The Ecumenical Patriarch departed for his birthplace
14. August 2019 - 11:06
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by Great Ecclesiarch Benjamin, Patriarchal Hierodeacon Aetios Nikiforos, Monk Ezekiel of the monastery of St. George Koudounas on Princes’ islands and Panagiotis Grafiadelis of the Patriarchate Secretaries departed at Tuesday noon, August 13, for his hometown in Imbros, to officiate at the Divine Liturgy and to attend to other religious and cultural events, for the celebration of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. The Ecumenical Patriarch will return to Constantinople on Friday, August 16.
Festive procession with relics of St. Spyridon held on Corfu in honor of defeat of Turks
14. August 2019 - 11:03
A great annual tradition was again honored on the Greek island of Corfu on Sunday, in celebration of a miracle worked by the island’s patron saint more than 300 years ago.
The Divine Liturgy in honor of St. Spyridon was celebrated in the morning, followed by a procession throughout the old city of Kerkyra with his holy relics. The holy march was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxos, and the Diapontian Islands, together with five other metropolitans from the Church of Greece, reports Romfea.
Memory of Saint Irene the Empress
13. August 2019 - 14:10
Today, our Church commemorates the Holy Irene the Empress, later Nun Xeni. Saint Irene lived in the 12th century AD. and had various virtues. This was noticed by Emperor Alexios Komnenos and so he married her with his son John, so called Good-Ioannis, because of his many gifts. The virtuous Empress Irene spent generously on charities. She took advantage of the opportunities she had and built nursing homes and hostels, and left large sums of money for their safe and comfortable maintenance. But then she experienced great tribulations. Her husband died in an expedition to Syria in 1143 AD. Later, the same thing happened to both of her four children. Then Irene wanted to find relief in her sorrows in solitary life.
Thus, with the consent of the king’s son Manuel, she withdrew to the monastery of Pantocrator, where she became a nun, renamed Xeni. There she found her death and was buried with as much simplicity as she wished. Shortly before she died she was saying that “Queen Irene had died long ago”, and only Xeni remained.
International Conference on the Theological Legacy of Archpriest George Florovsky
13. August 2019 - 12:37
The Ecumenical Patriarchate is organizing an International Conference in Istanbul, titled “The theological legacy of Archpriest George Florovsky,” Sept. 1-3, 2019, on the 40-year anniversary of his passing. His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will inaugurate the International Conference which will be attended by hierarchs, clergy, distinguished university professors and theologians from universities from around the world.
Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America celebrates commemoration day of St. Herman of Alaska
12. August 2019 - 14:11
On 9 August 2019, commemoration day of St. Herman of Alaska was celebrated at St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church in-the-Fields, the Representation of the Orthodox Church in America to Moscow Patriarchate.
Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey, OCA, and Bishop Dionisy of Voskresensk, first Patriarchal vicar for Moscow, ROC, officiated.
