Orthodox Churches

Construction of Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Paldiski (Estonia) is nearly completed

On June 13, 2015, a new Orthodox Church in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh will be solemnly opened in Paldiski, Estonia. The temple is constructed to a design by the prominent Russian architect Viktor Shadrin and meets all the requirements of wooden architecture, reports Blagovest-info.

The church will be consecrated by Metropolitan Cornelius of Tallin and All Estonia.

The new temple has been built for a relatively short time, only for two years, through the efforts of local sponsors, enabling those responsible for its construction to work without delays and to make prompt decisions, reports Delfi.

Israel returns an ancient church to the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Despite all the bureaucratic impediments arranged by the executive authority of the state of Israel, the process of return of the Church property in the Holy Land has recommenced, reports the Linga portal with the reference to the press service of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Ahead of the feast-day of Greatmartyr George the Victory-Bearer (May 6) the Israeli authorities returned the church that once had been built in honor of the Greatmartyr of Lydda to the Orthodox Church.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine takes part in celebrations marking 1150th anniversary of the Baptism of Bulgaria

On 2 May 2015, the commemoration day of the Holy Prince Boris (in Holy Baptism Michael), Equal-to-the-Apostles, the celebrations marking the 1150th anniversary of the Baptism of Bulgaria began in the city of Pliska, old capital of the Bulgarian Kingdom.

On that day His Holiness Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the open air, at the ruins of an ancient basilica, the place of the baptism of the Holy Tsar Boris (in Holy Baptism Michael). Concelebrating with the Patriarch were members of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches.

At the invitation of the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine took part in the celebrations.

Cross-monument is blessed in the Orthodox monastery in Gotschendorf on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory

On 6 May 2015, the dedication day of the Monastery of St. George in Gotschendorf, Germany, Archbishop Feofan of Berlin and Germany officiated at the Divine Liturgy in concelebration with Archbishop Alexander of Baku and Azerbaijan.

This was the first Liturgy celebrated in the Church of St. George the Victorious which is being constructed in the territory of the Monastery. Over one hundred guests from different countries have arrived to attend the feast day. The Office of the Blessing of Bells was celebrated after the Liturgy.

Celebrations marking 70th anniversary of liberation of Dachau concentration camp take place in Germany

On 3 May 2015, the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp took place in the territory of the former concentration camp. The commemorative events are traditionally held on the first Sunday after April 29.

Taking part in the large-scale celebrations were representatives of Munich’s major religious organizations, as well as public and political figures, such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Minister-President of Bavaria, Horst Seehofer.

The Patriarchate оf Jerusalem Reclaims Its Church иn тhe Basia-Сhelomi Community оf Northern Israel

On Monday, the 14th/27th of April 2015, H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Archimandrite Ieronymos, Hegoumen in Fhes, and the Hegoumen of the Monastery of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, f. Hilarion, visited the Israeli town of Shelomi which lies on the site of the old town of Basia that had been in existence until 1948.

The Greek Orthodox Arab-speaking community that inhabited Basia left the town during the events that resulted to the foundation of the state of Israel in 1948.