Orthodox Churches

38th anniversary of episcopal consecration of Patriarch Kirill

On 14 March 2014, Friday of the second week of Lent, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated Vespers and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. That day marked the 38^th anniversary of his episcopal consecration.

New abbot of Mt. Athos Grigoriu Monastery enthroned

On Saturday, March 15, according to Byzantine traditions, the solemn enthronement of the new Abbot of the Mt. Athos Grigoriou Monastery Archimandrite Chrystophoros took place, reports AgionOros with the reference to Romfea.gr.

Abbots and brethren of many Athonite monasteries as well as numerous pilgrims from Greece, Cyprus, Russia, and other Orthodox countries were present at the ceremony. The Greek government was represented by secretary general of the Council of Ministers Panagiotis Baltakos.

OCF pilgrimage to the Ecumenical Patriarchate

On Saturday, March 8, 2014, at the request of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) program and with the blessing of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, eleven American college students traveled from New York to Istanbul for a pilgrimage organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The students received matching grants from the Kulis Foundation for the trip and were led by Fr. Evagoras Constantinides, Director of Ionian Village, and Ms. Donna Elias, OCF North American Programs Manager. 

Bishop Jovan of Ulpiana visits Kemerovo

Bishop Jovan of Ulpiana, a vicar of His Holiness Patriarch of Serbia, accompanied a Serbian team to the 14^thFAI World Para-Ski Championship held in Kuzbass on 11-16 March 2014. He was invited by the Para-Ski Federation of the Kemerovo region and Metropolitan Aristarkh of Kemerovo and Prokopievsk with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. At the opening ceremony, Bishop Jovan made a parachute jump.

The first group baptisms of children in South Sudan

With the grace of God and the blessing of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, His Eminence Narcissus, Metropolitan of Nubia, performed the first group baptism of South Sudan children on Tuesday 25th February 2014,

This concerned children who had remained un-baptized for many years, due to the civil war in the broader region of the South. The blessing and joy were evident on the faces of the newly-baptized children. The emotion and gratitude were etched on the faces of the parents and families present, as they had been waiting for this moment for years. Nine children were baptized, ranging in age from infants to sixteen years. At the end of the Sacrament, His Eminence addressed the children, giving advice and spiritual counsel. Present at the baptism were the Consul of South Sudan Mr. Robert Ring Ring and the Chairman of the Ouaou Community Mr. Aristotelis Kikezos, as the children come from that region. 

First solemn vespers in Alexandria

On 2nd March 2014, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiated during the first solemn Vespers for the beginning of Great Lent at the Patriarchal Church of St Savvas in Alexandria, together with His Eminence Alexios of Carthage who is in Alexandria and His Grace Gabriel of Leontopolis, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria together with the Clergy and many faithful. 

Prior to the dismissal, according to old tradition, His Beatitude read the forgiveness prayer for all, and exchanged the embrace of forgiveness, at the same time appropriately wishing them strength, watchfulness and repentance, and stressing is his comprehensive homily the true meaning of fasting and genuine forgiveness, mentioning examples and teachings from the holy Fathers of the desert.