Orthodox Churches

Patriarchal Proclamation of Christmas 2014

+ BARTHOLOMEW
By God's Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome
and Ecumenical Patriarch

To the Plenitude of the Church:
Grace, mercy, and peace from the Savior Christ, born in Bethlehem
Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord,

"Christ is descending from the heavens;
let us meet Him!"

God has appeared on earth and, at the same time, we have seen the perfect mantogether with the inconceivable value of the human person. Today especially, we experience the condition of humanity after the fall, as we daily affirm with the Psalmist that "all have gone stray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good – no, not one!" (Psalm 13.3; Rom. 3.12-13)

Enthronement of Metropolitan Niphon of Pilousion by Patriarch of Alexandria

On Friday 19 December 2014, His Beatitude Theodoros II,Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, conducted at the Cathedral in Port Said the enthronement of His Eminence Niphon Metropolitan of Pilousion. Participants at the enthronement of His Eminence were Their Eminences Gabriel Metropolitan of Leontopolis, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, Nikodemos of Memphis, Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, as well as His Grace Meletios Bishop of Naukratis, Hegumen of the the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas the Sanctified in Alexandria and His Grace Chrysostomos of Berenice. Present were Representatives of the Coptic, Catholic and Protestant Churches, His Excellency the Ambassador of Cyprus Mr. S. Liasidis, the Honourable Consul General of Greece in Cairo Mrs. L. Komini, the Chargé d’ Affaires of the Greek Embassy in Cairo Mr. G. Papadopoulos, the Consular Harbour Master in Cairo, Mr. E. Poulakakis, the Chairwoman of the Hellenic Community of Port Said Mr. Ch. Theocharous, the Chairmen of the Arabic Speaking Orthodox Christians of Port Said  Mr. S. Issa and of all Egypt Mr. Robert Hosni, as well as the Chairmenof the Communities of Mansura, Damietta, Kantara, Daher and Heliopolis and  many faithful from the Holy Metropolis.    

Indian Government grants permission to build a Russian Orthodox church in Delhi

In India BJP government is about to grant permission to the Russian Orthodox Church, which celebrates Christmas on January 7, to provide religious services in the country. The move comes at a time when India is witnessing heated discussions on whether Christmas celebrations on December 25 is a case of “disproportionate Western cultural influence’’, reports The New Indian Express.

The Russian Orthodox Church has sought permission from the government to build a church in the capital to conduct services.Sunday Standard reports:

Metropolitan Hilarion granted degree of doctor honoris causa by Ss Cyril and Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo

 On December 19, 2014, during his visit to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, made with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations and rector of Ss Cyril and Methodius Institute for Post-Graduate Studies, visited Veliko Tarnovo University.

Three New Missionary Spaces Blessed By The Patriarch Of Romania

Today, 16 December 2014, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, blessed three missionary spaces. Members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, patriarchal and eparchial counsellors, as well as employees of the three new missionary spaces were present.   

Bishops from Serbia at the consecration of Russian Bishops

On Sunday, December 14th, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy in  the church of Saint John the Forerunner in Moscow. On this day consecration of the Altar Table, as well as consecration of two Bishops were officiated

During the Liturgy Patriarch Kirill consecrated Archimandrite Leonid (Tolmasev) Bishop of Urzum.  Russian Patriarch celebrated together with Metropolitan Varsanufy of St. Petersburg, Metropolitan Mark of Vyat, Archbishop Feognost of Sergiev-Posad, Bishop Sabbas of Voskresensk, Bishop Paisiy of Yarnas, Bishop Irenaeus of Backa, Bishop David of Krushevac, Bishop Anthony of Moravica, Bishop Ieronimus of Yegar (the Serbian Patriarchate), and many priests of the Russian Church.