Orthodox Churches

Head of the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow celebrates 25 years of the monastic tonsure

On 23 September 2013 the 25th anniversary of the monastic tonsure of the head of the Serbian Representation (Podvorye) at the Moscow Patriarchate of Bishop Antonije of Moravica was commemorated. 

The vicepresident of the Office for external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate protopresbyter Nicholas Balasov and secretary of this Office protopresbyter Igor Jakimcuk visited the church of Sts. Peter and Paul the Apostles where is the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church and greeted Bishop Antonije of Moravica on this significant day and conveyed the greeting of President of the Office for external church relations Metropolitan Hilarin of Volokolamsk to him.

Laying the foundation stone of a church in Birzeit

On the evening of Sunday the 9^th/22^nd of September 2013, the foundation-stone was set of a church of the Greek Orthodox (Rum Orthodox) Community of the Patriarchate in the town of Birzeit, near Ramallah.

Birzeit is one of the most significant towns of the Palestinian Autonomy, which also hosts a University.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby

On 25 September 2013, at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and Arcbishop Elisey of Sourozh attended the episcopal ordination of Canon Jonathan Goodall which took place in the main Cathedral of Westminster Abbey.

Canon J. Goodall worked as the Ecumenical Secretary of the Archbishop of Canterbury for many years. Among those present at the ceremony were Archbishop Gregory of Thyateira and Great Britain (Patriarchate of Constantinople), Metropolitan Iosif of Southern and Western Europe (Romanian Orthodox Church), hierarchs and clergy of the Local Orthodox Churches and Oriental Churches, and the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini.

Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria visits Phanar

On Friday, September 20, 2013, His All-Holiness welcomed His Beatitude Patriarch Neophyte of Sophia and all Bulgaria to the Phanar with members of the Holy and Sacred Synod and other Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne.

Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North and Central America

The fourth Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America was held from September 17 to 19, 2013, in Chicago. Before the meeting, the archpastors prayed at the Church of the Protecting Veil of the Theotokos (ROCOR) during the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Peter of Cleveland, chancellor of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid- America, the website of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA has reported.

The Feast of the Nativity of Theotokos in Jerusalem

Celebrated on Saturday the 8^th/21^st of September 2013, was the feast of the Nativity of Theotokos, fruit of the womb of the formerly barren St Anne, through her connection to St Joachim, and vessel for the incarnation by the Holy Spirit of God’s one and only Son and Logos, Our Lord Jesus Christ, for our salvation.

In commemoration of this feast, a nocturnal divine Liturgy was held at the All-Holy Sepulcher; a divine Liturgy at the Bier of the Mother of God, led by His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda, ministered by students at the Patriarchal School of Sion; as well as a divine Liturgy at the monastic church of Sts Constantine and Helena the Hagiotaphites, which was attended by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, together with Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher and pilgrims.

Subsequently, at the Epitropikon (room of the board), His Beatitude wished for the Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher the protection and mediation of the All-Holy Mother of God who was born of a barren womb, the ever virgin Mary.

Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem