Orthodox Churches

Russia, Israel, Greece honor Orthodox monasteries with new stamps

A new stamp dedicated to the main cathedral of Gorny Convent in Jerusalem, dedicated to All Saint Who Have Shown Forth in the Russian Land, was released yesterday as a joint issue between the Russian Federation and the State of Israel, reports patriarchia.ru. Meanwhile, Greece has recently released a set of stamps featuring artistic renditions of scenes from Mt. Athos, reports the Orthodox Heritage of Ukraine on the Holy Mount Athos.

Total Orthodox Christians increasing, global share decreasing according to Pew Research study

While the total Orthodox Christian population throughout the world has more than doubled over the past century, now standing at 260 million, with more than 100 million in Russia alone, it has decreased as a share of the overall Christian and global populations, due to far faster growth among Protestants and Catholics, and the non-Christian. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, just 12% of worldwide Christians are Orthodox, compared to approximately 20% a century ago. 4% of the total population is Orthodox, compared with an estimated 7% in 1910.

First Divine Liturgy in sign language to be performed in Nicosia church

A Divine Liturgy is to be performed next week in sign language for the first time ever in Cyprus, aiming to include the deaf in the Holy Mysteries of the Greek Orthodox Church, Cyprus Mail reports.

A theologian will travel from Greece at the invitation of the Metropolis of Tamasos and Orinis to simultaneously interpret the liturgy into sign language for the deaf people who will attend. The service will take place on Sunday, November 19, at the church of St John Chrysostom in Lakatamia, in the Nicosia district.

Completion of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s visit to Morocco

The visit of His Most Holiness the Bartholomaios , the Ecumenical Patriarch to the city of in Marrakech in Morocco, which tookmplace from the 3rd – 5th November 2017, as part of the 10th international Meeting of the "World Policy Conference " organized by the French IFRIS Institute, has been completed.

HB Anastasios about The Church of Albania: The terrible trials made it look like desolate land

Difficulties of Confessing the Orthodox Faith during Communism in Albania and the importance of religious freedom today

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” (Phil. 1:29).

Survey shows 64% of Russians trust Orthodox Church

More than half of Russians trust in the Russian Orthodox Church, according to data from a recent survey from the Public Opinion Foundation, reports RIA-Novosti.

According to the survey, 64% of respondents consider themselves Orthodox, 8% Muslim, and 22% consider themselves unbelievers. Overall, 64% trust the Russian Orthodox Church, while 19% expressed their distrust. 51% expressed trust for Patriarch Kirill, and 21% distrust. In addition, 69% of respondents said their attitude towards the Russian Church has not changed in recent years, while 12% said their attitude has either improved or worsened.