Patriarch urges soldiers to defend “peace-loving” Russia amid Ukraine campaign
Reuters The head of the Russian Orthodox Church held a service for Russian soldiers on Sunday in which he called on them to defend their country “as only Russians can” as Moscow continues its military campaign in Ukraine. At the lavishly decorated Main Cathedral of the Armed Forces opened two years ago in Kubinka outside […]
Russian Orthodox eye expansion in Africa, maybe Turkey as well
RNS While the world’s attention is focused on the fighting in Ukraine, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has begun challenging the established order of Orthodox Christianity by moving his Russian Orthodox Church into Africa. The Moscow Patriarchate is also dropping heavy hints that his ire will turn to Turkey soon. According to their traditional rules, the […]
Ukraine conflict: Russian Orthodox parishes in Europe pressured from both sides as war rages in Ukraine
TOM HENEGHAN, of Religion News Service reports that a Russian Orthodox parish in Amsterdam has reportedly became the first Western Orthodox church to break ties with Moscow over the Russian invasion of Ukraine…
Essay: War at Lent – how Ukraine could reshape how we think about Christian unity
JACOB LUPFER, in an article published on Religion News Service, says the message of Lent, no matter how or where it is celebrated, remains the same…
Orthodox observe Christmas amid virus concerns
Moscow, Russia AP Orthodox Christians in Russia, Serbia and other countries began Christmas observances Thursday amid restrictions aimed at dampening the spread of the coronavirus, but few worshippers appeared concerned as they streamed into churches. The majority of Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas on 7th January, with midnight services especially popular. The churches in Romania, Bulgaria, […]
Orthodox Church’s top Patriarch to visit US, meet with Biden
RNS The spiritual leader of the world’s 200 million Eastern Orthodox Christians brings an agenda spanning religious, political and environmental issues to a 12-day US visit beginning Saturday that includes a meeting with President Joe Biden and various ceremonial and interfaith gatherings. Making the latest of several trips to the country during his 30 years […]
Russian Orthodox Church splits with Constantinople Patriarch
The Russian Orthodox Church is cutting ties with the Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew I after a dispute over the Patriarch’s plans to recognise a new pro-Western Ukrainian branch of the church. Patriarch Bartholomew, the Archbishop of Constantinople and “first among equals”, de facto head, of the 300 million Christians in the Orthodox church, announced he was […]
Russian Patriarch and UK archbishop call for greater support for persecuted Christians
World Watch Monitor The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Archbishop of Canterbury have called for more aid to reach Middle Eastern refugees, especially Christians, and for robust safeguards against extremist ideology, which they say has spread “like an epidemic”. Patriarch Kirill and Archbishop Justin Welby released a joint statement thanking God for the opportunity […]