Orthodox Churches

85 churches built in Moscow in 8 years

Since the start of the “Program 200” project in 2010, 85 churches have been built in Moscow, with another 150 planned, program curator State Duma Deputy Vladimir Resin said, reports Interfax.

The program was originally meant to build 200 churches, so everyone in the capital would have a church within walking distance, but the program has since expanded.

Athonite Monastery of Dochariou Enthrones New Abbot

Docharious Monastery, one of the 20 ruling monasteries on Mt. Athos, celebrated the enthronement of its new abbot Archimandrite Amphilochios yesterday, December 23, reports Romfea.

Poroshenko Signs Anti-church Bill Into Law—pretext to Church Seizures

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the anti-Church bill No. 5309 into law on Saturday, December 22, reports the official site of the President of Ukraine.

Bill no. 5309, “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations’ as Regards the Names of Religious Organizations (Associations) Which are a Part of the Structure of a Religious Organization (Association), Whose Administrative Center is outside Ukraine—in the State Which, as Recognized by the Law, Committed Military Aggression against Ukraine and/or Temporarily Occupied a Part of the Territory of Ukraine,” was passed by the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian Parliament, on December 20.

Metropolis of Piraeus distributes 7,500 Christmas “parcels of love”

Thousands in need have found assistance again this year through the multifaceted social and charitable work of the Metropolis of Piraeus of the Greek Orthodox Church, reports Romfea.

His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus distributed 7,500 “parcels of love,” as they call them, to those struggling to cope with their daily difficulties, with food and other essentials for their Christmas tables.

2018 Nativity message of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania

This year in his Christmas message, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, stressed that the Nativity of the Lord is the celebration of „gifts offered to children, the elderly, orphans, the sick and lonely, but also to all our dear ones”.

The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord or Christmas is first the celebration of God’s merciful love for humans. God’s eternal Son descended from Heavens, became incarnate of the Holy Spirit and Virgin Mary, and became a Man to grant eternal life to mortals.

Ecumenical Patriarch’s 2018 Christmas Message warns about new forms of nestorianism and monophysitism

In this year’s Christmas Message, His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew warns about contemporary ‘nestorianism’ understood as secularization and scientism, and a new form of ‘monophysitism’ represented by tendencies to demonize the body and natural man, by puritanism and the syndromes of “purity,” by fruitless introverted spirituality and various mysticisms.