Source: Byzantine, TX (Meduza) – The Russian Orthodox Church hopes to erect an “Orthodox Vatican” in Sergiyev Posad, just outside Moscow, that would require the demolition of several downtown buildings, according to the BBC Russian Service. Journalists learned about plans for an “open-air temple” at the walls of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius with a platform stage that would allow the church to hold outdoor mass. The new church will feature a library, a complex of various church institutions, a youth center, a “congress center,” and a media center. The “Orthodox Vatican” would gobble up real estate currently occupied…
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Source: Russian Orthodox Church Department for External Church Relations In April 2018 the Patriarchate of Constantinople decided to admit for consideration the issue of granting autocephaly to “the Orthodox faithful of Ukraine.” The episcopate of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church unanimous spoke out for the preservation of its current status. However, against their will, Constantinople has set about implementing a project of the Ukrainian autocephaly. The communiqué of the Chief Secretariat of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, published on 7 September 2018, states that two hierarchs, Archbishop Daniel of Pamphilon (USA) and Bishop Hilarion of Edmonton…
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos CONSTANTINOPLE – At the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s recent Holy Synod, Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey said there is a serious problem at the Hellenic College / Holy Cross School of Theology (HCHC), referring to: reduction of the student body, a dire financial situation, the resignations of Deans Demetrios Katos from the College and Demetrios Skedros from the Theological School, as well as the resignation of numerous members of the Board of Trustees. Evangelos also raised the issue of a director’s criticism of School President Fr. Christopher Metropulos. In the presence of the Synod, which…
Source: Greek Reporter Europe By Philip Chrysopoulos The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has decided to allow a second marriage for Greek Orthodox priests in the event that they are widowed or abandoned by their wife, religious news website Romfea.gr says. The decision, that is considered historic in the Orthodox Church, specifies that a second marriage will not be allowed if the priest wishes to leave his wife and marry another woman. It is underlined that each case will be examined separately and the bishop of the priest’s parish will be sending the specifics to be judged by the Holy Synod…
Source: The National Herald By Associated Press CONSTANTINOPLE (AP) — A senior official in the Orthodox Church says “there’s no going back” in granting Ukrainian clerics full ecclesiastic independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. However, Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, who is part of a committee dealing with the Ukrainian question, told The Associated Press that the final step of the procedure has yet to be reached. His comments came as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I welcomed Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in Istanbul on Friday. Ukraine’s president has launched a campaign to persuade Bartholomew, seen by many as the first among equals…
Source: Department of External Church Relations – The Russian Orthodox Church On August 31, 2018, His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, arrived in Istanbul. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church visited the Patriarchate of Constantinople, where, accompanied by Metropolitans Emmanuel of France and Bartholomew of Smyrna, as well as Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR) and Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman, he venerated the shrines of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Protomartyr George. After that, a fraternal meeting took place at the building of the Patriarchate…
Source: Hurriyet Daily News ISTANBUL Patriarch Kirill of the Orthodox Church of Moscow visited Bartholomew I, the patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church based in Istanbul, on Aug. 31 in an eleventh hour bid to prevent the Ukrainian church from being separated from Moscow. Against the backdrop of Patriarch Kirill’s suggestion to hold a conference on the matter, Patriarch Bartholomew said the issue had been debated for a long time and “they will go with the decision,” according to sources of the patriarchate in Istanbul. A senior official in the Orthodox Church in Istanbul also told the Associated Press reported on Aug. 31 that “there is no going back” in granting Ukrainian clerics ecclesiastic…
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON – His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during the Synodic meeting at the Phanar today urged His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America to willingly submit his resignation. It is the second time that the Patriarch is calling Archbishop Demetrios to resign. The previous time was at the end of May 2018. According to exclusive information of The National Herald, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reportedly told Archbishop Demetrios officially during the Synodic meeting the following: “You have done a notable archpastorship all these years, but now at the end of your ministry, you…
Source: Asia News by Vladimir Rozanskij The Patriarch of Moscow will travel to Constantinople on the 31st of August. The theme of autocephaly (independence) of the Orthodox Church of Kiev is on the agenda. The request came only from the Ukrainian president, but is also supported by Orthodox in Ukraine and by the Greek-Catholics. Predictions of victory for Bartholomew I, who has a “primacy of honor” among the Orthodox. Moscow (AsiaNews) – Kirill (Gundjaev), the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow, is scheduled to meet BArtholomew I (Archontonis), the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople on August 31st next. The meeting was announced by…
Source: The National Herald By TNH Staff BOSTON, MA – New Leadership 100 Argyris Vassiliou, gave a detailed report of the prestigious organization at the 44th Biennial Clergy Laity Congress. His remarks follow: Your Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Your Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, Respected Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Metropolitan Apostolos and Metropolitan Maximos, Revered Metropolitans of the Holy Synod, Your Graces, Reverend Clergy, Delegates and Friends: As I stand before you, as Chairman of Leadership 100, I am reminded of my own upbringing in the Greek-American Community in Astoria, New York. Our parish of St. Demetrios was the center of our…
Source: The National Herald By TNH Staff CHICAGO – The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago announced the enactment of a series of policies and decisions designed to provide for greater transparency, accountability and communication in its operations, ministries and finances. The actions were introduced by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael during his first 100 days as the newly enthroned Metropolitan and approved and/or implemented by the newly formed Metropolis Council. “The Orthodox faithful have long supported the Church with their time, talent and treasure, in good and tough times, and have made their concerns and expectations clear to me,” His Eminence…