Orthodox Churches

Pilgrims baptism in th river Jordan

On Holy and Great Tuesday morning, 29th March/11th April 2017, the pilgrims’ baptism took place as a seal of their pilgrimage theory, at the bank of the river Jordan, at the place where our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by St. John the Baptist. Pilgrims were from Greece and other Orthodox countries. The service was led by the Patriarchal Commissioner Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, with the participation of approximately 700 pilgrims.

Theodoros II: Paschal encyclical 2017

THEODOROS II
BY THE GRACE OF GOD POPE AND PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA AND ALL AFRICA
TO THE PLENITUDE OF OUR APOSTOLIC AND PATRIARCHAL THRONE
GRACE AND MERCY FROM OUR RISEN LORD AND GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST 

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

My dear brothers and sisters,

With these words, with this hopeful promise, the Son of God completed His salvific mission on earth. He who left heavens and came to earth to offer us salvation. He who became poor for us. He who ascended the Cross and suffered for us. He who was buried for us. He who was resurrected for us, and the death, which He endured, became the harbinger of deathlessness.

Holy Fire to be delivered to America for first time

The Holy Fire, which descends every year on the eve of the Orthodox feast of Pascha in Jerusalem, will be delivered to the various corners of the Earth, with the support of the Russian St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation, including, for the first time this year, to the United States of America. “It is planned to deliver this sacred blessing for the first time to the US, and we’ve already received permission to transport the lampadas with the Holy Fire on board a plane,” the foundation’s press service reported to Interfax-Religion today. The Holy Fire is being brought to the US by the initiative of parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

Romanian Orthodox hierarchs in North America to be installed in new dioceses

A delegation of the Romanian Patriarchate led by Metropolitan Nifon of Târgoviște will visit North America from April 28 to May 7 for the installation of two Romanian hierarchs, reports the press service of the Romanian Orthodox Church. On October 28, 2016, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church established two new diocesan structures: the Diocese of Canada, with His Grace Ioan Casian at the head, and the Metropolis of the Americas, with His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae (Condrea) at the head.

How to Overcome Your Sins and Passions? A Lenten Interview with the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Persistently struggling with our sins, man changes his evil disposition to good with the help of God’s grace. Great Lent facilitates this spiritual activity. The primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church gives practical recommendations for how to defeat the sinful inclinations of the soul.

Preparing for Confession

-Your Beatitude, the time of Great Lent is a time of repentance and spiritual purification. What is most important for Christians in this spiritual activity?

-Our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to call us to repentance (Mt. 4:17), to a change of life, and to leading it in accordance with the Commandments of God. A Christian brings repentance for sins committed to the Sacrament of Confession, to the presence of the priest, who has the authority from God to bind and loose a man’s sins (cf. Mt. 18:18).

Lazarus Saturday at The Monut of Olives

On Saturday, 26th March/8th April 2017, Lazarus Saturday was celebrated by the Patriarchate at the south-east top of the Mount of Olives, in memory of the resurrection of Christ’s friend Lazarus, who was dead for four days. The Lord resurrected Lazarus who was buried for four days, and escorted him from his tomb to his home town Bethany, sympathizing to the point of tears with our death, due to our fall, and thus confirming the common Resurrection of all people in His glorious second coming.