Free Access to the Site of Christ's Baptism Opened
14. July 2011 - 13:31
The Israeli authorities have opened free access to for tourists and pilgrims to the place on the Jordan River at Kasr Al-Yahud, a site sacred to Christians all over the world, where, according to the Gospels, our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized.
Previously, special permission and agreements were required from the military in order to visit the site of Christ's baptism. This will no longer be necessary.
Georgian students restore monasteries
26. July 2011 - 14:50
On the initiative of the students of the Georgian Technical University, six construction teams which consist of the students this summer will participate in a restoration of ancient monasteries of the Georgian Church: Lasuriashi,Lasuriashi, Tsageri, Abastumani, Tetritskaro and Manglisi. The sponsor is the Georgian State University.
New saint of the Georgian Church
26. July 2011 - 14:20
The Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church canonized Catholicos Patriarch Anthony II of Georgia. The date of his prayerful remembrance will be December 21 (January 3 according to Julian Calendar). Patriarch Anthony (Bagrationi 1762-1827) finished the Seminary in Tbilisi where he also became a monk 1782. In the presence of the Russian empress Catherine II, in 1784 in Tsarskoye Selo he was chirotonized as the Bishop of Ninotsmindski and in 1788 after the death of Catholicos-Patriarch Anthony I of All Georgia, he was elected as the new Patriarch when he was 25. He was buried in the Annunciation Church in Nizhny Novgorod. (
270th Anniversary of the discovery of Russian America marked in Moscow
19. July 2011 - 12:46
On Friday, July 15, 2011, by invitation of the Moscow Historical Enlightenment Society “Russian America,” Archimandrite Zacchaeus, Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate, participated in events held in honor of the 270th Anniversary of the discovery of Russian America (Alaska) by Navigator-Explorers V.I. Bering and A.I. Chirikov.
Jubilee of the St. Basil's Cathedral
12. July 2011 - 14:56
On this day, 1561, the construction of the the Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, known also as the cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed was finished. The Cathedral, built on the order of tzar Ivan the Terrible, was a witness of many great historical changes in Russia and remained a symbol of the Russian capital. 450 years agon, on this day the St. Basil's Cathedral was consecrated, erected on the order of tzar Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. According to the legend, tzar ordered to dig out eyes of the constructors of the cathedral, Borma and Postnik, so they could never build such a beautiful temple.
