhetoba-Svetitskhovloba

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilis Ilia II has served Holy Liturgy dedicated to celebration of the Mtskhetoba-Svetitskhovloba [the Twelve Apostles' Day] at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta.

While delivering His Sunday Preachment Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia asked for protection of Georgia to the Twelve Apostles.

Orthodox Church alarmed by Anglicans' decision to ordain women

The Moscow Patriarchate has expressed concern about the Anglican Synod's decision to ordain women. "This decision is of course painful in the inter-Christian dialogue, as it is further alienating the Anglican community from the Apostolic tradition," Priest Igor Vyzhanov, secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, said in an interview with Interfax-Religion on Tuesday.