Orthodox Churches

10th anniversary of consecration of Russian church in Havana celebrated in Cuba

On 1-6 November 2018, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Archbishop Antony of Vienna and Budapest, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administration for Institutions Abroad, visited Cuba. The visit was timed to the celebrations marking the 10^th anniversary of consecration of the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Havana. The archpastor was accompanied by Deacon Sergy Kalashnikov, a staff member of the Administration for Institutions Abroad.

Three Ukrainian churches vandalized

Provocative graffiti appeared around three Ukrainian Orthodox churches in Lvov over the weekend, accusing the clergy and faithful of the canonical Church of being agents of the Russian government, reports the Ukrainian site Capital.

As the site reports, the Lvov city branch of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists “gleefully” reported the news on their Facebook page, calling the parishes of the canonical Church “so-called ‘churches’” and referring to the perpetrators as “patriots.”

Statement on the Recent Attack in Thousand Oaks, California

Deeply saddened and profoundly concerned, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America condemns the heinous and murderous shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California.

Regrettably, it has become all too common for peace to be broken by bloodshed. Nearly one year ago, after the horrific shooting in Las Vegas, we stated, “we witness one more egregious act of hatred and terror. Unfortunately, such sights have become all too familiar in our society; they are the antithesis of love and the worst example for our children of what mankind can be. We are called to rise up in witness of a love that conquers fear and hatred, and to bear witness before society and all civil authorities of the need to eliminate violence.” We are distraught that today the opposite is manifest, and, in this case, even some of the same people were re-victimized.

Divine Liturgy at the Chapel of the Forty Martyrs

On Tuesday October 24/November 6, 2018, one day after the commemoration of St. James the Brother of God and First Hierarch of Jerusalem, there was Vespers and the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Chapel of the Forty Martyrs, which is adjacent to St. James Cathedral and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The services were officiated by the Most Reverend Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, with Hieromonks and Deacons as co-celebrants.

The Feast of St. James the Brother of God at the Patriarchate

On Monday, October 23/ November 5, 2018, the Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of St. James the Brother of God at the Cathedral bearing his name, which lies between the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood Headquarters and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and also serves as an internal passage between them.

Icons stolen from two Ukrainian churches

Two more churches of the canonical Orthodox Church were robbed in the past few days. Three ancient icons, money, and jewelry were stolen from one church and nine icons from the other.