Orthodox Churches

Russian Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Armenia Serzh Sargsian

On 28 November 2011, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church met with the President of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Serzh Sargsian, at the residence of the head of the state. They were joined in the meeting by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

President Sargsian met His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the entrance to the residence and greeted him, saying: “I believe that Your visit will contribute to the further strengthening of relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity to be restored

Preparations for a long-needed renovation of the 1500-year-old Church of the Nativity, the supposed site of Jesus' birth, are moving ahead in Bethlehem in the face of political and religious conflicts that have kept one of Christendom's holiest sites in a state of decay for centuries.

The first and most urgent part of the renovation, initiated by the Palestinian government in the West Bank, is meant to replace the building's roof.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill begins his visit to Armenia

On 28 November 2011, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia arrived in Yerevan. He is accompanied by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Secretariat; archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations; Mr. Vladimir Legoida, chairman of the Synodal Information Department; and Mr. M. Kuksov, acting head of the Patriarch’s personal secretariat.

Bulgarian Church celebrates St. Clement of Ohrid

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Kiril, on November 24 in the church of St. Clemet of Ohrid  the vesper service was served by Bishop Jovan of Glavinica and priest Petar Dimitrov with the concelebration of deacon Miroslav Encev.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates on November 25 a remembrace of St. Clement of Ohrid. This is one of the disciples of the Saints brothers St. Cyrill and Methodius who created the Slav literacy and who are protectors of Europe. After the death of St. Methodius in 885, St. Clement was expelled with other students from Moravia and came to Bulgaria. Tsar Boris I recieved them and gave them to learn priests in old Bulgarian language. St. Clemet founded the educational school in Ohrid which was considered one of the first Slav university. During seven years 3500 students finished it. Later, Tsar Symeon ordained St. Clemet a bishop.

Patronal feast of the Parish of Saint Andrew the First‑Called in Ghent (Belgium)

The Patriarch Of Romania At The Saint Patron’s Feast Of Saint Martyr Mercurie Church

Today, 25 November 2011, the parish of Saint Great Martyr Mercurie of Titan district of Bucharest celebrated its protector. On the occasion of the celebration of the saint patron of this holy place of worship, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel officiated the Divine Liturgy assisted by a group of priests and deacons, in the presence of hundreds of faithful who had come to worship Saint Martyr Mercurie.