Orthodox Churches

Russian Сhurch envoy lambastes UN conference on racism

April's UN conference on racism was "an outrageous instance of avoidance of dialogue by leading political forces," the Russian Orthodox Church envoy to the Council of Europe said. "The problem is that it happens right, left and center that international institutions that have the duty of organizing intercultural dialogues and achieving results are not capable of this," Hegumen Filaret (Bulekov) told the Dialogue of Civilizations forum in Prague.

Welcome Address during the reception of the Delegation of the Anglican Church – May 2009

Right Reverend Bishop of London,
Right Reverend Bishop of Birmingham,
Honourable Members of the Official Delegation of the Anglican Church,
Beloved Fathers,

CHRIST IS RISEN !

By this greeting of the Resurrection, please allow me to welcome you to the Apostolic Church of Greece and to wish that your stay may be crowned with success and substantial memories for the future.

Visit of a Delegation of the Anglican Church to the Church of Greece

The visit of a Delegation of the Anglican Church to the Church of Greece from May 8-12 has been completed successfully. The Delegation was composed of the Rt. Reverend Richard, Bishop of London, the Rt. Reverend David, Bishop of Birmingham, the Reverend Jonathan Goodall, Ecumenical Officer and Chaplain of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Father Malcolm Bradshaw, the Reverend Canon of the Anglican Church in Athens.

Constantinople Patriarch is taken to hospital

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople was taken to hospital upon the recommendation of doctors on Wednesday morning.

According to the Constantinople Patriarchy, "he feels quite well and is going to return to his office in a few days," Romfea.gr reports.

For almost a week, Bartholomew I has been suffering a bad cold. The meeting of the Constantinople Patriarchate Synod is adjourned for the reason of Patriarch's illness.

Patriarch Kirill urges Ukrainian politicians to refuse using the Church in their political interests

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia expressed his concern with the attempts of some Ukrainian political figures to use the Church in that country to their political goals. "The situation in Ukraine is really complicated, the major reason being that the schism there is based on political considerations and the intention of some officials to use the Church and people's faith to their own interests not in any way related to the proper Christian goals," Patriarch said in an interview published by Izvestia daily.

Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II met with the Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs

On the morning of Friday 8th May 2009, His Beatitude Theodoros II, pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, met with the Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kabinga Pande. The Minister welcomed the Patriarch warmly, thanked him for the contribution made by te Orthodox Churc to the people of Zambia and for the neutral stance taken by the Orthodox Church in the political issues of the country and placed himself and the members of his ministry at the disposal of is Beatitude for whatever assistance and support the Orthodox Church in Zambia might need. The minister also emphasized the excellent relations between the Government and His Grace Ioakeim Bishop of Zambia. His Beatitude in turn thanked the Minister for the welcome and hospitality and said that the Orthodox Church in Zambia, as well as throughout Africa, apart from the Evangelization of the nations, is concerned about the people and their contemporary social problems.

Present at the meeting were the local Bishop, as well as His Eminence George, Metropolitan of Zimbabwe and the Ambassador of Egypt. Commemorative gifts were exchanged during the meeting.