A Russian Orthodox priest who took part in services for Navalny is suspended by the Patriarch
AP The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Chuch has suspended a priest who participated in services for the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Dmitry Safronov took part in Navalny’s funeral as well as presiding at the commemoration on 26th March, the 40th day after his death – an important Russian Orthodox tradition. A woman touches a […]
Lifestory: Patriarch Neophyte I of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church dead at 78
DAVID I KLEIN, of Religion News Service, reports that a soft-spoken theologian, Neophyte I was a critic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine…
Silencing dissent: Belarus cracks down on clergy who supported protests of its authoritarian leader
YURAS KARMANAU, of Associated Press, reports on the increasing crackdown on clergy and religious organisations who are critical of the government of President Alexander Lukashenko…
Two dead in Ukraine city of Kherson as Russian soldiers celebrate Orthodox Christmas on front line
Kyiv, Ukraine AP The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson was subjected Sunday to numerous shelling attacks from Russian-occupied parts of the Kherson region, across the Dnieper River, local officials said. The head of the Kherson city administration, Roman Mrochko, said two people died in the shelling attacks and several others were wounded. Communal workers prepare […]
Ukraine puts head of Russian church on “wanted” list
Reuters Ukraine’s Interior Ministry on Friday placed the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church, a backer of the Kremlin’s 21-month-old war against Kyiv, on a wanted list after security services accused him of abetting the conflict. The measure is purely symbolic as Patriarch Kirill is in Russia and under no threat of arrest. It was the […]
Orthodox Church: Ukrainian churches purge vestiges of Russian influence
For centuries, Orthodox Ukrainians saw the traditional Julian calendar as one of the anchors of their church’s identity. Now many are switching to the Gregorian calendar. MEAGAN SALIASHVILI reports for Religion News Service…
“No place in the church”: Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from state and church for supporting peace in Ukraine
KOSTYA MANENKOV, of Associated Press, report on the pressure and actions targeting Orthodox priests who have opposed Russia’s war in Ukraine…
Russian Patriarch reminds Africans of advantages in following Kremlin’s lead
RNS Meeting with African leaders late last month, Russian Patriarch Kirill boasted of the continued expansion of the Russian Orthodox Church in their countries, paralleling the strategy of the leaders’ host, Russian President Vladimir Putin, to expand Kremlin influence across the continent. The Moscow Patriarchate said it had almost doubled its size in Africa since […]
Russia demands immediate release of Orthodox cleric detained in Ukraine
Reuters Russia on Saturday demanded the immediate release of a senior Orthodox cleric detained in Kyiv on suspicion of inflaming religious hatred and justifying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Abbot of the Kyiv Pechers Lavra, Metropolitan Pavlo of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, accused of being linked to Moscow, attends a court hearing, amid Russia’s attack on […]
Papal peace mission: Catholics and Orthodox join forces for peace amid Russian and Ukrainian sceptics
CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, of Religion News Service, reports on last week’s papal mission to Moscow…