Orthodox Churches

Petersburg needs three times as many churches as it now has

Metropolitan Varsonofy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga believes there are not enough Orthodox churches in the 'northern capital.'

"Today there are over 200 churches in St. Petersburg, most of them are located in its historic center, and certainly it is not enough for such a populated city," the metropolitan said in his interview with the Delovoy Peterburg paper.

He reminded that earlier Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia had set a task for hierarchs that there should be at least one church for 10,000 people.

"If we use this index, we will find the 'northern capital' among outsiders. If there are about five millions of residents in the city, there should be three times as many churches in it as we have today," the hierarch said.

Protocol of Cooperation between the Romanian Patriarchate and the Ministry of Health

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and Minister Nicolae Banicioiu signed on Thursday, 03 September 2015, in the Patriarch Teoctist Hall of the Patriarchal Residence, a Protocol of cooperation between the Romanian Patriarchate and the Ministry of Health, concerning the Programme entitled “Good Health for Villages”.

Orthodox Youth gathered in “Avram Iancu” Square in Cluj-Napoca

The Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church participated on Friday, 04 September 2015, in the official opening of the European Orthodox Christian Youth Meeting, which takes place in Cluj-Napoca between 04 and 07 September 2015. At this event, organized in Avram Iancu Square in the European Youth Capital of this year, thousands of young people from all over Europe were present.

Fraternal conversation between Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria

On August 28, 2015, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria. The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria was accompanied by Bishop Meletios of Naukratis.

Patriarchal Message for the New Ecclesiastical Year and the Day for the Protection of the Natural Environment

August- September 2015
Prot. No. 851

+ BARTHOLOMEW
By God’s Mercy
Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome
and Ecumenical Patriarch

To the Plenitude of the Church Grace, Peace and Mercy
From the Creator, Sustainer and Governor of All Creation
Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ

“All of creation is renewed by the Holy Spirit, returning to its original state.” (Anavathmoi, First Tone)
“Blessed are you, Lord, who alone daily renew the work of your hands.” (Basil the Great)

The Orthodox Church of St. Athanasius destroyed in Albania

On August 26, 2015, before dawn at around 4 o’clock in the morning, in order not to confront the residents of Dhermi in Himara, the Orthodox church of St. Athanasius was secretly and insidiously destroyed by construction inspection forces which were brought from other areas of the country.

It was dejecting and offensive to see the Holy Gospel, the Icons and the sacred objects buried under the rubble. This act reminds us of the desecration at St. Mary’s Church in Permet, where the holy objects were thrown into a garbage truck.