Orthodox Churches

First Liturgy in 500 years celebrated near Crimean cave church

On the second Sunday of Great Lent, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the site of an ancient Crimean cave monastery for the first time in 500 years, reports the Diocese of Simferopol and Crimea.  

Moscow authorities announce competition for repair of Christ the Savior Cathedral

Construction work will soon be underway on Moscow’s iconic Christ the Savior Cathedral. A competition for reconstruction work on the cathedral has been announced. City authorities are taking bids to perform contracting work on the repair of the church’s stylobate and balustrade, reports RIA-Novosti.

Holy Trinity Monastery will mark the tenth anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Laurus

On Friday, March 16, 2018, the tenth anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory, Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, will prayerfully mark the date with Divine Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts followed by a pannikhida at the crypt of the former Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan will lead the services. The greeting of the hierarch will take place at 11 am at the monastery church.

A new standard over the crypt of Princess Alice Battenberg is consecrated

On February 10, 2018, Cheesefare Saturday, following a funerary Liturgy at the "Royal" Church of Gethsemane Convent in Jerusalem, a new standard was consecrated. It was donated by His Highness Prince Charles of Wales to be placed over the crypt of his grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg. His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Rybinsk and Danilovsk performed the ceremony; also present were His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and His Grace Bishop Longin of New-Gracanica and Mid-western America of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and a large gathering of worshipers.

Moscow Patriarchate given use of church in 6th century Swiss monastery for 20 years

In a recently concluded deal, the Korsun Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church has been given use of a church in the ancient Monastery of the Holy Martyr Maurice for a period of 20 years, reports the Korsun Diocese. The Territorial Abbey of the Holy Martyr Maurice, who suffered at the end of the 3rd century together with the Roman Theban Legion he commanded during the persecutions of Emperor Maximian, is the oldest continually functioning monastery of Western Europe, founded in 515.

35 children baptized at Kenya orphanage

A joyous mass Baptism was recently celebrated at the St. Irene Orthodox Mission and Orphanage in central Kenya, reports Fr. Constantinos Eliud.

The sacrament of holy Baptism was celebrated for 35 children of the orphanage on February 18, after which they all partook of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Fr. Constantinos reports that this was the first such mass Baptism in St. Irene’s history. There are now more than 60 baptized children at the orphanage.