Source: Orthodox Observer Today, Jan. 13, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople issued a response to an aggressive polemic released a day earlier by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). The Ecumenical Patriarchate characterized the accusations directed at Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as baseless and unworthy of engagement. In its responding communiqué, the Ecumenical Patriarchate recalled that since its 2018 decision to proclaim the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, it has deliberately chosen not to reply to the steady stream of similar attacks emanating from political and ecclesiastical circles within the Russian Federation. That principled restraint, it stressed, continues to guide…
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Source: Oinos Educational Consulting by Frank Marangos D.Min., Ed.D., OSJ “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me, and drink.” John 7:37 Last month, during the first week of December 2025, the global water community gathered in Marrakech, the former imperial city of Morocco, for the 19th Annual World Water Congress. Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and co-organized by the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), the prestigious event gathered policymakers, practitioners, civil leaders, and private sector representatives to exchange knowledge about “Water in a Changing World: Innovation and Adaptation.” Based on the groundbreaking research that was…
Source: SUPRASL: A World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth On the Feast of Theophany (new calendar), in honor of what would have been his 76th birthday, Suprasl: A World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth has established the Fr. John Matusiak Scholarship & Sustainability Fund. This fund honors the profound legacy of Archpriest John Matusiak – a tireless servant, visionary youth worker, and the founder of the original Suprasl Summer Institute (1994–2002). His life was a testament to the words of St. Paul: “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain.” Fr.…
Source: Department of Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Adapted from an article by Rev. Dr. Charles Joanides, Ph.D., LMF “When I converted to the Orthodox Church, I was helped by two people who took me in hand and helped me integrate into the Church and the community. In a few years, I was completely integrated into both. I don’t know what I would have done without them. They are my best friends. I urge you to emphasize my experience in one of your columns to help converts become integrated.” ~An E-mail respondent~ Like the individual quoted…
Source: Church Roadmap Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I have not communicated with you for the past three years because I have been deeply immersed in doctoral church research with a singular focus on identifying how to help parishes thrive and not merely survive. I emerge from that research with a clear conclusion: Your parish’s root cause challenges are solvable. If your parish has a clear long-term vision and plan, achieved complete financial stewardship independence from festivals & fundraisers, and if you have abundant ministries and volunteers, well-trained leadership, and growing sacramental and liturgical participation – Glory to God!…
Source: Union of Orthodox Journalists “Moses the Black,” Yelena Popovic’s follow-up to her 2021 film about the life of St. Nektarios of Aegina, “Man of God,” is set to release in theaters on January 30, 2026. This time, the movie will be set in modern day, with stars such as Omar Epps, Wiz Khalifa, Quavo, and producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson being involved in the project, which tells the story of a Chicago gangster who is inspired by St. Moses the Black’s ancient story of repentance. In an interview with the Union of Orthodox Journalists of America, Popovic speaks about…
Source: Rod Dreher’s Diary The Irish monk St. Columba, who died in 597, brought Christianity to Scotland, first by establishing a monastery on the Isle of Iona. That monastery was repeatedly attacked by Vikings in following centuries, and monastic life eventually died out. Among the Orthodox, there is a tradition that Columba prophesied the eventual desolation of monastic life on Iona, but said it would return shortly before the Second Coming of Christ. (For the record, I read that this alleged prophecy does not appear in the Life Of St. Columba, circa 697, which collected the wonderworking saint’s prophecies.) If the…
Source: Suprasl When you hear the phrase “Mind the Gap,” you might think of the London Underground. For us at SUPRASL, it is a sacred charge: to acknowledge the divides in our world, our Church, and our hearts, and to fill them with Christ’s love. We have chosen this as our theme because it most accurately describes the work we have to do in the Church today. This call is urgent. Today, young people are arriving in Orthodox communities in unprecedented numbers, seeking authenticity, beauty, and healing from an anxious age. Yet parishes often feel unprepared. Conversions can be lonely, and…
Source: Orthodox Church in America Reflections in Christ by Fr. Alexander Schmemann About the Author Protobresbyter Alexander Schmemann (1921-1983) was born in Estonia to Russian émigrés. As a child he moved to PaFrance. He taught for a time in Paris, and came to America in 1951 to teach at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. He was dean of the seminary from 1962 until his death in 1983. An Urgent Issue No one would deny that the clergy-laity issue in our church here in America is both an urgent and confused one. It is urgent because the progress of the church…
Source: Assembly of Bishops: Inter-Parish Associations With great joy, the Assembly of Bishops’ Inter-Parish Associations ministry announces the establishment of 6 new Inter-Parish Associations in 2025. These areas include: Denver, Colorado Indianapolis, Indiana Northern New Jersey Manhattan, New York City Worcester, Massachusetts Youngstown, Ohio Inter-Parish Associations promote communication, camaraderie, and cooperation across Orthodox Christian parishes of all jurisdictions in a given geographical area. They are local (city/town level), parishes are the Members, and their leadership includes both clergy and laity. Their purpose is to break down barriers across Orthodox Christian jurisdictions and, as a unified Orthodox Christian community, witness Christ’s…
Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria has completed his first “Peace Visit” as a recently elected primate of a Local Orthodox Church. It was a four-day (Dec. 25-28) visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Before the visit, it was well-known that differences exist between Patriarch Daniil and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on important issues such as the status of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the existence of primacy at the universal level. There are no indications that these differences were resolved by the visit. However, the dialogue and personal contacts that occurred resulted in a visit that…
Source: Orthodox Observer By Office of National Ministries The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has embarked on a landmark survey with the aim of equipping parish clergy, ministry leaders, and ministry workers to build up healthy parish communities (cf. Ephesians 4:12). The study, launched on December 1, is designed to bring parish voices to the forefront and guide Archdiocesan ministry support, resources, and investment where they will most effectively strengthen parish life. “Our parishes are the heartbeat of our Archdiocese,” said His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. “As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, ‘Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him…