Orthodox Churches

The First Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On the morning of Lent Wednesday, the 12^th/25^th of February 2015, once the Patriarchate opened its gates after the three-day holiday, Matins and the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was held at the Central Monastic Church of Sts Constantine and Helen, led by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, with concelebrant Hagiotaphite Fathers, in the presence of members of the Jerusalemite parish, nuns and pilgrims.

The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was performed at 8:00 am at the Horrendous Golgotha by the Elder Sacristan, Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, and was attended by nuns and pious pilgrims.

Ecumenical Patriarch invited to accompany President Hollande to the Philippines

 From February 26-27, 2015, His All-Holiness accompanied French President François Hollande on his official state visit to the Philippines, together with Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and Rev. Archdeacon John Chryssavgis. One of the primary purposes of the trip by the President of France was the joint signing of a call to action on climate change in light of the journey toward the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Le Bourget in Paris from November 30 to December 11, 2015.

Presidential working group for preparation of events dedicated to St. Vladimir’s commemoration and the St. Tikhon University’s Board of Trustees hold common session

On 24 February 2015, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia chaired a common session of the Presidential working group for preparation of the events dedicated to the commemoration of St. Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles, the Baptizer of Russia, and the Board of Trustees of the St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University (PSTGU).

Christian seminary torched in suspected hate crime in Jerusalem

 President Reuven Rivlin expressed outrage Thursday after a Greek Orthodox seminary on Jerusalem’s Mount Zion was set on fire and daubed with anti-Christian graffiti overnight Wednesday, in what is being investigated as a hate crime.

Sunday of Orthodoxy

Longsuffering Lord, how wonderful are your works! Who will number your love for humankind? Who, when they see your Priests and Ascetics slain for the sake of your Icon, would not reject deceivers? But you, when insulted, endured. (Synodikon of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, 9^th Ode)

 Sunday of Orthodoxy 2015 

To the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of Parish Councils, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Members of Philanthropic Organizations, the Youth and Youth Workers, and the entire Orthodox Christian Family in the United States of America

Saint Simeon commemorated in Holy monastery of Katamonas

On Monday, the 3rd/16th of February 2015, the feast of St Simeon the Receiver of the Lord was observed at the Monastery dedicated to him in Katamonas, West Jerusalem.
The tomb and partial relics of St Simeon are kept in this historical Monastery of the Patriarchate, granted to it by the Metropolis of Zatar, Croatia, three years ago.