Orthodox Churches

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk arrives 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.

Archbishop Mark of Yegorievsk consecrates the Church of the Ascension on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand

On 6 February 2014, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Archbishop Mark of Yegorievsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administration for Institutions Abroad, began his visit to Thailand and Cambodia.

Meeting Archbishop Mark at the Bangkok airport were archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Kingdom of Thailand; Mr. Alexei Falunin, vice-consul of the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of Thailand; and local clergymen.

Soya Victoria hosts Ana and Vlade Divac Humanitarian Foundation

On Saturday, 25th of January, the Serbian Orthodox Youth Association of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand – SOYA – Victoria once again hosted a charity cocktail evening in order to raise funds for the Ana and Vlade Divac

Humanitarian Foundation. Vlade Divac is well known as a successful professional basketball player in the USA's NBA League. Vlade was drafted in 1989 by the Los Angeles Lakers where he played alongside Magic Johnson and against other Basketball legends such as Michael Jordan. Since his retirement, Vlade and his wife Ana established the Foundation which is dedicated to the care and economic empowerment of refugees and displaced persons and to improving the status of children and youth. The mission of the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation is to contribute to the development of an equal, tolerant and unified Serbian society.

The Feast of St. Maximus the Confessor

His Grace, Bishop Maxim, together with clergy and members of the Diocesan Council, celebrated the Feast of St. Maximus the Confessor, His Grace's name day, at the Saint Steven's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Alhambra, California on February 3, 2014.  

The day began with the Divine Liturgy followed by the Slava service. After the serves members of the Diocesan Council proceeded to the Saint Steven's Library/Conference room where they held their semi-annual meeting. Following the meeting a wonderful luncheon prepared and served by our Dicoesan Kolo Srpskih Sestara was enjoyed by all.

The Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Romania restore Ecclesiastical communion between them

On Monday, the 21^st of January/3^rd of February 2014, the “Patriarchal decision on the agreement and restoration of the ecclesiastical communion” between the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Romania was completed and sealed.

The decision had been interrupted because of the construction, on behalf of the Patriarchate of Romania, of a Church in Jericho without the approval of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The aforementioned agreement was prepared during the year 2013 over meetings between delegations of the two Patriarchates in Jerusalem, upon the peacemaking mediation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Common Appeal on Syria by Patriarch John X of Antioch and all the East and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia