Orthodox Churches

Archaeologists search for St Vlas’ tomb in Sivas, Turkey

Archaeologists dig for St Vlas’ tomb in Turkey. He was the Bishop of Sebasta in the IVth century and a martyr for Christ during the persecutions of emperors Diocletian and Licinius.

In the Turkish province of Sivas, experts are digging to find St Vlas’ tomb, according to Daily Sabah. The Orthodox Church honors the saint on Februrary 11.

Metropolitan Innocentios of Burundi was admitted to hospital

Metropolitan Innocentios of Rwanda and Burundi was taken to Holy Cross Orthodox Hospital in Kampala.

The Hierarch of the Patriarchate of Alexandria was admitted to hospital today as he allegedly contracted the coronavirus. However, this particular information has not been confirmed. The matter has become known by Metropolitan Nikolaos of Ermoupolis, who made a post on his personal account on Facebook.

Holy sites in Israel open to international tourists from August

Overseas pilgrims will be free to visit Israel’s holy sites from August, following an announcement from the country’s tourist board.

On Wednesday, the Israel Tourism Office announced it is set to reopen its borders to international visitors from August 1, starting with tourists from Greece, as premierchristian.news reports.

Meeting of the Patriarch of Antioch with the Syriac Catholic Patriarch

Patriarch John of Antioch and All the East met today with Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II and Melkite Catholic Patriarch Youssef Absi.

In the meeting, which tool place in Damascus, common ecclesiastical issues and the general situation in Syria and Lebanon, especially after the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic and the effects on the Middle East, were discussed.

Petition launched in defense of Serbian priest being evicted from Montenegro

The faithful of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro have published a petition in defense of a priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church whom the authorities are deporting from the country.

In the petition, published on peticije.online, parishioners from the coastal town of Ulcinj call on everyone to come to the defense of Fr. Siniši Smiljiću, who is being pushed out of the country together with his family.

Patriarch Kirill consecrates new cathedral for Russian armed forces

Yesterday, June 14, on the Sunday of All Saints, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated the rite of the great consecration of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ—the main church of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, located in the military-patriotic park in Kubinka outside of Moscow—followed by the Divine Liturgy.