Pictures – Epiphany celebrations marked by pandemic
Kalofer, BulgariaAP Christians on Wednesday marked Epiphany in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, which constrained celebrations in many places but didn’t stop some defying warnings to keep to traditions. Orthodox Christians celebrate Jesus’ baptism during Epiphany. In Bulgaria, thousands of worshippers ignored health authorities’ warnings to refrain from mass gatherings, braving icy waters to retrieve crucifixes […]
Greek Church tells priests to ignore pandemic closure order
Athens, GreeceAP Greece’s powerful Orthodox Church is rebelling against a government order to briefly close places of worship under a weeklong drive to tighten virus restrictions before the planned reopening of schools. The conservative Church’s ruling body issued a statement Monday directing priests to admit worshippers during indoor services for Wednesday’s feast of the Epiphany. […]
Virus deaths of senior Serb, Greek religious leaders triggers alarm
Belgrade, Serbia/Athens, GreeceAP After the two most senior Serbian Orthodox Church leaders died within a month after testing positive with the coronavirus, health experts and even hardcore believers are starting to worry. The spread of the virus within the largest religious group in the Balkans is getting more alarming by the day. A senior Orthodox […]
Greek bishop’s death revives debate on communion safety
Thessaloniki/Athens, GreeceAP A senior clergyman in Greece’s Orthodox Church was buried Monday after dying of COVID-19, reviving a debate over the safety of receiving communion before the Christmas season. Metropolitan Bishop Ioannis of Lagadas, 62, was an outspoken advocate of maintaining communion ceremonies – at which worshippers are given bread and wine with a shared […]
Greek Orthodox Church: For some, communion remains unchanged despite virus
ELENA BECATOROS and COSTAS KANTOURIS, of Associated Press, report…
ORTHODOX CHURCH: ÉMIGRÉ RUSSIANS INCH TOWARD A RETURN TO MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE
TOM HENEGAN, of Religion News Service, reports on the decision facing Russian churches in Western Europe…
ORTHODOX CHURCH: GREEKS BRIDLE AT HISTORIC DEAL TO SPLIT CHURCH FROM STATE
NIKOLIA APOSTOLOU, of Religion News Service, reports from Athens…
MIDDLE EAST: GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH FACES ISRAELI HOMEOWNERS’ IRE AFTER LAND SALES
MICHELE CHABIN, of Religion News Service, reports from Jerusalem…
Greek Orthodox metropolitan calls for aid for Greece in handling migrant influx, warning of “a huge crisis coming”
Greece needs help in dealing with the tens of thousands of asylum seekers and refugees who have arrived in the country from war-torn nations like Syria in the past five years, according to a senior member of the Orthodox Church of Greece who has warned of a “huge crisis” coming in the country as a […]