Orthodox Churches

The feast of St. Stephen the First Martyr at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Monday 27th December 2016 / 9th January 2017, the memory of St. Stephen the First Martyr was celebrated at the Patriarchate. St. Stephen was one of the seven deacons elected by the Apostles to help them with their social work of common meals (Acts 6:2-7).

200 new monastics, 3 new monasteries in UOC in 2016

During the final 2016 meeting of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on December 29, chancellor Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary presented on the life of the Church over the last year, writes the Information Department of the Ukrainain Orthodox Church.

According to the hierarch, three new monasteries were created in the UOC in 2016:

Nativity encyclicals of Orthodox hierarchs 2016/2017

In honor of the great feast of the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, we present here a collection of Nativity encyclicals from some of our Orthodox primates from around the world, which help to expound upon the depth of meaning of the feast and to draw our hearts and minds to greater attention and devotion to the Lord and His saving will for us.

Constantinople:

B A R T H O L O M E W

By God’s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch
to the Plenitude of the Church
Grace, Mercy and Peace from the Savior Christ Born in Bethlehem

Annual DC March for Life to be held Friday, January 27

January 22, 2017 marks the 44th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States, and Orthodox Christians from across the US will be among those gathering in the US Capital on Friday, January 27 to participate in the annual March for Life.  [Due to the inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump, this year’s March will be held one week later than usual.  Sanctity of Life Sunday, however, will not be affected, and will be observed on January 15.]

New Year at the Patriarchate of Alexandria

On 31st December 2016, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, received in his Private and Patriarchal Office, as is customary, His Eminence Narkissos Metropolitan of Accra, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, His Grace Agathonikos, Bishop of Arusha and Central Tanzania and the Clergy of the Patriarchate and of the Holy Archdiocese of Alexandria, who sang carols and conveyed their festive wishes. Then carols were sung by the Patriarchal staff, to whom His Beatitude gave gifts and blessings.

The fast of St. Modestos, Patriarch of Jerusalem

On Saturday 18th/31th December 2016, the Patriarchate observed the memory of Saint Modestos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in his historical monastery located on Abu-Tor hill, opposite Zion hill in the Southern New City of Jerusalem.