Orthodox Churches

1070th anniversary of the repose of Ven. John of the Rila

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked with solemn liturgical services the anniversary of the repose of Ven. John of the Rila  in the Monastery of the Rila on the 17-18^th of August, 2016.

On the 17th of August a vigil service was celebrated with the attendance of a huge number of faithful, and on the very fest-day, of the 18^th of August, His Holiness Patriarch of Bulgaria officiated the Divine Liturgy with the concelebration of high representatives of local Orthodox Church, Hierarchs of the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Jerusalem, Moscow, Serbia and the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church.

Patriarch of Antioch paying an irenic visit to the Polish Orthodox Church

At the invitation of the Primate of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church Sawa, His Beatitude Patriarch of Antioch and All Orient John X has started his irenic visit to this country. His Beatitude arrived to Warsaw on the 16th of August and is going to stay with this sister Church until the 22nd of August.

The high dignitary, with two Hierarchs accompanying him, was welcomed at the airport by Metropolitan Sawa and his hierarchs. Thereupon they attended a doxology rite in the Cathedral of St. Mary the Magdalene, where the Patriarch of Antioch was warmly greeted by the Primate of the Polish Church. In his response His Beatitude John X pointed out that he was grateful for every word of love and welcome, and especially for the noble sympathies towards the brothers and sisters of the Holy Church of Antioch.

The consulus general of The U.S.A. and Russia visit the Patriarch of Alexandria

On the 2nd and 4rd of August 2016, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa received at the Patriarchal See the visits of the Consuls General of the U.S.A. Mr. Stephen Fakan and of Russia Mr. Rachid Sadikov, respectively and had lengthy and constructive discussions with them.

Igumen of Russian monastery on Athos dies in his 101st year

Hundred-year old igumen of Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery shema-archimindrite Jeremiah (Alyokhin) has died.

He reposed on Thursday, on the day when the Icon of Our Lady of Pochayev is commemorated, the Russky Afon website reports.

Relics of St Pantaleon arrive in Belarus

A Christian relic, the forearm of Great Martyr, Healer and Wonder-Worker Pantaleon, arrived at Minsk National Airport from Italy on 1 August, BelTA learnt from the Minsk 2 Customs press group.

For the first time over the past 350 years the reliquary with relics has been moved from its place of stay – the Cathedral of Gerace (Calabria, Italy). All necessary customs formalities were done properly and quickly, the press group noted.

Patriarch Kirill celebrates liturgy at the church of Our Lady the Joy to All the Afflicted-in-Bolshaya-Ordynka

On June 24, 2016, the commemoration day of the Holy Princess Olga Equal-to-the-Apostles, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Moscow church of Our Lady the Joy to All the Afflicted-in-Bolshaya-Ordynka.

His Holiness was assisted by a great assembly of bishops and clergy including high church officials and representatives of the Patriarchate of Antioch, the Orthodox Churches of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Serbia, and the Czech Lands of Slovakia. His Grace Bishop Dr. Irinej of Backa and His Grace Bishop Antonije of Moravica participated on behalf the Serbian Orthodox Church.