Orthodox Churches

100-150 churches to be built in “New Moscow” within the next ten years

Plans have been made to build 100-150 new Orthodox churches In the Troitsk and Novomoskovsk administrative districts of “new Moscow” within the next decade, reports Interfax-Religion, citing the statement of Vladimir Resin, the State Duma deputy and adviser of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. 

“Construction of several churches on the new territories of Moscow has already been started. I feel certain that a large-scale building of churches will begin here as well as in the historical part of the capital. I believe that 100-150 churches may appear here over ten years,” V. Resin said. He has explained that these will be modular churches similar to those which are currently being built in Moscow as part of the construction of 200 churches program.

Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria visits President of Tunis

His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa went to the presidential palace in Tunisia accompanied by the Metropolitans of Memphis and Carhtage and the Ambassador of Greece Mrs. Anna Korka. His Beatitude was officially welcomed by the President of Tunisia, Mr. Moncef el Marzouki, with whom he discussed issues regarding the presence of Orthodox Christians in Africa, especially in Tunisia and its entire northern Islamic part. His Beatitude thanked him for the kindness with which the Christians in the country are hosted and protected and the President emphasized the peaceful disposition of the Tunisian people towards harmonious co-existence of all religions in the country. In conclusion the Patriarch awarded the highest honour of the Order of the Lion of Alexandria to the President for the assistance which is provided b the country to the Orthodox Church. The whole discussion took place in a very pleasant atmosphere together with the participation of those accompanying His Beatitude.

Patriarch of Alexandria pays a pastoral visit to Tunisia

On the morning of 5th June 2014, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa arrived in Tunisia from his see in Cairo, accompanied by His Eminence Nikodimos Metropolitan of Memphis, for a pastoral visit the Orthodox flock of the Patriarchate and to have a series of official contacts with the President of the country as well as with government, religious and diplomatic authorities. 

Egypt: Restoration of the Monastery of St. George in Old Cairo

The major restoration of the historic Greek Orthodox monastery of Saint George in Old Cairo is at its final stage. The monastery is a unique Rotunda in the Middle Eastern, which was a project carried out with the blessing of the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodore II.

According to Greek news, the official opening of the monastery is set to take place with magnificence and splendor, and in the presence of spiritual leading figures of the Orthodox Church and certain leaders of states. The opening will be taking place in the coming months, though a specific date has not been scheduled yet. Furthermore, the official website of the Patriarchate of Alexandria noted: “The renovation of the complex of the ancient Basilica and the Patriarchal Monastery of St George in Old Cairo, which is a Pan-Orthodox and universal shrine of great religious and spiritual importance, is the pinnacle of the multifaceted renovation activities by His Beatitude.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk speaks at the opening of the 4th European Orthodox-Catholic forum in Minsk

On 2 June 2014, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), arrived in Minsk with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to take part in the 4th European Orthodox-Catholic Forum.

Metropolitan Hilarion is accompanied by hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), DECR secretary for Inter-Christian Relations, and hierodeacon Nikolai (Ono).

Moscow Patriarchate to translate services to sign language and set up infrastructure for disabled people in its churches

The Moscow Patriarchate starts realizing a complex program of spiritual care for handicapped people.

It is supposed to set up an infrastructure for disabled people: to provide comfortable access to those who move in wheelchairs, make shape relief icons, tactile schemes, walks for blind people on the floor, and translation for deaf and blind, press service of the Synodal Department for Church Charities and Social Service reports.