Orthodox Churches

84% of Georgians approve of activities of Georgian Orthodox Church

According to the most recent survey from the International Republican Institute (IRI), the Georgian Orthodox Church is still the most trusted institution in the nation.

The IRI’s poll, conducted with 1,500 Georgian citizens from April 10 to 22, shows that 84% of the population positively evaluates the activities of the Georgian Church as an institution, reports Blagovest-Info.

Monument to St. Seraphim of Sarov opened at Novo-Diveevo Monastery

A new monument to St. Seraphim of Sarov has been installed and opened on the grounds of the Novo-Diveevo Monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) in Nanuet, New York.

10,000 march in Kiev for protection of rights of children and family

Several thousands came out in Kiev on Saturday to march for the protection of the rights of children and the family under the slogan “Happy Family—Healthy Ukraine!” According to various estimates, between 7,000 and 12,000 joined in the All-Ukrainian March, reports the Union of Orthodox Journalists. The event was held for the third year in a row at the initiative of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. Processions have also been held in various other regions throughout Ukraine.

Bulgarian bishop taking a stand against crematorium

His Eminence Metropolitan Ioann of Varna of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has spoken out against the crematorium that is being built in his city. The hierarch called the groundbreaking ceremony, held on Thursday, “tragic, unfortunate, and terrible".

The site is expected to be opened in February or March of next year, the bishop notes in his address.

While the bishop says he understands that there are issues with finding new sites for cemeteries in overly-populated cities, crematoria are not the answer, he affirms, as they would represent an eradication of the people’s customs.

Other Orthodox nations, such as Greece, have grappled with the same issue.

Russian New Martyrs and Confessors exhibition opens in Rome

An exhibition detailing the historical path of the Russian Orthodox Church during the times of the atheistic persecutions of Soviets through the prism of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church has opened in the Lateran Palace in Rome.

The exhibition is timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of a truly tragic page in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church: the execution of the Holy Martyr Emperor Nicholas II and his family, as well as the beginning of the persecution of the Russian Church by the Bolsheviks.

Procession with wonderworking Kursk Root Icon to mark 400th anniversary in June

This year will mark a major milestone for the miraculous Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. The icon regularly resides in New York, but it returns to Kursk, Russia every year for the consolation of the faithful, who participate in a procession with the icon by the thousands. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the holy procession. The procession, to be held on June 8, will go from the Znamenny Monastery in Kursk to the Kursk Root-Nativity of the Mother of God Hermitage.