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Source: The State By JOVANA GEC Associated Press The remains of Yugoslavia’s last king – Peter II Karadjordjevic, who died in the U.S. in 1970 – were flown back to Serbia in a solemn ceremony on Tuesday, despite protests by some Serb royalists in America. The former king fled the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia at the start of World War II and never returned because Communists took over at the end of the war. He died in exile at the age of 47 and was buried at a Serbian Orthodox Church monastery in Libertyville, Illinois – the only European monarch…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America Forty years ago the Supreme Court of the United States handed down a decision, known as Roe v. Wade, granting a “right” for women of the United States to terminate the lives of their children in the womb. This decision has resulted in some 54 million children’s lives ending almost before they began. The Holy Orthodox Christian Faith is unabashedly pro-life. The Lord Jesus Christ was recognized and worshipped in His mother’s womb while yet unborn by the Holy Forerunner who was also still in his mother’s womb (Luke…

Source: Orthodox Church in America WASHINGTON, DC [OCA] On the eve of his Enthronement as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America the weekend of January 26-27, 2013, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, together with other members of the Holy Synod of Bishops, clergy, seminarians and faithful of all ages will once again gather in the US capital for the annual March for Lifethis Friday, January 25. Marchers are invited to gather under the “Orthodox Christians for Life” banner at the Ellipse at noon. They will march to the Supreme Court, where Metropolitan Tikhon will offer prayers for the victims of…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America WASHINGTON – The 57th Inaugural Ceremonies for President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden was also a special occasion of honor and recognition for His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and the Greek Orthodox Church in America. Archbishop Demetrios attended the swearing-in ceremony and the President’s Inaugural Address today, Jan. 21, from the presidential platform, just a few feet away from the podium. Immediately following the official ceremonies, His Eminence attended the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Luncheon and offered the benediction following the President’s toast. The event was carried nationally and internationally by many broadcasts and…

Source: The Daily Star – Lebanon By Wassim Mroueh BEIRUT: Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora expressed the willingness of the Future Movement to discuss a draft electoral law that combines proportional representation with a winner-takes-all system during a meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri Friday, said a source close to Berri. “Former Prime Minister Siniora expressed his party’s openness to discuss the draft law which the parliamentary subcommittee is currently studying,” said the source, describing the meeting between the two as positive. Siniora, who heads the Future parliamentary bloc, had lunch at Berri’s residence after the meeting. Future Movement MP Nuhad…

Source: RIA Novosti MOSCOW, January 19 (RIA Novosti) – More than 82,000 Moscow residents bathed in icy cold water to mark the Epiphany early Saturday, as air temperature in the Russian capital stood at minus 13 degrees Celsius (+ 8.6 Fahrenheit), a spokesman for the Emergency Ministry’s Moscow branch said Saturday. Epiphany, also known as Theophany, is one of the Great Feasts, marking the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the Jordan River and the beginning of his ministry. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the holiday on January 19, in line with the Julian calendar. Honoring an…

Source: The Hill By Jennifer Martinez Tweet Two leading religious groups on Friday voiced support for President Obama’s call for Congress to appropriate $10 million for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to study gun violence and possible links to violent video games and media images. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America said more research needs to be done to understand the effect that violent entertainment content has on young children. “We know that media influences young people and their behavior,” Helen Osman, secretary of communications for the U.S. bishops’ conference, said in a…

Source: Zenit News Two months ago, an appeal was made by three regional Bishops who “launched an SOS to avoid catastrophe.”  The Bishops stated that “nothing has been done: no one cares for the exhausted population of Hassake, who urgently need humanitarian aid.” Syrian Catholic Bishop Jacques Behnan Hindo and Syrian Orthodox Bishop Matta Roham are intensifying efforts to contact other Christian Syrian leaders and humanitarian organizations, but the response they have received so far has been minimal. “It is impossible to bring aid to Hassake because it is too dangerous and lacks minimal security conditions,” the Bishops stated. Islamist…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] In line with the Orthodox Church in America’s Strategic Plan, as embraced by delegates to the 16th All-American Council in 2011, a small group of volunteers has been working on the Youth Department’s approach to social media. The group, led by Priest Christopher Rowe, has produced a short video spot now available for viewing. Filming and editing services were offered by Matthew Andrews of Holy Assumption Church, Philedelphia, PA, with the assistance of Justin Nescott of Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Allison Park, PA; Priest John Vitko of Saint Luke Church, McLean, VA;…

Source: Fordham University By Joanna Klimaski In the United States, less than 1 percent of people identify as Orthodox Christians—however, with an estimated population in excess of 260 million worldwide, Orthodox Christianity represents the second largest Christian tradition in the world. Now, a grant secured by two Fordham scholars will help bridge the gap between the U.S. population and this important segment of Christians living in some of the most significant global hot-spots. The Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University has received a prestigious challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), an independent federal agency and…

Source: The Daily Star By Wassim Mroueh BEIRUT: Following a surprise meeting chaired by Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Rai Friday, rival Christian leaders called for adopting an electoral law that provides fair representation for all sects, in an apparent retreat from agreeing to the controversial Orthodox electoral proposal. “It was agreed and stressed that it is necessary to adopt an electoral law that provides the best and fairest representation for all Lebanese sects,” said a brief statement issued after the meeting. Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun; Amin Gemayel, the head of the Kataeb Party; and Marada Movement leader Suleiman…

Source: Sofia News Agency The Sofia Bishopric has labeled the Friday refusal of the Diocesan Council of prelates and vicars to sign the list of representatives from the Sofia Diocese to elect a new patriarch a “sabotage.” The list was prepared by interim Patriarch and Sofia Metropolitan Kiril. The Bishopric admits that there have been disagreements in the process of preparing the list, but their escalation, they say, was a clear sign that the story aims at sabotaging the election. The statement, issued Saturday, further stresses that such act is unacceptable in the light of clerical discipline and canonical spirit.…