Orthodox Churches

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates Divine Liturgy at Vatopedi Monastery

On 14^th February 2014, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and his suite currently on a pilgrimage to the Holy Mount Athos, arrived at the Vatopedi Monastery. They venerated the Cinctute of the Theotokos, the miraculous icons of the Heavenly Queen called ‘Comfort and Consolation’ and ‘The Queen of All,’ and the precious heads of Ss Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom.

Archimandrite Ephraim, hegumen of the monastery, informed the guests of the last developments in the monastic life and paid special attention to changes for the better in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church as the number of its dioceses has increased. Also discussed was the situation of Christians in Syria.

After the talk Metropolitan Hilarion and his suite proceeded to the Annunciation Cathedral where the All-Night Vigil was celebrated.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk visits the Iveron Monastery and Xilourgou scete on Mount Athos

On 13^th February 2014 Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, who is visiting Mount Athos with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, arrived at the Iveron Monastery. After a talk with archimandrite Nathaniel, hegumen of the monastery, the DECR chairman read Akathistos in the Greek language before the Iveron miraculous icon of the Mother of God. Later, he met with archimandrite Baselios, the former hegumen, who shared his impressions of the conference ‘St. Isaac the Syrian and His Spiritual Heritage’, held in Moscow last October.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk arrives on Mount Athos

On 13^th February 2014 Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, who is visiting Mount Athos with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, arrived at the Iveron Monastery. After a talk with archimandrite Nathaniel, hegumen of the monastery, the DECR chairman read Akathistos in the Greek language before the Iveron miraculous icon of the Mother of God. Later, he met with archimandrite Baselios, the former hegumen, who shared his impressions of the conference ‘St. Isaac the Syrian and His Spiritual Heritage’, held in Moscow last October.

Archbishop Mark of Yegorievsk consecrates the Church of the Ascension on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand

On 6 February 2014, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Archbishop Mark of Yegorievsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administration for Institutions Abroad, began his visit to Thailand and Cambodia.

Meeting Archbishop Mark at the Bangkok airport were archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Kingdom of Thailand; Mr. Alexei Falunin, vice-consul of the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of Thailand; and local clergymen.

Soya Victoria hosts Ana and Vlade Divac Humanitarian Foundation

On Saturday, 25th of January, the Serbian Orthodox Youth Association of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand – SOYA – Victoria once again hosted a charity cocktail evening in order to raise funds for the Ana and Vlade Divac

Humanitarian Foundation. Vlade Divac is well known as a successful professional basketball player in the USA's NBA League. Vlade was drafted in 1989 by the Los Angeles Lakers where he played alongside Magic Johnson and against other Basketball legends such as Michael Jordan. Since his retirement, Vlade and his wife Ana established the Foundation which is dedicated to the care and economic empowerment of refugees and displaced persons and to improving the status of children and youth. The mission of the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation is to contribute to the development of an equal, tolerant and unified Serbian society.