Browsing: Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Catholic World News With police looking on, a crowd of 100 Muslim extremists occupied land belonging to a Coptic Orthodox diocese after Pope Tawadros II, the church’s new head, announced his opposition to the imposition of Islamic law in Egypt. The occupation lasted for over a day. “By seizing land that belongs to the Diocese of Shubra al-Kheima, Salafists are sending a warning to the new Coptic patriarch, Tawadros II,” said Father Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Egypt. “Such an action is nothing new in Egypt, but this is the first time that extremists directly go…

Source: The Harrow Times By Emma Innes A new Greek orthodox church was officially opened in Harrow on Saturday. The Church of St Panteleimon and St Paraskevi, in Kenton Road, is the first Greek orthodox church to be built in London in 134 years. It was formally blessed and opened by Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain and there was a reception following the service. Bob Blackman MP, who attended the opening, said: “It was an honour to be asked to attend this historic occasion. “I am delighted that such an important building of such great significance has been…

Source: Daily Times [Pakistan] by I Razi Azmi In the light of the conspicuous pervasiveness of Christianity in Ethiopia, it is somewhat of a surprise to learn that one Ethiopian out of three is a Muslim The military coup of 1974 that overthrew the famine-stricken Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile Selassie unfolded slowly, just as famines do, after army officers bundled His Majesty out of the royal palace in the back seat of an old two-door VW Beatle and imprisoned him. To these officers with guns, it did not matter that he was not just an emperor, but also “King of Kings,…

Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America His Eminence Metropolitan Philip writes: Beloved in Christ: Greetings to you and your families in the name of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. I write to you today with a heavy heart as we continue to endure the effects of the massive storm “Sandy” that engulfed the Northeast last week. In fact, I had hoped to communicate with all of you earlier, but we just received our electricity back at the archdiocese and until now we have no Internet access. Nevertheless, the inconvenience we endured pales in comparison to what…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS VISITS STORM RAVAGED AREAS IN STATEN ISLAND, NY NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America establishes the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund and designates Sunday November 11, 2012 as a day of prayer and offering on behalf of the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Archbishop Demetrios of America, on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod, issued today an Encyclical (click here) in which he calls upon all the faithful throughout the Church in America to pray fervently for comfort from above. We offer prayers of remembrance for those who perished and of…

Source: Orthodox Church in America [and various sources] SOFIA, BULGARIA His Holiness, Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria, 98, fell asleep in the Lord as a result of heart failure on Tuesday morning, November 6, 2012. He had been hospitalized for the past month. According to an announcement issued by the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the 13-member Holy Synod will meet to make funeral arrangements and choose a locum tenens until the convocation of a Church Council within the next four months to elect Patriarch Maxim’s successor. Patriarch Maxim led the Bulgarian Church for over four decades, bridging the…

Source: The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre UK The 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa on the holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark was announced on 4 November 2012. Bishop Tawadrous was chosen in an altar ballot, concluding the Papal Selection Process for the Coptic Orthodox Church. Bishop Tawadrous succeeds the late Pope Shenouda III, who departed on 17 March 2012. In a process that has taken nine months, the new Pope was selected in an altar ballot during a Liturgical service at The Grand Cathedral of St Mark in Cairo on 4 November 2012. The date of…

Source: The Jerusalem Post By REUTERS Church threatens to shut its doors after Jerusalem water company freezes the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s bank account. This week the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which has extensive and valuable property holdings in the Holy Land and maintains a headquarters in the ancient church, had its bank account frozen, said an official at water company Hagihon. A report in Ma’ariv on Friday said the Patriarchate was threatening to shut the doors of the church, which is a major pilgrimage site for millions of tourists. The church lies deep inside the Old City walls. It…

Egypt’s Orthodox cast lots Sunday to find God’s choice for who succeeds Pope Shenouda III. by Jayson Casper Source: Christianity Today While Americans prepare to elect their next president on Tuesday, Egyptian Christians are leaving this Sunday’s choice for their highest leader up to a higher power: God. On November 4, one of three final candidates will succeed Pope Shenouda III, the beloved “pope of the Bible” who died in March, as the 118th patriarch of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church. But in contrast to the “group consensus” method used to select Roman Catholic popes, the casting of lots will determine…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA CSHA] The Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Christian Service and Humanitarian Aid (CSHA) is encouraging all parishes to assist International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) in providing emergency assistance to those suffering as a result of Hurricane Sandy. According to Mrs. Donna Karabin, department chair, IOCC has received initial requests for anticipated shipments of emergency relief items from its ecumenical partners for communities recovering from Hurricane Sandy. IOCC is urging Orthodox Christian parishes to assist by assembling emergency relief items and by making financial donations. “The scenes of destruction that we have…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK – In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America has expressed the concern, prayers and care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for the life, safety and well being of the millions of people in the affected areas of the northeastern United States. The Archbishop, through his chancellor, has been in contact with clergy of the Direct Archdiocesan District to assess and determine the extent of damages on our faithful and parishes in the areas ravaged by the storm. He also spoke yesterday, October 31, with New…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] Downed tree damages rectory of St. Nicholas Church, Whitestone, NY. As of Thursday, November 1, 2012, electrical power at the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America here had yet to be restored, while 20 or so trees—including those blocking the entrance drive—have yet to be removed as the east coast slowly recovers from Hurricane Sandy. The Chancery will remain closed through the weekend, as will Saint Vladimir’s Seminary and the Chancery of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, both of which remain without electrical power. A meeting of the…