Orthodox Churches

Day of Baptism of Rus’ to be celebrated with wave of bell ringing throughout Russia and abroad

July 28, 2017, the day of the Baptism of Rus’, when the Church celebrates the memory of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir, will be celebrated with a wave of bell ringing in churches and monasteries throughout Russia and abroad.

At noon local time, by the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, bells will ring out in every church and monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church as part of the “Glory to Thee, O God!” event, reports patriarchia.ru. All parishes of the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia are also encouraged to participate in the event, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, reports the diocesan site.

125th Anniversary of Orthodox Christianity in Chicago to be celebrated September 30

Proclaiming 2017 as the “125th Year of Orthodox Christianity in Greater Chicago,” the region’s ruling bishops have endorsed a historic celebration to take place on Saturday, September 30, 2017.  Sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Clergy Association [OCCA] of Greater Chicago, the commemoration will include the celebration of a Pan-Orthodox Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Lane Tech Auditorium, 2501 West Addison at Western, Chicago, followed by an anniversary banquet at the Chicago Marriott O’Hare, 8535 West Higgins Road, Chicago.

340,000 venerate relics of St. Nicholas in St. Petersburg already

More than 340,000 pilgrims have made their way to St. Petersburg to venerate the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the twelve days since they arrived from Moscow, reports RIA-Novosti.

1,807,600 pilgrims venerated the holy hierarch in Moscow from May 21 to July 12, thus more than 2 million have venerated St. Nicholas in Russia so far. The relics were brought from Moscow to St. Petersburg on July 13 and placed in the Holy Trinity Cathedral at the St. Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where they will remain until July 28.

France currently home to 500-700,000 Orthodox Christians and growing

The Handbook of the Orthodox Church has been published in France, providing comprehensive information and practical information about Orthodox life in France. It presents a detailed map showing the location of all Orthodox parishes, monasteries, and dioceses in France by region, and provides information about Orthodox bishops (members of the Association of Orthodox Bishops), priests, and deacons, and also about clergy who have reposed in recent years. The new publication also contains information on icon workshops, Orthodox choirs, Orthodox periodicals, documentaries and art publications, candle and bookstores, and Orthodox movements in France, reports Sedmitza.

New church of St. Paisios the Athonite consecrated in Syria

A new church dedicated to St. Paisios the Athonite was consecrated in Syria on July 11, on the eve of his feast. The church is located in the Monastery of the Lifegiving Spring of the Theotokos in the Syrian province of Latakia, reports Romfea.

Memory Eternal! + Metropolitan Paul Saliba of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines

Memory Eternal! Metropolitan Paul Saliba of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines

In the hope of resurrection and eternal life, His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and all the East announces the repose of His Eminence Metropolitan Paul (Saliba) of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. He fell asleep in the Lord on the morning of July 1, 2017, at the age of 77.

His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph fondly recalls Metropolitan Paul as a gifted administrator over the decades they knew each other both in the Middle East and North America. Like Sayidna Joseph, Sayidna Paul received whole congregations from different Christian denominations, especially in the Philippines in recent years, into Holy Orthodoxy.