Orthodox worshippers flock to Famagusta
23. April 2014 - 9:31
Thousands of Greek Cypriots, most refugees, flocked to the Ayios Giorgos Exorinos church in Famagusta where they attended a Good Friday service at their historical place of worship for the first time in decades. The service, the first since 1957 at the church in the medieval town, should send a message of hope and reunification, said leaders of both major parties AKEL and DISY on their way to the thronged church and its courtyard.
Patriarch John X and Christian Prelates visit Christian Town of Maaloula
23. April 2014 - 9:28
Patriarch John X of Antioch visited the Christian Town of Maaloula which has been recaptured by the Syrian government forces after driving rebels and terrorist. Several Christian leaders namely Jean Dionysius Yuhanon Kawaq (Director of the Patriarchal Office of the Syrian Orthodox Church), Patriarch Gregory Laham of Melkhite Greek Catholic Church several Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Islamic leaders joined Patriarch John X on the visit to Maaloula. Syrian army officers and other delegates were also present for the occasion.
Belfries to be erected on Bright Week in Moscow on sites of the churches demolished in the 20th century
14. April 2014 - 13:58
Throughout Bright week, Paschal (Easter) celebrations will take place in Moscow, organized with participation of the city administration.
Pedestrian areas, central squares and parks will become the main sites for festivities, reports Patriarchia.ru. The Paschal festival will open on the night before Pascha Sunday. Trade fairs will be held till 3 AM, and films dedicated to Pascha will be shown from large screens.
American Getty Museum to return 12th century Byzantine New Testament manuscript to Mt. Athos
14. April 2014 - 13:52
The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles has announced that it will return the 12th century New Testament manuscript with invaluable miniatures depicting scenes from the Gospel stories to the Athonite Dionysiou Monastery, reports Romfea.
The museum acquired this manuscript—a masterpiece of the Byzantine arts—in 1983 as a part of a larger collection. However, as the museum has informed, recent research conducted by the Greek Ministry for Culture and Sports together with the Getty Museum, indicated that the manuscript had been taken from the monastery unlawfully.
930 more children to become godchildren of the Patriarch of Georgia
14. April 2014 - 13:33
The 35th mass baptism is to take place after the Easter celebrations, reports Blagovest-info with the reference to Georgianpress.ru.
As the Lazarus foundation has explained, 930 more children will become new godchildren of the Georgian Patriarch. The application period for those parents who have children to baptize has closed; however, the specific date of baptism has not yet been fixed.
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II has 19,744 godchildren. They are the children born third and afterward of couples married in the church.
