Orthodox Churches

Religious communities in Russia find as successful the development of joint project for aid to Syrian population

August 30, 2017 – the interreligious working group for aid to the Syrian population under the Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Association met for its regular session at the Moscow residence of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s Diocese of Russia and Novo-Nakhichevan.

Chinese man travels thousands of miles to be baptized

Another adult Baptism recently took place on the banks of the Haliacmon River, the longest river contained entirely in Greece, flowing 185 miles through the Greek regions of West Macedonia and Central Macedonia, reports Romfea.

This time the new convert traveled thousands of miles from far away China to be baptized at the humble Monastery of the Virgin Kallipetras, in Veria, in northern Greece. The monastery is a male coenobium, dating back to at least 1100 AD. The name of the monastery is connected with a huge rocky column nearby, known as “Kallipetra.” St. Gregory Palamas is among the many saints who have lived and struggled there.

The former Su, now Constantine, received the gifts of the Holy Spirit with exemplary devotion, fasting, and prayer, on Saturday, September 2. The Baptism was celebrated by the abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Palamas, reports inveria.gr.

Appeal of the Patriarchs and heads of the Christian churches in Jerusalem

The Heads of the Christian Churches in Jerusalem, having completed their mission at their meeting on Friday 12th/25th August 2017, at the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate, under His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos have made an urgent appeal today 23rd August/5th September 2017, for the protection of the property of Christians, against the unjust decision of the Israeli Court, which gives effect on the illegal hiring contracts of the Jaffa Gate Hotels that belong to the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate and against the proposed law of the 40 ministers in the Knesset which declines the right of the Christian Churches to manage their own properties.

Korean version of Patriarch Kirill’s book recognized as one of the 2017 best editions in South Korea

The Korean edition of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia’s book ‘Freedom and Responsibility: In a search for Harmony’ has received the status of one of the best books of the first half of 2017 from the South Korean Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA).

The government of South Korea has purchased 740 copies and sent them to most of the libraries in the country.

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The work of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia entitled ‘Freedom and Responsibility: In a Search for Harmony’ has been translated into 26 languages including Chinese and Japanese. The Korean version was prepared under the guidance of the administrator of the Korean Mission of the Russian Church Outside Russia, Archpriest Pavel Kan.

Father Behr Receives High Honor

Archpriest John Behr, The Father Georges Florovsky Distinguished Professor Of Patristics at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, recently received the highest honor bestowed by the University of Divinity, an Australian University of Specialization. On Tuesday, August 22, 2017, the Chancellor of the University, Dr. Graeme L. Blackman AO, conferred the Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) on him for his exceptional contribution to patristic theological scholarship and demonstrated commitment to building partnerships across the theological world, including with the University of Divinity, through St Athanasius College.

More than 20,000 process 130 miles to Pochaev Dormition Lavra

Thousands of Orthodox faithful have completed one of the largest and most ancient cross processions in Ukraine in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. The participants arrived to the territory of the Pochaev Dormition Lavra on Friday, August 25, having begun in Kamenets-Podolsky in southwestern Ukraine on August 19, reports the Information-Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.