Orthodox Churches

Metropolitan Hilarion’s book “Catechism. A Short Guide to the Orthodox Faith” is presented at the 26th International Christmas Readings

On 25 January 2018, the most noteworthy educational publications of 2016-17, which underwent expert appraisal and were approved by the Synodal Council of Religious Education and Catechization of the Russian Orthodox Church, were presented at the Church Councils Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in the framework of the 26th International Educational Christmas Readings.

Ukranian nationalists vandalize and set fire at Kiev Monastery

Representatives of the nationalistic terrorist group C-14 attacked the Monastery “of the Tithes” in Kiev yesterday. In two incidents, they vandalized and set fire to monastery property and abused those who tried to stop them.

Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood of Greater Philadelphia celebrate the Great Blessing of the Waters of the Schuylkill River

On Sunday January 21^st 2018, the Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood celebrated the Great Blessing of the Waters of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia PA.. Clergy from the Albanian, Antiochian, Georgian, Greek, OCA, Russian, Serbian, and Ukrainian parishes gathered to celebrate a unified Orthodox witness to the public. President of the Clergy Brotherhood, Fr. Nicholas Dellerman, led the clergy in the celebration. Responses were sung by the Pan-Orthodox Choir, under the direction of Dan Drobish. The celebration concluded with the casting, by the clergy, of three crosses craved from ice into the Schuylkill River, while the Choir sang the Festal Troparion “When Thou, O Lord, was baptized in the Jordan…”.

Russian bishop proposes renaming “communist” islands of northern archipelago

A bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church has proposed to rename the “communist” islands of Severnaya Zemlya for the centenary of the July 1918 martyrdom of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. The islands were opened in 1913 by an expedition sent by Tsar Nicholas, Bishop James of Naryan-Mar and Mezen, the head of the patriarchal Russian Arctic Project, which aims to missionize and sanctify the Arctic.

First church in honor of Royal Martyrs built in Moscow

The first church in Moscow named in honor of the holy Royal Martyrs—Tsar Nicholas II and his family—has been built in the Northern District, the press service of Duma Deputy Vladimir Resin, the supervisor of the capital program for the building of churches, reported to RIA-Novosti yesterday.

The church can accommodate 200 parishioners. The chapel on the site of its construction was laid in 2013, the 400th year of the House of Romanov. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna Romanova later made a private visit to the construction site.

Georgia looking to introduce history of religion in schools

The government of Georgia is considering introducing courses on the history of religion in the nation’s schools, reports Georgia Online. According to Georgian Minister of Education Mikhail Chkhenkeli, the subject should be taught by student choice: “I believe the history of religion should be taught as an elective in all of our schools, and we are moving in that direction.”