Archbishop Hilarion to visit Vatican soon

Head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk is going on a working visit to Vatican to discuss issues connected with dialogue between the two Churches.

He told it at his meeting with Dominican Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso in Moscow.

More than 70 per cent of Russians in favour of teaching Orthodox culture in schools

Almost 70 per cent of Russians are in favour of the introduction of a course titled ‘Foundations of Orthodox culture' in the country's school curriculum, this according to a survey by Levada Center conducted in 46 regions of the Russian Federation.

Message of His All Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, on the Day of the Protection of the Environment(01.09.2009)

+ B A R T H O L O M E W
BY THE MERCY OF GOD ARCHBISHOP
OF CONSTANTINOPLE, NEW ROME AND
ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH
TO THE PLENITUDE OF THE CHURCH
GRACE AND PEACE
FROM THE CREATOR OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE
OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

As we come again to the changing of the Church year, we reflect once more on the state of God's creation. We think about the past and repent for all that we have done or failed to do for the earth's care; we look to the future and pray for wisdom to guide us in all that we think or do.

These last twelve months have been a time of great uncertainty for the whole world. The financial systems that so many people trusted to bring them the good things of life, have brought instead fear, uncertainty and poverty. Our globalised economy has meant that everyone - even the poorest who are far removed from the dealings of big business - has been affected.

Metropolitan Jonah meets with Non-Chalcedonian Orthodox Hierarchs

Recently, Metropolitan Jonah of the OCA met with hierarchs from the Non-Chalcedonian Orthodox (otherwise known as the Oriental Orthodox) communion. What does this mean for unity between the communions? Not much right now, but it is always good to see dialogue between the two.
For those who are not familiar with what happened 1600 years ago, the Orthodox Church underwent a schism that has lasted up until the present day. It was split into those who accepted the Council of Chalcedon in 451 and those who rejected it. Without getting into the all the details of the council itself, most theologians admit that the differences that split the two are non-issues now and were more linguistic in nature than theological.

Georgian Orthodox Church marks Anchiskhatoba today

Image of Christ not made by hand is the greatest sacred thing for Christianity.
Creation of the icon is directly related to Jesus Christ. When Christ lived among people Abgar ,king of Edessa (Ides) got sick. Abgarus sent a letter to Christ that if Christ manages to heal him, they would save the refugee Christians from the Hebrews in Edessa.