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Source: Georgian Journal Holy Fire has descended on the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The miracle repeats yet again. Descent of the celestial flame is an undeniable sign of veracity of tenets of Orthodox Christian faith and their grace. The Holy Fire, expected by the parish that gathered around the sepulcher since morning, was brought out by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. Thousands of believers have distributed the fire among themselves. The Orthodox Patriarch entered the Church of the Resurrection at approximately 15:14, Georgian time, and the church was subsequently closed. Before he entered, the Patriarch was searched by clergy of…

Source: Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America Yesterday, I was buried with you, O Christ. Today, I rise with you in your arising. Yesterday, I was crucified with you, O Savior; therefore, glorify me together with you in Your Kingdom.  Dear Beloved: Christ is risen! On this great day of rejoicing, our hearts reflect on the goodness of God and the depths of his love for us. On this holiest of holy days, we are reminded of the continuous concern and the marvelous plan that the Creator has established for all mankind and forever. What was created “good” was abused, and…

Source: Orthodox Church in America RIVES JUNCTION MI [OCA] – His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate, presented the Order of Saint Romanos to Archimandrite Roman [Braga] after the Divine Liturgy on the Great Feast of the Annunciation at the Dormition of the Mother of God Monastery here. Established by the Holy Synod of Bishops at their spring 2014 session, the Order is awarded to influential arrangers, composers, teachers and conductors in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the field of liturgical music in the Orthodox Church in America. In his remarks on behalf of His Beatitude, Metropolitan…

Source: Change.org Facebook has recently begun demanding that Orthodox Christian clergy and monastics; i.e., those known as Priest, Abbot, Monk, Nun, Abbess, Brother, Sister, and so forth, cease using their ecclesiastical (church) names and use only their given names from the time of their birth. In one well known case, Abbot Tryphon – who is known only as Abbot Tryphon among the tens of thousands of people who read his blog, listen to his podcast, read his book, and are his friends or followers on Facebook, has recently been locked out of his Facebook account (and the account for the monastery…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA]  The Orthodox Health Plan [OHP] recently announced that, due to rising health costs, it has moved to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement [HRA].  Aetna continues to serve as the Preferred Provider Organization [PPO], while network and health care providers will remain the same. The Orthodox Health Plan is the official health plan for the clergy of the Orthodox Church in America, as well as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, the Diocese of the Armenian Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Russian Orthodox Church…

Source: Oinos Educations Services / Frankly Speaking By Frank Marangos, D.Min., Ed.D. “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” Thomas Jefferson Fifty is a fascinating number. It marks the milestone of a golden anniversary, the sacred Pythagorean Triangle (9 + 16 + 25 = 50), and the atomic designation for tin (Sn). Apart from enjoying celebrity status as the fifth magic number of nuclear physics, it delineates the number of chapters in the ancient Book of Genesis, coincidentally, the longest script of the Bible. Commemorating deliverance from personal and…

Source: La Prensa Cairo, Apr 6 (EFE).- At least four people, including one policeman, were wounded in an armed attack on a church in the northern Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria on Sunday, Palm Sunday in the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox church, security sources told Efe on Monday. The unidentified gunmen opened fire on Sunday night on the Archangel Raphael Church in al-Agami district, around 20 kilometers (13 miles) west of Alexandria, and then fled the scene. Egyptian forces cordoned the area and launched an operation to capture the perpetrators. Another attack took place in Cairo on Sunday, when a policeman…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA Youth] For years, the Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry, in conjunction with the Department of Christian Education, was very successful in reaching hundreds of youthful participants at the OCA’s All-American Councils [AAC].  This year’s AAC, slated to be held in Atlanta, GA July 20-24, 2015, will be no exception. “At the height of this ministry run by Father Michael Anderson, with the blessing of the Synod of Bishops, there were nearly 400 youth participants,” said Priest Benjamin Tucci, who is overseeing this year’s AAC youth…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK – The Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announces its Faith-Based Diplomacy & Advocacy Initiative. The Initiative establishes a total of four (2 for 2015-2016 and 2 for 2016-2017) yearlong Archdiocesan fellowships at the United Nations. All Orthodox Christian graduate and post-graduate students are invited to apply for a stipend fellowship. The Faith-Based Diplomacy and Advocacy Initiative is made possible by a generous grant awarded by The Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund, and is meant to help develop future diplomats, policy-makers and advocates…

Source: Christian Science Monitor Despite record declines in religious affiliation, more Americans pray than 30 years ago. Why? Researchers say those who pray find prayer brings spiritual meaning and understanding. By the Monitor’s Editorial Board Originally published on March 7, 2015 As they have for decades, tens of thousands of Christians around the globe and of different denominations gathered March 6 for the annual, ecumenical “World Day of Prayer.” The event, which this year focused on the meaning of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, drew little media attention. But so, too, do many other aspects of prayer. Take this little-noticed…

Source: Catholic Herald by Ed West Prince Charles has a new obsession as strong as his passions for ecology and architecture. He is refusing to stand idly by as Christians are driven out of the Middle East. Who is the most formidable defender of persecuted Christians in the world today? Many would nominate Pope Francis, who has offered thunderous denunciations of attacks on the faithful ever since his election. But another candidate is emerging: the surprising figure of the future king of England. The media have barely noticed that the Prince of Wales has a new obsession, as powerful as…

Source: Classical Christianity I think that one of the most important problems facing the Orthodox Church in Russia, and even beyond its borders, is the ideological rigor mortis of the Church. The Church is considered as a kind of dead body; it is thought to be frozen and that nothing should be changed in it. It is understandable that we should not change dogmatics and Church Tradition — no one argues with that. However, the problem is that people try to preserve superstitions and false ideology, and, what is worse, they try to hang onto bad remnants of the Soviet…