John, Bishop of Caracas and South America: Nativity Epistle 2020

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Gal. 4. 4-5).

By His ineffable and inscrutable providence and love, the pre-eternal Son of God descends from heaven and, for our salvation, becomes incarnate in the womb of the most pure Virgin. Without ceasing to be perfect God, He becomes perfect man.

Syrian children receive presents from Russia on St. Nicholas commemoration day

Syrian children receive presents from Russia on St. Nicholas commemoration day
Syrian children receive presents from Russia on St. Nicholas commemoration day
Syrian children receive presents from Russia on St. Nicholas commemoration day
Syrian children receive presents from Russia on St. Nicholas commemoration day

On 19th December 2020, commemoration day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, a party for children was held at the premises of the Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch. The party was organized with the assistance of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Damascus, the All-Russia Public Organization of Veterans “Battle Brotherhood”, the Embassy of Russia in Syria, the Center for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides, and the Russian Center for Science and Culture.

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates Divine Liturgy on the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Bari

On 19th December 2020, commemoration day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, while on a working visit to Bari, Italy, officiated at the Divine Liturgy in the Basilica of St. Nicholas, on the holy relics of this saint.

Thew feast of The Conception of St. Anna in Jerusalem

Thew feast of The Conception of St. Anna in Jerusalem
Thew feast of The Conception of St. Anna in Jerusalem
Thew feast of The Conception of St. Anna in Jerusalem
Thew feast of The Conception of St. Anna in Jerusalem

On Tuesday, December 9/22, 2020, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of Saint Anna’s conception. On this feast the Church commemorates that the noble couple Joachim and Anna, being childless, entreated God to give them a child, and God granted their request, by giving them Mary. Keeping their promise to God, they offered Mary to the Temple of Solomon at her third year of age, and our Lord Jesus Christ was born from her, through the Holy Spirit.

Jerusalem: Patronal Feast in the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky

Jerusalem: Patronal Feast in the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky
Jerusalem: Patronal Feast in the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky
Jerusalem: Patronal Feast in the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky
Jerusalem: Patronal Feast in the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky

On Sunday November 23/December 6, 2020, the Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Church of St Alexander Nevsky, the house church of the “Orthodox Palestinian Society” at the Russian "Excavations."