Orthodox Churches

Patriarchal and Synodal Epistle of the Russian Orthodox Church for the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’

Epistle of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to the archpastors, clergy, monastics, and laity on the occasion of the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’

This document was adopted at the July 14, 2018 session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ,
who loved his new people, the land of Rus’,
and illumined them with holy Baptism.
(The Russian Primary Chronicle)

Beloved of the Lord Right Reverend archpastors, venerable presbyters and deacons, God-loving monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!

All the fullness of our Church now honors the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Prince Vladimir and remembers with gratitude how 1,030 years ago a turning point in the history of the Slavic peoples occurred by the labors of this man, chosen of God and strong of spirit. By the blessed action of the Holy Spirit, the prince turned from pagan delusions, and believed in the one Son of God Jesus Christ, and receiving holy Baptism along with his entourage, brought the saving light of the Gospel to Rus’.

Archbishop of Yakutsk baptizes 100+ in river in one day

A mass Baptism was recently celebrated in the waters of the Chulman River in the far eastern Yakutia Republic in Russia. His Eminence Archbishop Roman of Yakutsk celebrated the holy Sacrament for more than 100 people on Sunday July 15 in the village of Chulman, which sits along the Chulman River, reports the site of the Yakutsk Diocese. The Orthodox Church is rapidly growing in the Chulman. Last summer, on the feast of St. Vladimir on July 28, Abp. Roman baptized more than 200 people into the Church.

Patriarch Kirill’s letters of condolences over the loss of lives as a result of fires in Greece

His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, has expressed condolences to Prime Minister of the Republic of Greece Alexis Tsipras and His Beatitude Jeronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, over the loss of lives in the fires in Greece. According to the latest reports, the number of victims has increased to 74.

Patriarch of Alexandria to The Greek Prime Minister: Hellenism mourins today

To His Excellency the Prime Minister of Greece Mr. Alexis Tsipras, Athens.

Your Excellency Mr. Prime Minister,  from the Land of the Nile, deeply hurt in soul and heart, we experience the tragic moments which our fellow humans are enduring from the deadly fires in areas of Attica. At this difficult time of sadness and mourning for all Hellenes, we wish to express our personal sincere condolences, as well as those of all the Greeks in Egypt. We declare the unwavering support, sympathy and prayers of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, to all the families of the people who are going through difficult times and stand praying beside them.

Delegations from 12 Local Churches to participate in Baptism of Rus’ celebrations in Ukraine

The festive celebration of the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ will take place this Friday and Saturday in Kiev, with a moleben on Vladimir Hill and a cross procession to the Kiev Caves Lavra, where the Vigil and Divine Liturgy for the feast of the baptizer of Rus’ St. Vladimir the Great will be celebrated.

Patriarch Ilia of Georgia became ill during Sunday sermon

His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia became ill during his sermon at the Holy Trinity-Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi on Sunday, reports News-Georgia. According to his personal physician Tsisana Shartava, His Holiness is currently in the patriarchate and his health is in no danger. She also noted that the day before the patriarch had visited the mountain town of Pasanauri in the Mtskheta-Mitianiti region. She suggested that perhaps his blood pressure had dropped due to the change in elevation. The town sits 3,445 ft. above sea level, about 55 miles north of Tbilisi.

Ukrainian primate blesses orphans who lost parents in Donbass conflict

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, the primate of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, held a pastoral meeting over the weekend, visiting children who had lost their parents in the ongoing military conflict in Donbass. The primatial visitation came during a 20-day vacation that had been arranged for the children with Met. Onuphry’s blessing, reports the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.