Orthodox Churches

OSCE conference on discrimination and intolerance towards Christians

A conference took place in Vienna on ‘Enhancing Efforts to Prevent and Combat Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians, Focusing on Hate Crimes, Exclusion, Marginalization and Denial of Rights’.

Patriarch Theodor II meets with the Prime Minister of Egypt

On 17th May 2015, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa had an official meeting in Cairo with His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim Mehleb, Prime Minister of the Arabic Republic of Egypt.

During the meeting the Patriarch expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the interest shown by the Prime Minister in the Holy Church of the Monastery of St George Old Cairo, in all stages of the works of its complete renovation and development, right through to the inauguration which took place this past April.

Patriarch of Alexandria pays a pastoral visit to Tanta and Suez

His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa paid a two day pastoral visit to Tanta and Suez on 25th and 16th May 2015, accompanied by Their Eminences Nikodimos Metropolitan of Memphis, Patriarch Vicar of Cairo and Niphon Metropolitan of Pilousion, Hegumen of the Patriarchal Monastery of St George, Old Cairo.

In Tanta, See of the Holy Metropolis of Ermopolis, His Beatitude and his entourage were welcomed by the local Metropolitan Nicholas together with the clergy, the Church Council of the Orthodox Community of the city and many faithful.

The Thronal Feast of the Alexandrian Church

On 25th April 2015 the Thronal Feast of the Church of Alexandria took place with particular splendor, on the sacred memory of the Saint Apostle and Evangelist Mark. His Beatitude officiated at Orthros and conducted the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St Nicholas in Hamzawi, concelebrating with Their Eminences Theofylaktos of Tripoli, Ieronymos of Mwanza, Dimitrios of Irinopolis, Damaskinos of Johannesburg, Emmauel of Ptolemais, Ignatios of Madagascar, Theodoros of Heliopolis, Niphon of Pilousion, and Their Graces Bishops Innocent of Burundi and Rwanda, Meletios of Naukratis, Chrysostomos of Berenice and Neophytos of Nitria. The homily was preached by His Eminence Anthinmos of Alexandroupolis who was in the sanctuary, who, among other things, spoke of the significant role the Second ThroneSe Patriarchate played through the centuries, as well as the importance and the work of the Evangelization of the Nations which it undertakes in contemporary times. In conclusion he expressed the joy and amazement at the magnificent Inauguration on the previous day of the Patriarchal Monastery of St George.

Relics of Holy Prince Vladimir to be brought to cities and towns of Russia and Belarus

Within the framework of the all-Russian national celebrations marking the 1000th anniversary of repose of Holy Prince Vladimir of Kiev, the Baptizer of Russia, and with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia the reliquary with relics of Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, will be brought to cities and towns of Russia and Belarus for veneration by the faithful.

Between May 27 and December 1, 2015, residents of 45 cities of Russia (including remote northern regions) and 5 cities of Belarus will be able to venerate the relics. Bringing of the relics is organized on the Russian Orthodox Church’s initiative and with support from the St. Basil the Great Charitable Foundation, reports the Synodal Information Department.

Round table with participation of representatives of traditional religions of Russia and China takes place in Beijing

On 14 May 2015, a round table with participation of representatives of traditional religions of Russia and China was held in Beijing within the context of the 4^th meeting of the Russian-Chinese working group for contacts and cooperation in religious sphere under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and Mr. Cheng Zourong, deputy director of the PRC State Administration for Relations Affairs.