Browsing: Governance & Unity News

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: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA On December 19, President Putin held his annual end-of-the -year question-and-answer session.  This year it was a combination of a press conference and an “open line” where the Russian public could telephone and ask questions.  The session lasted for more than four hours.  The official transcript of the entire session is found at http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/75909.  During the session, there was a question relating to the religious situation in Ukraine.  The question was asked by Alexandra Suvorova, one of the moderators of the session.   The question and answer are as follows: Suvorova:   There was also a question…

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…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Princeton, NJ: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens is pleased to announce that the Overseers of the Gennadius Library have selected the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Gennadius Prize. This highest honor of the Gennadius Library recognizes outstanding contributions to Greek learning and Hellenism. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has existed continuously since the 4th century CE and is recognized as the spiritual and administrative center of the Eastern Orthodox world. It has contributed to the preservation of Greek (the language of the Gospels and the…

Source: America – The Jesuit Review Justin McLellan – Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For the first time, women will serve on the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod, the committee that oversees implementation of the most recent synod and prepares the next assembly. The Vatican announced Dec. 13 Pope Francis’ nomination of four members to the 16th Ordinary Council of the Vatican synod office. Among his choices are: Consolata Missionary Sister Simona Brambilla, secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and María Lía Zervino, a member of…

Source: Orthodox Church in America The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America has announced the upcoming retirement of His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin, Archbishop of San Francisco and the West. In a letter read before the Synod at its recent session, His Eminence asked the Holy Synod to accept his retirement, taking effect on July 15, 2025, the second day of the 21st All-American Council in Phoenix, AZ. With gratitude for his many years of service, the Holy Synod received and accepted his letter, expressing their appreciation for His Eminence’s tireless commitment to Christ’s Church and the faithful of the…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA]  His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, today announced several significant leadership appointments that will take effect January 1, 2025. Archpriest Alexander Rentel, who has served as Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America since January 2019, has been appointed as rector of Three Hierarchs Chapel in Yonkers, NY. In his appointment, Fr. Alexander will simultaneously resume his teaching position at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, where he has been a distinguished faculty member since 2004. In his expanded role at the Seminary, Fr. Alexander has also accepted…