Browsing: Governance & Unity News

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Along an aptly rain-soaked Golden Horn, this weekend the Ecumenical Patriarchate is presenting Halki Summit VI, entitled “Water: Spirit and Science,” in Istanbul, Türkiye. The Halki Summit, which celebrated its inaugural meeting in 2012, is a gathering organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate for activists, scientists, journalists, business leaders, theologians, and academics to engage in environmentalist discussion and build interdisciplinary connections. This year’s Summit, co-sponsored by Hellenic Open University, addresses the scientific and spiritual dimensions of water as a vital resource of our planet and a fundamental symbol of Christian theological and sacramental practice. Attendees…

Source: Public Orthodoxy Dr. Sergii Bortnyk Director of the ‘Academic Initiative’ Charitable Foundation (Kyiv, Ukraine) Recent weeks have been quite intense in Ukraine’s religious sphere. Undoubtedly, the most resonant event was the adoption of Bill No. 8371 by the Ukrainian Parliament on August 20. In its latest version, it was titled “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activities of Religious Organizations,” but it is informally known as the “law banning the UOC (Ukrainian Orthodox Church).” The bill’s adoption was demanded by a significant number of opposition deputies, particularly from the “European Solidarity” party, led by former President…

Source: The National Herald By Theodore Karakostas The glorious churches of Aghia Sophia and the Holy Savior at the monastery of Chora in Constantinople have been converted into mosques by the current Turkish government. While the future of these edifices of Greek Orthodoxy may seem bleak, they cannot be abandoned to their fate. Constantinople will always be the greatest of all Greek cities and the spiritual heart of Orthodoxy. As I told an official of UNESCO in Paris in 2015, Aghia Sophia is the product of the Gospel and Orthodox theology. I have been in touch with UNESCO officials since…

Source: Orthodox Church in America ANCHORAGE, AK [Diocese of Alaska]  His Grace Bishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska has announced that the Clergy Endowment Stipend has successfully reached its $1 Million goal. In recognition of this, His Grace has released a video thanking His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, the Holy Synod of Bishops, and the many generous parishes and faithful who have contributed to the success of the fund. His Grace spoke at the 20th All-American Council in Baltimore, MD about the difficult situation facing the Alaskan clergy. The council passed a resolution to support the creation of this Clergy Endowment Stipend: “Whereas Alaska is the…

Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA Pope Francis, in his Angelus address on Sunday, August 25, made a strong appeal relating to the religious situation in Ukraine.  The official English translation of his remarks can be read at https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2024/documents/20240825-angelus.html.  With respect to Ukraine, he stated: I continue to follow with sorrow the fighting in Ukraine and the Russian Federation.  And in thinking about the laws recently adopted in Ukraine, I fear for the freedom of those who pray, because those who truly pray always pray for all.  A person does not commit evil because of praying.  If someone commits evil against his…

Source: Public Orthodoxy Evgenios Voulgaris and Platon Levshin— a Model for Future Greek-Russian Exchange and Rapprochement? Dr. Vasilios N. Makrides Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Erfurt (Germany) It is well known that the current Orthodox Christian positions, either official or unofficial, towards modern human rights differ considerably. Suffice it to point here to the different evaluations of human rights by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople under Patriarch Bartholomew[i] and by the Russian Orthodox Church in post-communist times, especially under Patriarch Kirill.[ii] This also becomes evident if one compares the related official documents of these two Churches: on the one…

Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA On August 20, the Ukrainian Rada approved on the second reading Draft Law 8371 without discussion and by a large majority vote.  https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-parliament-legislative-ban-ukrainian-orthodox-church-539e0f3a6d657277aa4fa93b8ec53505  The Draft Law is now being prepared for the signature of President Zelensky.  https://itd.rada.gov.ua/billInfo/Bills/Card/41219  It appears absolutely certain that the President will sign 8371 as he repeatedly urged its passage in his nightly addresses last week.  In the event of an alleged violation of the new law, there are a series of administrative steps that will occur.  A very brief summary of these administrative steps is as follows:  (1) On the initiative of the…

Source: Hartford Institute for Religion Research Hartford, CT — A new report examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Orthodox Christian churches in the United States reveals a unique approach to crisis management, characterized by adherence to traditional practices and resistance to change. The study, which draws on data from the Faith Communities Today (FACT) survey and two Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (EPIC) surveys, offers insights into how Orthodox churches fared compared to other U.S. religious congregations. Key findings include: Orthodox churches were more likely to maintain regular activities, particularly in-person services, despite pandemic restrictions. These churches showed greater…

Source: St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, August 20, 2024—At its meeting on August 9, 2024, the Board of Trustees at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) announced its decision to indefinitely pause the relocation of St Vladimir’s Seminary, and pursue the needs of the Seminary for recruiting a new president, strengthening the Seminary’s finances, and creating a strategic vision and direction in fulfillment of its core mission. The Seminary’s core mission remains to “train priests, lay leaders, and scholars to be active apologists of the Orthodox Christian Faith—focusing on academic rigor and spiritual formation within a residential…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] In preparation for the upcoming 21st All-American Council in Phoenix, AZ, July 14-18, 2025, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon is calling on all communities of the Orthodox Church in America—parishes, missions, seminaries, monasteries, and all institutions—to submit reflections on this moment in the life of the Church. A companion study guide has also been made available to help guide these discussions. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (Acts 2:1) In July 2025, the bishops, clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America will gather in…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OPL] By the Grace of God, the Orthodox Church in America’s (OCA) Office of Pastoral Life (OPL) is thrilled to announce a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. that will better equip clergy and their families to face economic challenges that can persist throughout their careers. OPL supports clergy as they fulfill their vocation of pastoral service by offering resources that promote personal, spiritual, and educational growth and health. Through workshops, seminars, retreats and Thriving in Ministry peer learning groups, OPL seeks to equip clergy, clergy wives and clergy families with resources and tools to maintain…

Source: Orthodox Church in America Suprasl, Poland [SUPRASL] Fr Nilos offering a morning reflection, “Life as Gratitude”. For the third year in a row students and clergy of the Orthodox Church in America participated in the annual World Gathering of Orthodox Youth – Suprasl 2024 – organized by Suprasl: A World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth at the Monastery of the Annunciation and the Suprasl Academy in northeastern Poland from June 30 – July 8. Participating from the OCA were Father Nilos Nellis of Saint John in the Wilderness Orthodox Sanctuary, Birchdale, British Columbia; Caleb Hooper from Saint Nicholas Church, Mogadore, OH; and…