Source: Orthodox Church in America WASHINGTON, DC [OCA] On January 23–24, 2025, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon participated in the annual March for Life events in Washington, DC. On the morning of Thursday, January 23, Metropolitan Tikhon met with Ms. Emily Yocum (Wilkinson), President and Executive Director of Orthodox Christians for Life, and Ms. Sophia Lyda, Program Coordinator, at the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America in Springfield, VA. Their discussion covered various topics, including the long-term goals of Orthodox Christians for Life, educational initiatives, and ongoing pro-life ministries. At the conclusion of the meeting, His Beatitude was presented with an icon of…
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Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] The Orthodox Church in America has announced the opening of registration for the 21st All-American Council (AAC), which will take place from July 14-18, 2025, at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, AZ. All clergy and faithful are invited to participate with this year’s theme being “Gathered Together By Christ.” The All-American Council is the highest legislative and administrative gathering of the Orthodox Church in America. It is a time for our Church to come together to focus on worship and engaging in the conciliar decision-making process. It is also our opportunity for spiritual…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Prot. No. 449/2024 Archepiscopal Encyclical on the New Year January 1, 2025 Unto the Most Reverend and Right Reverend Hierarchs, Pious Priests and Deacons, Monks and Nuns, Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils, Honorable Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Members of Leadership 100, Day and Afternoon Schools, Philoptochos Societies, Youth, Greek Orthodox Organizations, and the entirety of the Christ-loving Plenitude of the Sacred Archdiocese of America: In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. (The Symbol of the Faith) Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, As we enter into the New Year of 2025,…
Source: Suprasl – A World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth Dear Friends, Today, we close out our second full year of ministry to and with Orthodox youth around the world. As we reflect on all we have accomplished since beginning our work in late 2022, we are grateful to our Lord for having been given the opportunity to help Orthodox young people around the world uncover and live their unity in Jesus Christ. We have met so many wonderful young people this year through our projects who have motivated and encouraged our work. But it was this quote from one of…
Source: Orthodox Times On December 29, 2024, the Patriarchs and Heads of Christian Churches in Syria released a historic joint statement from Damascus, addressing the nation and the international community during a period of significant transition for Syria. “At this historic moment, as Syria undergoes a new transition, we address the public with a message of love and hope,” the leaders declared, emphasizing their responsibility to advocate for peace and unity during the Holy Nativity season. The statement highlighted the role of Christians in fostering national reconciliation, advocating for economic relief, contributing to constitutional reform, and maintaining hope for Syria’s…
Source: Jerusalem Patriarchate The Holy Synod was convened on Thursday, December 26, 2024, and was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III. Guided by the suggestions of His Beatitude, the Holy Synod undertook the following decisions: 1. To convene a Theological Conference in the Monastery of the Holy Cross, in memory and honour of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in Constantinople, which denounced Arianism as a heresy and enshrined the divinity of Christ by invoking the term Homoousion (Greek: “same in being, same in essence”) in a statement of faith known as the Creed…
Source: Orthodox Times On December 26, 2024, Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland met with the newly elected Central Board of the Orthodox Youth Brotherhood in Poland. Prior to the meeting, members of the Board began their term with a prayer service at the academic chapel dedicated to Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Warsaw. The service was conducted by the spiritual advisor of the Central Board, Archpriest Paweł Szwed. During the meeting, the youth introduced themselves to His Eminence, presented their action plan for the coming year, and received valuable advice regarding the Brotherhood’s current affairs and its proper…
Source: Novaya Gazeta The Russian Orthodox Church’s supreme administrative body has decided to remove the scandal-prone head of its Budapest and Hungarian Diocese, the church’s Holy Synod announced on Friday. Grigory Alfeyev, who took the religious name Metropolitan Hilarion, was temporarily suspended by the body in July following an investigation by Novaya Gazeta Europe that uncovered evidence of misconduct in both his financial and personal affairs. As the head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department of External Church Relations since 2009, Hilarion had been touted as a possible successor to Patriarch Kirill, the current head of the church, until he was…
Source: Orthodox Christianity The Sacred Community of Mount Athos has announced new measures regarding pilgrims’ access, which will come into effect from January 1, 2025. The decision was made due to the increasing number of visitors, as well as to avoid disturbing the monastic life and prayer schedule, reports the Basilica News Agency. According to the new rules, the maximum number of pilgrims that can be accommodated in the monasteries and monastic settlements of the Holy Mountain will be strictly limited as follows: For cenobitic holy sketes: maximum 200 pilgrims per month For kyriakon (central churches) of other sketes: maximum 50…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America CLICK HERE or on the video below GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA ARCHEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL Prot. No. 442/2024 Archepiscopal Encyclical on the Feast of Christmas December 25, 2024 Unto the Most Reverend and Right Reverend Hierarchs, Pious Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils, Honorable Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Members of Leadership 100, the Day and Afternoon Schools, Philoptochos Societies, Youth, Greek Orthodox Organizations, and entirety of the Christ-loving Plenitude of the Sacred Archdiocese of America: And the [star] led the Magi to You, who worshipped You…
Source: Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America ARCHPASTORAL LETTER 2024 ✙ NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST Beloved Spiritual Children in Christ, Reverend Clergy, Devout Faithful and Venerable Monastics of our God-protected Episcopate: May God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit grant you grace and peace, and from us, hierarchal blessings! “…in our own time, the last days, [God the Father] has spoken to us through His Son, the Son that He has appointed to inherit everything and through whom He made everything there is” (Saint Paul to the Hebrews 1:2). Dearly Beloved in Christ: Christ is born!…
Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA At the Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Cross in Damascus on December 15, Patriarch John X of Antioch delivered an inspiring and eloquent homily describing his vision for the future of Syria. The complete text in English can be read at https://www.antiochpatriarchate.org/en/page/Sermon%20of%20Patriarch%20John%20X%20Sunday%20Liturgy%2015-12-2024/2782/. Although one should read the entire homily, the following is an excerpt: We stand on the threshold of a new phase, perceiving the dawn of a homeland we all love and cherish. We are on the brink of renewal, which we desire to be radiant with hope and crowned with light. Here…