Orthodox Churches

Bulgarian Church to celebrate 800th anniversary of Ivanovo rock-hewn churches

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is preparing to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the rock-hewn churches in Ivanovo, in the north-central Ruse Province, this year and next.

Ukrainian dioceses hold events in defense of unborn children on feast of Holy Innocents

On January 11, the feast of the 14,000 Holy Infants murdered by Herod, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held prayer services and events against the grave sin of abortion in several of its dioceses.

In particular, the rector of the Kiev Theological Academy His Grace Bishop Sylvester of Belgorod served a moleben before the relics of one of the Holy Infants, which are preserved in the Far Caves of the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra. The service was celebrated at the Lavra’s Church of the Conception of St. Anna, reports the Information-Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Romanian Patriarch meets with representatives of Orthodox Students Association

The Patriarch of Romania on January 12, 2020, welcomed the representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Christian Students Association (ASCOR) following a meeting of the association’s national council held at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel congratulated the ASCOR members and encouraged them to continue their ‘rich and dynamic’ activities.

Archbishop of Athens met Ambassador of Palestine and Archbishop of Sinai

The Ambassador of Palestine to Greece, Marwan Toubassi, visited Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece this afternoon.

The ambassador wished the Archbishop a Happy New Year and conveyed the wishes of the president of Palestine. They discussed various issues, such as the situation in the Middle East as well as the good relations between the two peoples.

Marwan Toubassi handed a letter from the Palestinian president to the Archbishop, which contained New Year’s wishes.

Archbishop Damianos of Sinai, Faran and Raitho then visited the Archbishop.

Source: Orthodoxtimes.com

Ministry of Education: Three Holy Hierarchs day is no longer a school holiday

Schools will run classes as per usual on January 30, the Ministry of Education said on Monday, in a statement that announced how the annual profession-specific national holiday of the Three Holy Hierarchs (Trion Ierarchon), will from now on be a default school day.

Up until now January 30 has kept schools closed to commemorate the patron saints of education, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, St. John Chrysostom.

Patriarch of Alexandria sends a message of peace and reconciliation to Libya

Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa sent a message of peace and reconciliation to Libya. In addition, he wished that the Orthodox Churches in Tripoli and Benghazi would be reopened, Orthodox Times reports.

The Head of the Patriarchate of Alexandria spoke of the need for peace in North Africa: “There is an influx of migrants in Europe, who hope for a better future there.”