On May 9/22, the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of Syrian-Antiochian St. Shio of Mgvime the Anchorite (sixth century),1 one of the founders of Georgian monasticism. Like the first monks of Kievan Rus’, the Christian anchorites (hermits) of Transcaucasia secluded themselves in caves, and St. Shio of Mgvime or St. Shio of the Caves (as Mgvime means cave in Georgian) became one of the pillars of the faith of Iberia (ancient Georgia, a Portion of the Mother of God)2.
Orthodox Churches
President Vucic visited Veliko Tarnovo, place of repose of Saint Sava
2. June 2020 - 11:28
President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Vucic, accompanied by the Bulgarian Prime Minister Mr. Boyko Borisov, visited the church of Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste in Veliko Tarnovo, the place of repose of Saint Sava, the first Archbishop of Serbia.
“I am very proud and sincerely happy that Prime Minister Borisov arranged it for me to visit Veliko Tarnovo, this sacred place, when I see how our Bulgarian brothers keep memory of Saint Sava. For us, this is not only a proof of friendship and brotherly love, but a proof of their commitment to an improvement of our mutual relations as well”, said President Vucic, who stressed that Saint Sava was the most important person in Serbian history, because he founded the autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church in 1219.
Relics of priest martyred in 1919 rediscovered in Ukrainian village
1. June 2020 - 23:28
The burial place and precious remains of a priest who was martyred by the communist authorities were recently discovered in a Ukrainian village within the Diocese of Alexandria of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Ascension of Our Lord - Patron Saint-day of the Serbian capital
29. May 2020 - 9:55
The City of Belgrade marked its Patron Saint-day (slava) - Ascension of Our Lord with the Patriarchal Liturgy
His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, celebrated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of the Ascension of Our Lord with the concelebration of protopresbyter-staurophor Vaja Jovic, archpriest Dejan Jakovljevic, presbyterс Predrag Timotijevic and Slavisa Popovic, protodeacon Stevan Rapajic and deacon Bosko Savic on 28 May 2020.
Leadership of Assembly of Bishops Appeals for Equitable Treatment of Religion in Reopening of States
27. May 2020 - 15:42
Today, the Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America met via video conference and determined that a direct appeal to several Governors be made to insist on the equitable treatment of religion in the reopening of certain States.
Desecration of Orthodox church in Pontus
27. May 2020 - 12:50
A Greek Orthodox church has been at the mercy of sacrilegious people in the village of Hasera (Yesildere), in the Argyroupolis area of Pontus. The case was brought to light by the pro-Kurdish HDP MP of Armenian descent, Garo Paylan, who also asked a question to Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
