Source: Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Ministries PDF of OYM Ministries Flyer for Parishes With approximately 60% of youth leaving the church once they become adults, it’s vital for everyone – clergy, lay leaders, parents, and other caring adults – to work together in helping our young people find joy in Christ and become full participants in the life of the Church. The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops has designated September 24, 2023, as Orthodox Youth & Young Adult Ministries (OYM) Sunday. See the Assembly’s OYM Sunday Encyclical by Bishop Thomas, OYM’s episcopal liaison. (PDF of Encyclical available here) OYM comes alongside parishes, priests, parents,…
Browsing: Governance Top Stories
Source: Anadolu Ajansı by Ihvan Radoykov Teaching of religion is instrumental in prevention of violence, spiritual-moral training of students, says church SOFIA, Bulgaria – The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has demanded that religious education be made compulsory in school curriculums, saying it will be beneficial to students. The ruling body of the church, the Synod, sent a written request saying that compulsory religious education is important in “the prevention of violence, the spiritual-moral training of the students, and the raising of the nation’s spirituality.” The Bulgarian Constitution recognizes Orthodox Christianity as the official religion of the country, stating that “Eastern Orthodox Christianity…
Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos received on Tuesday, August 29, in Fanari, the participants of the scientific meeting “Partnerships in Action: towards One Earth, One Family, One Future”. His Holiness, welcoming them to the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, referred to the historical development of the institution, its multidimensional ministry, as well as the canonically defined and sanctified through centuries of ecclesiastical tradition and practical responsibilities of the Patriarchal Church of Orthodoxy. He made special reference to the convocation of the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church, in Crete, in 2016, which, as he noted, renewed the Orthodox…
Source: Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, has established a new Archon Engagement Committee: Women In Orthodoxy. This much-needed new committee is designed to foster the full inclusion of women in the life of the Church. Dr. Limberakis explained: “At this point in the life of our Church and Omogeneia, it is imperative that we support the greater participation of women in the life of the Church. The WORD was established by our Lord and Savior and evangelized by the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but the…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America New Frequently Asked Questions have been added to the GOA Charter website (https://charter.goarch.org/faq), an interactive site dedicated to providing accurate, accessible, and up-to-date information regarding the proposed revisions to the GOA Charter. In the vein of the broad participation that has characterized the revision process, these FAQs reflect the questions, comments, and feedback shared by clergy and lay people through the site’s submission form. Individuals periodically receive emailed responses to their submissions from the GOA, as well. In addition to submitting questions through the Charter website, faithful are also encouraged to meet with His…
Source: The National Herald CONSTANTINOPLE – The Ecumenical Patriarchate on Friday thanked the Prefect of Trebzon for signing the written permit for the Patriarchal liturgy at the historic Monastery of Panaghia Soumela on August 15, feast day for the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. In its statement on Friday, the Ecumenical Patriarchate said it received the permit in writing on the day, thanking both the signatory and Turkish government authorities. It is noted that initially Turkish authorities had refused permission, but approval was first issued late last month. The Panaghia Soumela Monastery is located high in the Pontic Mountains and…
Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, who has been the key representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with respect to Ukraine since 2018, has now arrived in Kyiv. On August 10, the Metropolitan met with President Zelinsky. https://www.president.gov.ua/news/volodimir-zelenskij-zustrivsya-z-predstavnikom-vselenskogo-p-84813. According to the President’s website, attention was paid at the meeting to “the spiritual independence of Ukraine, the discussion of the Ukrainian peace formula, as well as the issue of the return of children illegally deported from our country.” A short video of the meeting can be accessed at https://orthodoxtimes.com/elder-metropolitan-of-chalcedon-met-metropolitan-of-kiyv-and-president-of-ukraine-video/ The video shows that Viktor Yelensky, the head of DESS, was…
Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA On August 7, 2023, Metropolitan Pavlo, vicar of the Kyiv Lavra, was released from the Kyiv pretrial detention center following the posting of bail in the amount of UAH 33,300,000 ($902,183). https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-society/3745466-mitropolit-pavlo-vijsov-izpid-varti-pid-zastavu-advokat.html The attorney for Pavlo, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, posted the details on his Telegram site. https://t.me/s/nikita_chekman His description is as follows: Today, August 7, 2023, the Vicar of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was finally released from custody. We will remind you that the Solomyansky district court of the city of Kyiv changed the preventive measure of Metropolitan Pavlo from 24-hour house arrest to detention with bail in…
Source: Greek City Times by GCT The Great Church of Holy Wisdom, Hagia Sophia, is a living monument to the glory of our Orthodox Christian Faith and a visible symbol of all that is best in the worship and liturgy of our Church,” said Archbishop Elpidophoros of America in the Archepiscopal Encyclical on the Day of Mourning for Hagia Sophia. He added, “Its seizure and second conversion to use as a mosque, on July 24, 2020, is a day of mourning for all Orthodox Christian People, as well as for all people of religious conviction.” “Three years later, we continue to…
Source: CathNews Ukraine has moved its official Christmas holiday to December 25, breaking with the Russian Orthodox Church, which celebrates it on January 7 in line with the Julian calendar. Source: SBS News. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted a bill pushing for the change in June, with the aim of moving away from “the Russian heritage of imposing Christmas celebrations” in January. Ukraine’s Parliament voted in favour of changing the date of the Orthodox Christmas holiday earlier this month, with Mr Zelenskyy signing the bill on Friday. The bill highlights the deepening rift between churches in Kyiv and Moscow since Russia’s invasion…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Throughout the Archdiocese, there are new parishes in need of liturgical items such as censers, chalice sets, baptismal fonts, kouvouklia, and more. There are also many established parishes that have several of these items, some of which are never used. The Department of Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism is working with the parishes to match up those that have with those that need in order to provide these basic liturgical items for only the cost of delivery. Items Needed See a listing of the items needed at parishes and missions of the Archdiocese Items…
Source: Orthodox Church in America This year’s annual pilgrimage to the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, will mark an important milestone in the life of the community. The services for the Feast of the Lord’s Transfiguration, with His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon as the main celebrant, will take place on Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6, 2023 and the 55th anniversary of the consecration of the Monastery church on Saturday, September 28, 1968 will also be commemorated. The consecration took place just a year after the establishment of the Monastery by its founding abbess, Mother Alexandra (formerly Princess Ileana), under the guidance of Bishop…