Orthodox Churches

Schismatics and radicals seize another Ukrainian Orthodox Church

On February 11, schismatics of the “Kiev Patriarchate,” with the support of “Right Sector” radicals seized a canonical parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in the village of Kotyuzhyny, in the Ternopil region.

Italy is home to Russian Orthodox Church’s fastest growing foreign diocese

The head of the administration for Moscow Patriarchate churches abroad Bishop Anthony of Bogorodsk stated in a recent interview with TASS that the Russian Orthodox Church has nearly 900 parishes in foreign countries, the greatest number of which are in Germany and Italy.

Ancient Georgian Gospel could be added to UNESCO heritage list

An ancient Georgian Gospel manuscript could be added to a UNESCO heritage list after Georgian National Archives specialists made the amazing discovery of more ancient layers of text underneath that presently visible. It turns out the text is a palimpsest, meaning each line of Scripture was erased and retraced in newer layers.

Romanian Orthodox Church to march for Christian family values

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided on Thursday to organize a large march this spring in support of traditional, Christian family values. Romania Insider reports that “March for Life 2017: Help Mothers and Babies—They Depend on You” will take place on March 25, the day that new calendar Orthodox Churches celebrate the great feast of the Annunciation, when the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived in the womb of the Theotokos by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit.

One of Greece’s oldest monasteries badly damaged in fire

A serious fire broke out two weeks ago at one of Greece’s oldest monasteries. The monastery of Varnakova, fifteen miles to the east of Nafpaktos, just north of Corinthian Gulf coast, was built in 1077 by St. Arsenios Varnakovitis, on a small hill which lies within a vast forest of oaks and wild chestnuts.

Church of St. Catherine consecrated in Tanzania

A new church, dedicated to the Great Marty St. Catherine, has been consecrated in Tanzania, Romfea reports. The new temple is the thirty-first in the Archdiocese of Irinoupolis of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.

His Eminence Archbishop Dimitrios (Zaharengas) of Irinoupolis celebrated the consecration with the blessing of the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II. The hierarch arrived to the village of Tanagkozi where he celebrated the rite accompanied by native priests, and in the presence of the nuns Anastasia and Catherine from the Metropolis of Moldavia, Orthodox volunteers from Greece, England, Serbia, and Italy, and hundreds of Orthodox converts from the area.