Orthodox Churches

Ecumenical Patriarchate elects Metropolitan of Ancyra for first time since 1922

The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected three new metropolitans at its session Tuesday, including the election of a Metropolitan of Ancyra for the first time since 1922. The Metropolis of Ancyra was a metropolitan see of Galatia Prima. It survived the Seljuk Turkish conquest at the end of the 11th century, and remained active until the end of the Ottoman Empire and the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923. The last bishop of Ancyra was His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine (1922-1934), who resided in Istanbul following the population exchange. 

No abortions in Ryazan Province for one week

Hospitals of the Ryazan Province are not performing any abortions during the week of July 9 to 15, reports the Regional Ministry of Health of Ryazan.

The local medical organizations have joined the “Give Me Life!” campaign, and during this time, psychologists and gynecologists will hold sessions with patients to educate them about reproductive health and to promote motherhood and childhood.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople

On 9 July 2018, at his working residence in Chisty Lane in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met with members of a delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople – Metropolitans Emmanuel of France and Bartholomew of Smyrna.

Representing the Russian Orthodox Church at the meeting were also Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman.

Antiochian House of Studies awarded preliminary accreditation

The Antiochian House of Studies (AHOS) has received a Certificate of Associate Membership in the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and Canada, reports the site of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

ATS is an organization of Christian and Jewish seminaries and other graduates schools of theology, with more than 270 member institutions. The ATS Commission on Accrediting provides graduate schools with accreditation.

Metropolitan Hilarion: Patriarch Bartholomew has very clearly stated that there will be no legitimation of the schism

During his stay in Athens, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, gave in interview to the Greek Romfea new agency.

 –  Your Eminence, in these days you are visiting Greece. What problem will be discussed at your meeting with the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church?

20 children baptized in Guatemalan village

Hundreds of thousands of Guatemalans have been embracing the Orthodox faith over the past decade. 500,000 were received into the Ecumenical Patriarchate in January 2010, and more individuals and entire communities have been entering the holy Orthodox Church since then.