Orthodox Churches

Church of St. Joseph the Hesychast at Madagascar’s first male monastery completed

Construction on the Church of St. Joseph the Hesychast in Toliara, Madagascar was recently completed.

The church is the first in honor of the great 20th-century saint, with the foundation laid soon after the announcement of his glorification. It will also serve as the church for the first male Orthodox monastery in Madagascar, reports Bishop Prodromos of Toliaras and South Madagascar.

Thousands Participate in First Protest Processions in Montenegro After Quarantine Lifted

Thousands of Orthodox faithful participated in cross processions throughout Montenegro yesterday, Sunday, June 14, in protest of the state’s continuing persecution of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The processions were the first since the lifting of quarantine measures to be held in protest of the so-called “Law on Religious Freedom,” passed in December, which gives the state the authority to seize Serbian Orthodox Church properties.

Archieratical co-liturgy for the Feast of the Founder of the Church of Cyprus

On Thursday, June 11, 2020, the feast day of Saint Barnabas the Apostle, founder and patron saint of the Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus presided over the Archieratical Divine Liturgy at the homonymous church, concelebrated by members of the Holy Synod.

Church of Greece: Hagia Sophia is a world famous monument of Christian Culture par excellence

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece issued a statement regarding the issue of Hagia Sophia and the threats of the Turkish government to convert it into a mosque.

It is worth noting that this is the first official reaction of the Orthodox Church to the recent rhetoric that Turkey has developed regarding the issue of changing the status of Hagia Sophia.

Montenegrin police open criminal case against Metropolitan Amfilohije

Montenegrin police in Ulcinj have opened a criminal case against the Metropolis of Montenegro of the Serbian Orthodox Church and against His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro personally for the alleged uncoordinated construction of a monastery object, reports RIA-Novosti.

The case refers to the monastic residence at St. Basil of Ostrog Monastery near Ulcinj, which the authorities demolished yesterday. The 18th-century Church of St. Basil was just transferred to the status of a convent last month, and the building was newly-constructed.

Patriarch of Alexandria to celebrate 30 years since his episcopal consecration

An important day for the primate of the Church of Alexandria and the Orthodox Church of Africa will be June 17, 2020, as it will exactly thirty years since the day he was ordained a Bishop.

Specifically, it was on June 17, 1990, when the current Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodore, was ordained a Bishop of Cyrene.