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Source: Pravoslavie.ru Tbilisi, October 27, 2015 With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia the Fifth International Theological Conference was held in Tbilisi. This year scientists, researchers, and Church figures from Serbia, Greece, Russia, the UK and Australia took part in the conference which was dedicated to the life and activity of St. Maximus the Confessor (c. 580-c. 662; feast: August 13/26). At the conference the results were announced of the investigations lasting several years that were dedicated to the authenticity of the saint’s relics uncovered in Georgia in 2010. Archbishop Stephan of Tsageri and Lentekhi, Metropolitan…

Source: The Modern Monastic Order of Saint Simon of Cyrene by John R. Gresham, Jr. I have a friend who is considering becoming an Orthodox Christian.  She is African-American and is concerned that by joining the Orthodox Church that she would be turning her back on black culture.  While she likes everything about the ancient faith, she notices the lack of Negro spirituals and the preaching style of the church we grew up in.  Also, except for me, I am the only native black American in the parish.  While she is used to being the only black in some circles in…

Source: Associates of Colonel Philip Ludwell III Philip Ludwell III is the first known convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity in the Americas. He was a prominent figure in pre-revolutionary Virginia and a relative by blood or marriage of many great early figures in American history from George Washington to Robert E. Lee. The scion of one of the largest landholding and politically prominent families in early Virginia, he was born at Green Spring near Williamsburg on December 28, 1716. One year after his marriage to Frances Grymes in the summer of 1737, the young Ludwell travelled from Williamsburg to London, England.…

Source: Russian Orthodox Church – Department for External Church Relations The forthcoming Pan-Orthodox Council is to consider a draft document on Relations of the Orthodox Church with the Rest of the Christian World adopted by the 5th Pan-Orthodox Pre-Council Conference on October 10-17, 2015, in Chambesy. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia reported this to the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has opened in Moscow. In his report about the preparation of the Pan-Orthodox Council, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church noted that this document was drafted on the basis of two texts…

Source: All Saints Monastery Christ certainly did not have in mind that those who follow “The Way” would “fix the world,” rather that they were gathered “out of the world,” that they would be “in the world, but not of the world,” that the world would “hate them” etc. Christianity trying to “fix the world” has become “of the world” not gathered out ot it, and political Christianity has become “of the world” and part of its system. Trying to “fix the world” is a betrayal of the calling the Christ gave us. We may minister to the world, but…

Source: The National Herald By Vasilis Papoutsis LOS ANGELES, CA – The anniversary dinner to honor Fr. John Bakas, the Dean of St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, for his 20 years of service was attended by more than 550 guests, including Hollywood dignitaries from the Greek-American community. Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks served as the evening’s Emcee and shared stories about Fr. Bakas. His speech was both affectionate and entertaining as he highlighted Bakas’ many accomplishments. Bakas told TNH that he attributed his success to ”the principles and values of his Greek heritage that his parents taught him.” Hanks,…

Source: Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric After seven months of postponing of the scheduled court hearings, today, January 28, 2016, in the Court of First Instance Skopje I in Skopje, the politically rigged court process against His Beatitude Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje, two Bishops, priests, monastics and believers of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric has begun. The hearing was soon done and the trial could have ended in the soonest possible time, but that will not be the case, due to the tendentious delays of the Public Prosecutor, who requested the witnesses that already testified, to be brought to…

Source: OrthodoxOutpost.com by ANDREW ESTOCIN The new year is unfolding and many Orthodox parishes in America will be participating in a seasonal ritual known as the parish assembly. Parish assemblies are part of the process in American Orthodox parishes where the community evaluates its health and decides on matters that are the responsibility of the laity. These assemblies are a normal part of the checks and balances of Orthodox life in America. And like every other part of our Life in Christ, parish assemblies are vulnerable to human weakness. Anger, fear, envy and apathy are all emotions people can experience…

Source: Orthodox Church in America BROOKLINE, MA [OCA] The first-ever Atlas of American Orthodox Christian Monasteries will make its debut in February 2016. Edited by Alexei Krindatch, Research Coordinator for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Christian Bishops of the USA, the 150-page volume is available on-line for $19.95 from Greek Archdiocese Holy Cross Bookstore. Drawing on his extensive research, as well as fascinating stories and “insider” anecdotes, Mr. Krindatch offers readers a scholarly introduction into traditions of Eastern Christian monasticism and a history of Orthodox Christian monasteries in America.  It also features a comprehensive directory of nearly 80 monasteries across…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK – It is with deep sorrow that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese announces the passing of Rev. Father John Romas on Sunday January 24, 2016. Father John fell asleep in the Lord shortly after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and reposed peacefully at White Plains Hospital, N.Y. Father John Romas (Ἰωάννης Ραμπαούνης) was born on April 10, 1929, to Demetrios and Vasiliki Rambaounis (Ραμπαούνη) in Dorvitsa, Nafpactias, Greece.  Upon completion of his high school education, he went on to complete a four-year program at the Hephaestus School of Mechanics, in Athens, Greece. He arrived…

Source: MYSTAGOGY The Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church will meet in June this year, according to the Athens News Agency-Macedonian Press Agency (ANA-MPA). A decision was made as the Primates are gathered in a Synaxis at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Geneva, whose work is done under the presidency of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Of course, for the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church to meet in June, during the period of Pentecost (06/19/2016), the Primates in Geneva must definitely choose the themes and regulations. The decision to convene the Holy and…

Source: Basilica.ro From 22 to 27 January 2016, at the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy, the works of the Synaxis of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches are being carried out. At the opening of the event, His Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, delivered a speech thanking the other Primates of the Orthodox Churches, as well as the delegations, for accepting to change the place of the Synaxis from the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s residence in Istanbul, Turkey, to the Chambésy Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is “meant for serving the pan-Orthodox unity, and which for…