Orthodox Churches

Inauguration of the Cathedral of the Holy Archangels by Patriarch of Alexandira in Maputo, Mozambique

On Sunday 16th February 2014, the third day of the visit of His Beatitude to the Republic of Mozambique, Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa conducted the inauguration of the beautiful and historic Cathedral of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in the capital, Maputo, together with His Eminence Damaskinos, Metropolitan of Johannesburg and Pretoria and the local Bishop, His Grace Ioannis.

During Communion, the Patriarch spoke from his heart to all those present, thanking each person, for the friendly hospitality in the beautiful country of Mozambique and gave particular thanks to the local Bishop His Grace Ioannis, for his love of the Patriarchate and the love shown to him personally.

Patriarch of Jerusalem officiates in Abud Community

On the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the first day of the Triodion Period, namely the 27^th of January/9^th of February 2014, a Divine Liturgy was held in the Greek Orthodox (Rum Orthodox) Community of the Patriarchate in the town of Abud, in the vicinity of Ramallah.

This particular Community numbers approximately 1500 members. Its liturgical center is the Church of the Dormition of Theotokos, which to this day preserves pronounced elements of early Byzantine Architecture.Abud was visited for pastoral reasons by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, who went on to officiate the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were His Eminence Dorotheos, Archbishop of Avila; the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; the master of ceremonies, Archimandrite Porphyrios; the Head of the Community, Steward Emmanouel; Archdeacon f. Evlogios, and Hierodeacon Dionysios. The Orthodox parishioners participated in the Liturgy with piety and devoutness.

The Feast of the Three Hierarchs at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

I. At the School of St Sion

On Wednesday, the 30^th of January/12^th of February 2014, the feast of the three great Hierarchs and ecumenical holy teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Trinity, which makes part of the Monastery and Patriarchal School on Holy Sion, to the south of the old city of Jerusalem.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk celebrates Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of St Panteleimon on Mount Athos

On 15 February 2014, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, visited the Old Roussikon hermitage which is undergoing restoration.

That same day the pilgrims arrived in the Monastery of St Panteleimon and met with its hegumen, schema-archimandrite Jeremiah. After vigil, Metropolitan Hilarion venerated the shrines of the monastery and visited a new church dedicated to the holy Russian sovereigns.

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates Divine Liturgy at Vatopedi Monastery

On 14^th February 2014, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and his suite currently on a pilgrimage to the Holy Mount Athos, arrived at the Vatopedi Monastery. They venerated the Cinctute of the Theotokos, the miraculous icons of the Heavenly Queen called ‘Comfort and Consolation’ and ‘The Queen of All,’ and the precious heads of Ss Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom.

Archimandrite Ephraim, hegumen of the monastery, informed the guests of the last developments in the monastic life and paid special attention to changes for the better in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church as the number of its dioceses has increased. Also discussed was the situation of Christians in Syria.

After the talk Metropolitan Hilarion and his suite proceeded to the Annunciation Cathedral where the All-Night Vigil was celebrated.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk visits the Iveron Monastery and Xilourgou scete on Mount Athos

On 13^th February 2014 Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, who is visiting Mount Athos with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, arrived at the Iveron Monastery. After a talk with archimandrite Nathaniel, hegumen of the monastery, the DECR chairman read Akathistos in the Greek language before the Iveron miraculous icon of the Mother of God. Later, he met with archimandrite Baselios, the former hegumen, who shared his impressions of the conference ‘St. Isaac the Syrian and His Spiritual Heritage’, held in Moscow last October.