Orthodox Churches

Romanian Orthodox priests gather signatures for Constitution amendment against same-sex marriages

Romania’s Orthodox Church wants to change the country’s Constitution so as not to allow same-sex marriages. The initiative was first launched by the Metropolitan of Banat Ioan Selejan, at the end of his Christmass Liturgy in Timisoara. Tens of people who went to the Theophany day service at the Metropolitan cathedral in Timisoara on January 6 queued to sign for this initiative, according to local media.

Two new Orthodox churches to open in the Arctic in 2016

Two new Orthodox churches will open this year in Mys Shmidta (an urban area near the cape with the same name) and Wrangel Island in the Arctic, where units of the Eastern Military District are deployed, reports RIA-Novosti with reference to the Eastern Military District’s press service.   

“The military churches in Mys Otto Shmidta and Wrangel Island will begin to receive the faithful by the end of 2016. The churches were assembled in the Ryazan region with funds provided by the Omofor Charitable Foundation for Support to Military Veterans and Invalids. The “mobile” churches have been delivered to the deployment site of military units of the Eastern Military District in the Arctic. The churches are currently being equipped with church furniture,” the message reads.

The feast of the Synaxis of Theotokos in the village of the shepherds - Beit Sahour

On Friday, the 26^th of December 2015/8^th of January 2016, the day after Christmas, the Synaxis of Theotokos was celebrated in the Village of the Shepherds, Beit-Sahour.

There is, in the town, a church dedicated to Theotokos, together with a chapel of the Holy Archangels and St Panteleimon the Great Martyr, founded by the late spiritual father of Hosios Savva Monastery, Archimandrite Seraphim the sanctified.

Theophany in Alexandria and the visit of the new governer of Alexandria to the Patriarchate

On 6th January 2016, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, together with His Grace Meletios, Bishop of Naucratis, Hegumen of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas in Alexandria, officiated at Orthros and conducted the Festive Divine Liturgy and the Service of the Great Blessing of Water, at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Alexandria, in the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece to Egypt, Mr. Christodoulos Lazaris, the Honourable Consul General of Greecce in Alexandria, Mr. Emm. Kakabelakis, representatives of the Hellenic Community, the Cypriot Brotherhood, Hellenic Associations and Societies of the Great City and many faithful Christians.

Patriarch of Jerusalem offers Christmas presents to children at St Demetrius nursery and primary school

On the afternoon of Monday the 2^nd of December/4^th of January 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Chairman of the Patriarchate’s Arabic-speaking schools, Archimandrite Ieronymos, the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and Metropolitan Joachim of former Zambia, visited the hall of events of the Arabic-speaking School of St Demetrius, that is adjacent to the Central Monastery.

Nativity Enclyclicals from our Orthodox Primates

While those who follow the new calendar may have already seen some of these Christmas messages from the heads of our Local Churches, we present them again here together, as a multiple blessing for the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Constantinople

By the mercy of God, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch: grace, mercy, and peace to all the fullness of the Church from Christ, the Saviour born in Bethlehem.