Orthodox Churches

The Russian Ecclesiastical Mission (Missia) Celebrates 170 Years In Jerusalem

On Friday 7th /20th October 2017, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos received the Delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate, consisting of Metropolitans, Hieromonks, monks and laity, on the occasion of the 170th foundation anniversary of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission (MISSIA) in Jerusalem. The Holy Nunneries of Oreini, Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Hebron, Tavitha and others, belong to this Spiritual Mission.

This Mission was warmly received by His Beatitude, who referred to the brotherly relations between the Moscow and Jerusalem Patriarchates, recalling the days when He was a deacon to the memorable Patriarch of Jerusalem Benedict and He also served the memorable Patriarch of Moscow Poimena, as a guest in His Patriarchal residence in the Mount of Olives. Congratulating them on the celebration of this event, His Beatitude said that this is important for the Church of Russia and Missia, but also for the Christian Community in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, which over the centuries has been pastored by the Jerusalem Patriarchate, which represents all Orthodox Churches and all Orthodox Christians.

Translation of Gospel into endangered Chulym language begins in Tomsk

At the initiative of the Missionary Department of the Tomsk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, work has commenced on a translation of the New Testament into the Chulym language. The first two chapters of the Gospel of Mark have been translated by department head Fr. Alexei Samsonov, Fr. John Fontosh of the village of Teguldet, and native-Chulym speaker Vasily Gabov, reports patriarchia.ru.

“Apostoli” mission serves more than 2,500 needy in Greece

The charitable organization “Apostoli” of the holy Archdiocese of Athens of the Greek Orthodox Church, together with the Masoutis supermarket chain, is continuing its program of offering parcels of food to economically vulnerable families in the border area of Thrace and Ioannina. 2,764 people have benefited from mission in October so far, offering relief to hundreds of Greek households, reports Romfea.

Royal Couple attends Patriarchal Liturgy

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine attended a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy officiated by His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch at the Saints Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Potomac, Maryland near Washington, DC.

The Patriarch is on a visit to the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America which includes nine Dioceses containing over 275 cathedrals, churches, and missions throughout the United States and Canada.

Presentation of the album: “Patriarchate of Alexandria: Ten years (2006-2016) since the inauguration of the Patriarchal Mansion”

With the blessing and in the presence of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, in the afternoon of 16th October 2017, in the full central function hall of the Patriarchal Mansion, the presentation of the album, titled:

1,000-strong mass infant Baptism to be celebrated in Bulgaria

1,000 infants will be united to the Body of Christ through the Sacrament of holy Baptism tomorrow in cities throughout Bulgaria, reports the site of the Bulgarian Patriarchate.

The mass Baptism is part of the national campaign “Do It For Bulgaria,” in support of birthgivin, to help shift the tide of the nation’s rapidly declining birth rate. Bulgaria is currently experiencing the most extreme population decline in the world, due to a combination of post-communist emigration, high death rates, and low birth rates. Population statistics project a 30% decrease, from 7.2 million to just over 5 million, by 2060, reports The Washington Post.