Orthodox Churches

Holy Wednesday at the Phanar

On Holy Wednesday afternoon, April 8, 2015, the sacrament of Holy Unction took place at the Patriarchal Church of St. George. The service was led by Archimandrite Bartholomew Samaras, Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, with the assistance of clergy from the Patriarchal Court. His All-Holiness attended the service from the altar.

The Epitaphios in Cairo

On Great and Holy Friday, 10th April 2015, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiated during the Great Royal Hours and at the Vespers of the Deposition from Cross at the Holy Monastery of St George Old Cairo, together with His Grace Chrysostomos, Bishop of Berenice.

Palm Sunday Pilgrimage in Bucharest

Today, 4 April 2015, thousands of faithful and 750 priests participated in the traditional Palm Sunday pilgrimage unfolded in Bucharest.

Blessing of the willow branches and beginning of the pilgrimage

The pilgrimage began at Radu Voda Monastery, after the Vesper service celebrated at 14.30 hours in the church monastery of Bucharest founded by prince Radu. To end with, His Grace Timotei Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest blessed the willow branches saying the proper prayer at 16.00 hours.

Palm Sunday in Jerusalem

On Palm Sunday, the 23^rd of May/5^th of April 2015, the Patriarchate commemorated the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ to Jerusalem, when the children of the Jews had welcomed him by spreading their coats in the road, shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Lazarus Saturday at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Lazarus Saturday, the 22^nd of March/4^th of April 2015, the Patriarchate commemorated the raising of Lazarus, Christ’s friend from Bethany.

A. On Friday afternoon:

The event was commemorated on Friday afternoon on the Site of the Ascension of Christ on the Mount of Olives, being adjacent to Bethphage and Bethany, with Vespers performed on the ruins of the old Byzantine Church of the Ascension (now a mosque), after the outdoor Holy Altar had first been consecrated.

Meeting of the Holy Synod of the Ukranian Orthodox Church

April 1, 2015 – The Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church met for a regular session in the Synodal Hall of the Kiev Laura of the Caves. It was chaired by His Beatitude Onufry, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine.

On the eve of the session, Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Laura’s church of the Conception of St Anna. After the liturgy, Metropolitan Onufry said the Prayer for the Dead at the grave of his predecessor on the See of Kiev, Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan) of eternal memory.