Greek Orthodox Church: For some, communion remains unchanged despite virus
ELENA BECATOROS and COSTAS KANTOURIS, of Associated Press, report…
Ecumenical Patriarchate orders churches to halt services until end-March
Istanbul, TurkeyReuters The spiritual head of Orthodox Christians worldwide has ordered churches to halt services and rites until the end of March in response to the spread of the coronavirus, the Ecumenical Patriarchate said. The patriarchate, which is the seat of the spiritual leader of some 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, announced the move in […]
Ukrainian Greek Catholics wrap up synod and leave Rome with a mission
Vatican CityRNS When 12 Greek Catholic bishops from Ukraine met with the Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday, the retired pontiff invited them to be a force for unity in today’s “increasingly fractured and divided world”. Benedict, and other Vatican leaders, had a particular part of the world in mind. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of […]
POSTCARDS: MONASTERY AS A MEETING BETWEEN HUMAN AND DIVINE
In a photo essay first published by the World Council of Churches, IVARS KUPCIS takes a look inside the Russian Orthodox Sretensky monastery in Moscow…
Turkey’s Protestant Christians ‘feel stronger’ after trauma of Brunson case
World Watch Monitor Turkey’s tiny Christian community has “emerged stronger” from the high-profile trauma of evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson’s highly contested imprisonment and trial, according to a spokesman for Turkey’s Protestant Christians. The US pastor’s two-year ordeal culminated in a Turkish court’s decision on 12th October for his release and departure to the United States. “It feels […]
Orthodox Convent of St Thecla in Syrian town of Maaloula to reopen soon
The Orthodox Convent of St Thecla in the Syrian town of Maaloula will soon be open again to visiting pilgrims and tourists. Catholic news agency Agenzia Fides reports that reconstruction work on the monastery is nearing completion and cites Russian media as reporting that nuns have already returned to the monastery. Maaloula, located 55 kilometres […]
Raids on ‘illegal’ worship meetings in rebel-held Ukraine
World Watch Monitor A Pentecostal church in the rebel-held Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine was raided by armed men on 6th August, the latest in a series of raids on religious communities, reports Oslo-based news service Forum 18. The raid took place during a worship meeting at the Grace Church of God Pentecostal church in Alchevsk. […]
Jubilation after Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s 27-year-old schism is healed
Via World Council of Churches The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Christian Churches, one of Christianity’s oldest and has been in Africa since 330 AD, so there was joy and celebrations when, on 27th July, it declared an end to a 27-year-old schism that had torn it apart. The […]
GREAT PRAYERS: ‘PHOS HILARON’ (‘HAIL GLADDENING LIGHT’)
Actually a hymn – in fact said to be the earliest known hymn recorded outside the Bible still in use, the Phos Hilaron is at its essence a powerful daily prayer of thanks to God. DAVID ADAMS takes a look…
Turkey’s Churches publish landmark book of common Christian doctrine
World Watch Monitor A joint commission of Turkey’s major Christian denominations has published an historic book of concise Christian doctrine, receiving the unprecedented endorsement of all the nation’s Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Syriac and Protestant Churches. According to Armenian Bishop Sahak Masalyan, keynote speaker at the formal book launch in Istanbul of the English edition on […]