Orthodox Churches

Athonite monks celebrate Divine Liturgy in Antarctica for first time, erect memorial cross

Athonite monks celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the eastern side of the continent of Antarctica for the first time ever on January 30, reports The Union of Orthodox Journalists. Footage of the monks’ visit was shot, and a video has been posted on the YouTube channel of the Information Portal of Holy Mt. Athos.

Elder Nektarios (Vitalis), 89, reposes in the Lord

The Holy Metropolis of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki of the Orthodox Church in Greece has announced that Elder Nektarios (Vitalis), the spiritual father of the Holy Monastery of St. Athanasius in Kouvaras, has reposed in the Lord, reports vimaortodoxias.gr.

“Today, Thursday, February 3, 2018, at 5:30 AM, the versatile elder and spiritual father of our metropolis, Nektarios Vitalis, the elder of St. Athanasius Monastery in Kouvaras, drew his last breath,” the message reads.

Abp. Demetrios to be honored by Church of Cyprus for 50 years of episcopacy

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America will travel to Cyprus tomorrow, where he will be honored for his 50 years of episcopal ministry.

The primate of the Greek Church in America was personally invited by His Eminence Archbishop Chrysostomos, the primate of the Church of Cyprus. He will arrive at Larnaca Airport tomorrow evening, accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Savvas of Pittsburgh, Deacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos, and the President of the Federation of Cypriot Organizations of America. Kyriakos Papastylianos.

Moldovan Church dedicates 2018 to defender of Orthodoxy St. Stephen the Great

On February 2, the solemn opening of the Year of St. Stephen the Great, dedicated to the defender of Orthodoxy and right-believing 15th-century prince of Moldova, was held in the Moldovan capital of Chișinău. Metropolitan Vladimir of Chișinău and All Moldova took part in the event, celebrating a moleben before an icon of the saint. St. Stephen III the Great (1429-1504) was the prince and defender of the Orthodox faith and one of the most prominent rulers of the Moldavian Principality, ruling for 47 years. He was canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1992.

The First Meeting of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia Centenary Working Group

In preparation for the commencement of the work of the Synodal Commission for the organization and celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Russian Church Abroad, Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America, Chair of the Commission, held a preliminary working meeting at the Synod of Bishops Building in New York on January 23, 2018. Present at the meeting were Archpriest Serafim Gan, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops, Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur, Professor Nicholas Ganson and Archpriest Gregory Joyce, Secretary of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America.

New Greek Metropolitan of Chicago elected: Archim. Nathaniel Symeonides

The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate unanimously elected Archimandrite Nathanael Symeonides to the vacant Chicago See earlier this morning, Romfea reports.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America falls under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Fr. Nathanel was one of 40 eligible candidates submitted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Chicago See has been vacant since His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago fell asleep in the Lord on June 2 at the age of 89.