Orthodox Churches

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Marmara Island

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew conducted the Holy Liturgy on the Marmara Island of the northwestern Turkish province of Balıkesir on 22 September 2013.

Nearly 150 believers attended the ceremony, with many Orthodox faithful coming from all parts of Greece and Istanbul. Patriarch Bartholomew also paid a visit to the local town's Mayor Süleyman Aksoy after the ceremony at his office.  Aksoy and Bartholomew together visited the open air Marble Museum, historic Greek houses and the Mother Mary water cistern on the Island.

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates at the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady-at-Staroye-Simonovo on its patronal feast day

On September 21, 2013, the Day of the Nativity of our Most Holy Virgin Mary, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady-at-Staroye-Simonovo.

Among numerous worshippers were staff members of the Moscow Patriarchate Publishers and editorial boards of Moscow Patriarchate’s periodicals.

1000th anniversary of the Cliff Monastery celebrated in Ukraine

On September 15, the feast-day of Holy Fathers Anthony and Theodosius of the Kiev Caves, the 1000th anniversary of the Cliff Monastery of the Beheading of St John the Baptist in Lyadova was celebrated, reports the website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

"Your heart is filled with awe when you realise that monastic life in this holy place began 1000 years ago, when Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, was still ruling in Kiev,” wrote His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine in his greeting speech, read by Metropolitan Simeon of Vinnitsa and Bar, “Ancient tradition attributes the foundation of this monastery with the name of the founder of monastic life in Russia--our Holy and God-bearing Father Anthony of the Caves. Throughout its long history, the Liadova Monastery experienced periods of flourishing as well as periods of near collapse. But God cannot be mocked. The almighty Divine providence has preserved this unique landmark of our history for us. Fifteen years ago, monastic life in the monastery was restored and today the space of the ancient caves is again filled with prayer".

Opening of the exposition dedicated to 400th anniversary of the house of Romanov

On September 13, 2013, at the invitation of A.K. Orlov, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation in France, Bishop Nestor of Korsun took part in opening of the exhibition dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the house of Romanov, reports the communication service of the Department for External Church Relations with the reference to the website of the Diocese of Korsun. The exposition, "The Romanovs--the Dynasty Serving Russia" opened in the Villa d'Estrees Hotel in Paris, now the residence of Russian ambassador in France.

Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops Makes Progress at 4th Annual Meeting

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America held its fourth annual meeting September 17-19, 2013 in Schaumburg, IL. Forty-three hierarchs representing 11 jurisdictions were in attendance.

At the conclusion of the meeting the Assembly released three official statements to the faithful: on the Church’s unchanging view of marriage; expressing grave concern over escalating violence in the Middle East; and a message on the conclusion of the fourth Assembly.

Chairperson of the Council of Federation meets with Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church

During her official visit to Greece, Ms. Valentina Matviyenko, chairperson of the Council of the Federation, met with His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece.

The chairperson of the Council of the Federation expressed her appreciation to the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church for his efforts aimed at developing the inter-Church dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church.