Serbian Patriarch visits Mount Athos
21. October 2014 - 14:44
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irenaeus arrived to Mt. Athos on 20 October 2014.
Since Patriarch Paul as the primate of the Serbian Church did not visit Mount Athos, and that Patriarch German visited Mt. Athos in 1978, this is the first visit of the Serbian Patriarch to Mt. Athos after 35 years. According to the Athonite laws all primates of the Local Orthodox Churches when they enter the ground of Mount Athos they should visit its seat –capital town of Karyes. Patriarch Irenaeus was welcomed by protos – administrator of Mount Athos fathr Symeon from the holy monastery of Dionysiou (one-year mandate was given to representatives of the five Athonite monasteries: Saint Lavra, Saint Paul, Hilandar, Vatopedi and Dionysiou).
Nearly half the churches of Northern Russia may disappear in the near future
20. October 2014 - 15:11
The leader of the “Common cause” (“Obshcheye delo”) project for the restoration of the Russian North’s wooden churches, Priest Alexei Yakovlev, has reported that around 45% of the wooden churches of the Russian North are doomed to destruction, reports Interfax-Religion.
“In 15-20 years 45% of these churches will no longer exist,” he said on Thursday, speaking at the “Religion and the World” II international forum in Moscow.
Ground blessing for Saint Nicholas at WTC, a place of prayer and peace, a place of hope and love
20. October 2014 - 15:01
More than 2,000 people gathered yesterday Oct. 18, 2014 at 130 Liberty Street, the new site for Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center, for the historic event of the Blessing of the Ground and the symbolic “laying of the corner stone.”
The small and humble church of Saint Nicholas was the only house of worship destroyed in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The new Greek Orthodox Saint Nicholas National Shrine Church, designed by world-renowned Architect Santiago Calatrava, is expected to begin construction this year and to be completed within 24 months.
300 Russian servicemen receive baptism in the field
15. October 2014 - 9:44
In the South military district over 300 conscript soldiers from the military formations and units stationed in the Volgograd region, have received Holy Baptism in the river Karpovka, reports Interfax-Religion.
“The Sacrament of Baptism was performed by chaplains of the military units of the Volgograd garrison during the summer training period at the “Trudboi” firing range,” reports the district’s press service.
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visits little Haghia Sophia
14. October 2014 - 11:47
On Wednesday, October 8, 2014, the feast of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, His All-Holiness visited the former Byzantine Church dedicated to the memory of these saints. The current building’s construction is traced back to the Roman Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora. In 1497, it was converted to a mosque and currently bears the name of Küçük Ayasofya Camii, that is, Little Haghia Sophia.
