Orthodox Churches

Christmas Service in Chinese Published in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong publisher “The China Orthodox Press” has published a Chinese translation of the service for the Nativity of Christ. With this new publication, it is now possible for Chinese Orthodox Christians to celebrate the festal service in their native language, reports Patriarchia.ru.

The publication contains the texts for the Royal Hours, Typica, Great Compline, and Matins. The texts are annotated with commentary in English.

The translation uses terminology used by the 19th century Peking Mission, adapted to the modern standards for Chinese church service texts.

An electronic version of this publication is available on the publisher’s website. A version with simplified hieroglyphs and the printed version will also be available on the same internet resource.

Bulgarian Patriarchal and Synodal Epistle for the Nativity of Christ

“Christ is born; glorify Him!
Christ comes from heaven; go to meet Him!
Christ is on earth; be exalted!”

Beloved in the Lord children of our Holy Church,

With inexpressible joy and filial homage to the wondrous providence of God, in the holy night of the Nativity we receive again God’s Son, Who is born for us from the most pure womb of the Most Holy Virgin. He is born and He enters into our world, having received human nature, to restore it and to bring it back to its initial purity, to renew our lost sonship of God and “to raise the image that had fallen aforetime” (Troparion of the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ). To lighten the mankind, the world and the whole creation with His divine presence and to testify in a most definitive way God’s sacrificial love for us. Love that reached so far that God “gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who is believing in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Bashar Al-Assad visited Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Bashar Al-Assad visited Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch
Presidents Vladimir Putin and Bashar Al-Assad visited Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch
Presidents Vladimir Putin and Bashar Al-Assad visited Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch
Presidents Vladimir Putin and Bashar Al-Assad visited Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch

Russian President Vladimir Putin, together with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, paid a visit to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East in Damascus.

Christmas Message by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

Christmas Message
by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia
to the Archpastors, Pastors, Deacons, Monks and Nuns and
All the Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church

Beloved in the Lord archpastors, all-honourable priests and deacons, God-beloved monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters,

From the depths of my heart I congratulate you all on the radiant feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Ecumenical Patriarch: At the Phanar we guard the eternal candlelight, which our Fathers have guarded

Ecumenical Patriarch: At the Phanar we guard the eternal candlelight, which our Fathers have guarded
Ecumenical Patriarch: At the Phanar we guard the eternal candlelight, which our Fathers have guarded
Ecumenical Patriarch: At the Phanar we guard the eternal candlelight, which our Fathers have guarded
Ecumenical Patriarch: At the Phanar we guard the eternal candlelight, which our Fathers have guarded

The Holy Epiphany was celebrated with greatness and splendor at the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Monday, January 6.

Metropolitan of Brazzaville met prisoners of Pointe-Noire

Metropolitan Panteleimon of Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon visited, on January 3, 2020, the city’s prisons to offer food and personal hygiene items to 448 fellow human beings. This was an act the love by the Orthodox faithful of the Parishes of the capital city and of the Holy Metropolis.