Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

Holy Synod Elects Interim Leader Following Patriarch Neophyte's Death

The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church convened on Tuesday to address the vacancy left by the passing of Patriarch Neophyte, who served as the spiritual leader of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia. According to reports from the Bulgarian National Radio, the Synod's primary agenda was the election of a temporary head to oversee the Church's affairs during this transition period.

A ‘safety net’ for Mount Athos

With the storm over the planned legislation for same-sex marriage having subsided - at least on the surface - the tranquil monastic community of Mount Athos welcomed its new civil administrator at the start of this week. All the proper honors were observed with utmost formality as Anastasios Mitsialis officially took office on his inaugural visit to Karyes.

Painter exhibits at home

The painter Konstantinos Kerestetzis presents watercolors that he created during his stay on Mount Athos, the fruit of a deep relationship he has cultivated with the historic monastic community. However, he is not holding the exhibition in a gallery but at his home, an old Athenian residence on Proussis Street, which is opening to the public for a few days.

Russia’s attempts to split the Orthodox Church in Africa

In 2019 the Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Constantinople and Alexandria recognised the independence of the newly formed Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Since then, Moscow has attempted to undermine not only the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but also the Patriarch of Alexandria, which claims exclusive jurisdiction over Africa and accuses the Russian church of meddling in the continent.

Elpidophoros’ complicated visit at Mt Athos

After the "salvo" of the Holy (Monastic) Community against the visit of Archbishop of America Elpidophoros to Mt Athos, delivered on the occasion of the baptism of children of a Greek-American same-sex couple, the monastic community is going through days of solemnity due to the Christmas holidays, which are celebrated according to the old Julian calendar.

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