Seminary on the island of Halki may be restored in exchange for opening of a mosque in Thessaloniki
13. May 2015 - 11:11
The Orthodox seminary on the island of Halki (Turkey) may be restored in exchange for opening of a mosque in Thessaloniki, Greece. This condition was laid down by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to Blagovest-info, this information was spread by the Hürriyet Turkish newspaper with the reference to editor-in-chief of one history journal who had discussed the matter with Erdogan in person. The Turkish President said that he was ready to give his consent on reopening of the Orthodox seminary on Halki; however, he added, Greece was not intending to open mosques on its territory at all. Later Metin Kulunk, Member of the Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, specified that the President meant the Fethiye Cami Mosque in Athens, and not a mosque in Thessaloniki.
Construction of Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Paldiski (Estonia) is nearly completed
13. May 2015 - 9:49
On June 13, 2015, a new Orthodox Church in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh will be solemnly opened in Paldiski, Estonia. The temple is constructed to a design by the prominent Russian architect Viktor Shadrin and meets all the requirements of wooden architecture, reports Blagovest-info.
The church will be consecrated by Metropolitan Cornelius of Tallin and All Estonia.
The new temple has been built for a relatively short time, only for two years, through the efforts of local sponsors, enabling those responsible for its construction to work without delays and to make prompt decisions, reports Delfi.
Israel returns an ancient church to the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
13. May 2015 - 9:47
Despite all the bureaucratic impediments arranged by the executive authority of the state of Israel, the process of return of the Church property in the Holy Land has recommenced, reports the Linga portal with the reference to the press service of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Ahead of the feast-day of Greatmartyr George the Victory-Bearer (May 6) the Israeli authorities returned the church that once had been built in honor of the Greatmartyr of Lydda to the Orthodox Church.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine takes part in celebrations marking 1150th anniversary of the Baptism of Bulgaria
8. May 2015 - 15:07
On 2 May 2015, the commemoration day of the Holy Prince Boris (in Holy Baptism Michael), Equal-to-the-Apostles, the celebrations marking the 1150th anniversary of the Baptism of Bulgaria began in the city of Pliska, old capital of the Bulgarian Kingdom.
On that day His Holiness Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the open air, at the ruins of an ancient basilica, the place of the baptism of the Holy Tsar Boris (in Holy Baptism Michael). Concelebrating with the Patriarch were members of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches.
At the invitation of the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine took part in the celebrations.
Cross-monument is blessed in the Orthodox monastery in Gotschendorf on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory
8. May 2015 - 15:06
On 6 May 2015, the dedication day of the Monastery of St. George in Gotschendorf, Germany, Archbishop Feofan of Berlin and Germany officiated at the Divine Liturgy in concelebration with Archbishop Alexander of Baku and Azerbaijan.
This was the first Liturgy celebrated in the Church of St. George the Victorious which is being constructed in the territory of the Monastery. Over one hundred guests from different countries have arrived to attend the feast day. The Office of the Blessing of Bells was celebrated after the Liturgy.
