Patriarch John X Says Christians ‘Not Just Guests’ In Post-Assad Syria

Patriarch John X of Antioch delivered a powerful sermon at the Church of the Holy Cross in Damascus, addressing Christians in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the takeover by an Islamic rebel group.

On Religion: New Threat To Alaska’s Historic Orthodox Cathedral

(ANALYSIS) After the 1966 fire, St. Michael's was rebuilt with concrete, steel and other fire-resistant materials, using 1961 drawings from the Historic American Buildings Survey for reference. Today, there are leaks along joints in the church's domes, and the wooden floors squeak from water damage.

Turkey Officially Converts Istanbul’s Iconic Chora Church Into A Mosque

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reopened an iconic Byzantine church in Istanbul as a mosque on Monday, four years after his government had designated it an Islamic house of worship. Despite criticism from Christians around the world, Turkey formally converted Chora Church into a mosque after it had turned Istanbul’s landmark Hagia Sophia into a Muslim prayer space.

Orthodox Easter: Calendar Question Continues To Split The Church

If by any chance the Catholic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate do reach an agreement on a common date for Easter, this would create a tectonic shift in the Orthodox world. Such a move would deepen the ongoing Orthodox rift between Constantinople and Moscow, potentially creating a series of schisms within local Orthodox churches (similar to what happened in the 1920s with the Greek and Romanian churches).

Earth Day: 5 Orthodox Christian Books That Deal With Environmentalism

Many across the world will celebrate Earth Day on Monday, which marks the 54th anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. The theme for Earth Day 2024 is the fight against plastic, aiming to increase awareness of the issue of pollution around the globe and its harmful effects on the environment.

‘The Russian World’: The Document That Rocked Orthodoxy

(ANALYSIS) The Congress of the XXV World Russian People’s Council, headed by Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, issued a document on March 27 entitled: “The Present and Future of the Russian World.” In the document, the leadership of the XXV World Russian People’s Council describes the conflict in Ukraine as a “Holy War.”

‘Sacred Alaska’ Masterfully Explores Native Culture And The Orthodox Faith

(REVIEW) This film is not just a historical overview of the growth of Orthodox Christianity in America’s northernmost state among Native Alaskans; it also captures the fusion of Native Alaskan culture and Orthodox spirituality. The film shows what we can learn from Alaskan Orthodoxy. Becoming fully human, caring for the land and the animals are main themes discussed in this documentary. These lessons are not just important for Orthodox Christians, but for all human beings.

‘Sacred Alaska’: Q&A With Film Director Simon Scionka On Native Culture and Orthodox Spirituality

“Sacred Alaska” is an award-winning, visually stunning documentary with compelling storytelling. The film explores the profound influence of Orthodoxy, brought by St. Herman and Russian monks in the late 18th century, on Native Alaskan society. It also highlights the unique fusion of Native Alaskan indigenous beliefs with Orthodox traditions.

Putin Critic Alexei Navalny Found Purpose In Christianity

In 2021, Navalny expressed hope that the Orthodox church in Russia could act as a mediator between the people and the state. He recognized this was unlikely; but if his demise tells us anything, it’s that moral courage in Russia’s mother church isn’t totally dead. On the contrary, we might see a resurrection yet.

Top Diplomat Of Ecumenical Patriarchate Delves Into Catholic-Orthodox Relations

Metropolitan Job of Pisidia is an Orthodox bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He is the Permanent Representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the World Council of Churches and co-President of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic church and the Orthodox church. These significant posts make him a top diplomat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Serbian Journalist Vladimir Veljkovic On The Ukraine War And Orthodoxy’s Future

Only a few scholars and researchers have a comprehensive understanding of the religious aspects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There are not many Orthodox theologians and journalists who delve into discussions about Orthodox Christianity and its compatibility with Western values.

Orthodox Abbess Katherine Weston Talks About Faith And Racial Reconciliation

Orthodox Christianity is gradually gaining interest among diverse ethnic groups around the world, including African Americans. Mother Katherine Weston, for example, became Orthodox in the late 1980s. She is an abbess and also the president of the Fellowship of St. Moses the Black, a nonprofit committed to training Orthodox Christians for the ministry of racial reconciliation.

5 Orthodox Christian Podcasts You Should Be Listening To Right Now

(REVIEW) Since its appearance in the mid-2000s, the podcast format has been one of the fastest growing media forms. Various news and entertainment outlets, religious organizations and churches utilized the popularity of the podcast. The Orthodox Church is no exception.

5 Books About Orthodox Christianity To Read During Orthodox Awareness Month

Orthodox Awareness Month aims to serve as a reminder of the long and rich history of Orthodoxy in America and the contributions Orthodox Christians made to American culture, history and public life. Here are five books to read for insight into the history and theology of the Orthodox Church, the lives of saints and the evolution of the Orthodox faith in America’s northernmost state.

The Georgian Saint revered for fighting Soviet communism

(OPINION) Gabriel Urgebadze changed the trajectory of his life when he lit a portrait of Vladimir Lenin on fire and told a crowd to follow Jesus instead. Today, more than a hundred pilgrims visit his grave everyday, praying for miracles.

Faith and Religion Search For Post-Communist Footing in Bulgaria

Paying for prayers, bishops with ties to the Kremlin and communist structures built around ancient churches — the society ruled by the Byzantines, then the Ottomans and then the Soviets is now reckoning with finding faith on its own.

A Fresh Take on Fasting: What We Can Learn from Eastern Orthodoxy During Lent

(COMMENTARY) While western Christians today view fasting largely as an individual activity, Eastern Orthodox Christians practice fasting communally.

Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?

(COMMENTARY) In February, Pope Francis met with Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayebb, and together, they acknowledged the “God who has created all human beings”.

Why do churches baptize infants? Why did ancient churches baptize people of all ages?

Mary McAleese, an attorney and the former president of Ireland, assailed her Catholic Church for its practice of baptizing infants shortly after birth with parents making vows on their behalf. She argues that this treats children as “infant conscripts who are held to lifelong obligations of obedience,” and is a violation of their human rights.

Looking For Alternative Forms Of Faith In The Streets Of Postmodern Czech Republic

(OPINION) A recent Pew Forum survey shows that the influence and practice of faith is slipping in lands long identified with Catholicism, those closest to the European West. Eastern Orthodoxy is rising, especially in lands in which faith and national identity blend. But the most stunning changes are happening in the Czech Republic.

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