Orthodox Churches

Feast-day of Saint John Kronstadt to be celebrated as a town holiday

In 2014, the 185th anniversary of birth of Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt is celebrated, and the town of Kronstadt is celebrating the 310th anniversary since its foundation. In honor of the festive dates the administration of Kronstadt decided to make the day of canonization of the Kronstadt pastor an all-town event, reports the St. Petersburg Metropolia’s website.

Monday of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem

Monday the 27^th of May/9^th of June 2014 saw the celebrations for the descent of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, on the holy disciples and apostles gathered in the Cenacle on the Hill of the Holy Sion, as attested by the Church.

Vespers was first held in the chapel within the cemetery of Sion, built on the ruins of a Byzantine Church, led by His Eminence, Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila, with concelebrant Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and Hierodeacons. Also in attendance were several pilgrims.

Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem

On Sunday the 26^th of May/8^th of June 2014, the feast of Pentecost was observed at the Patriarchate in commemoration of the miraculous descent of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, on His holy disciples and apostles on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection. Blessed with the Holy Spirit, they spoke of the Lord’s wonders in other tongues, according to the Acts of the Apostles (2, 1-11), and attracted to the Lord three thousand souls on that day, marking the beginning of the appearance and exodus of the Church of Christ to the world.

100-150 churches to be built in “New Moscow” within the next ten years

Plans have been made to build 100-150 new Orthodox churches In the Troitsk and Novomoskovsk administrative districts of “new Moscow” within the next decade, reports Interfax-Religion, citing the statement of Vladimir Resin, the State Duma deputy and adviser of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. 

“Construction of several churches on the new territories of Moscow has already been started. I feel certain that a large-scale building of churches will begin here as well as in the historical part of the capital. I believe that 100-150 churches may appear here over ten years,” V. Resin said. He has explained that these will be modular churches similar to those which are currently being built in Moscow as part of the construction of 200 churches program.

Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria visits President of Tunis

His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa went to the presidential palace in Tunisia accompanied by the Metropolitans of Memphis and Carhtage and the Ambassador of Greece Mrs. Anna Korka. His Beatitude was officially welcomed by the President of Tunisia, Mr. Moncef el Marzouki, with whom he discussed issues regarding the presence of Orthodox Christians in Africa, especially in Tunisia and its entire northern Islamic part. His Beatitude thanked him for the kindness with which the Christians in the country are hosted and protected and the President emphasized the peaceful disposition of the Tunisian people towards harmonious co-existence of all religions in the country. In conclusion the Patriarch awarded the highest honour of the Order of the Lion of Alexandria to the President for the assistance which is provided b the country to the Orthodox Church. The whole discussion took place in a very pleasant atmosphere together with the participation of those accompanying His Beatitude.

Patriarch of Alexandria pays a pastoral visit to Tunisia

On the morning of 5th June 2014, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa arrived in Tunisia from his see in Cairo, accompanied by His Eminence Nikodimos Metropolitan of Memphis, for a pastoral visit the Orthodox flock of the Patriarchate and to have a series of official contacts with the President of the country as well as with government, religious and diplomatic authorities.