Church of Ukraine

Easter in the trenches

Ukrainian servicemen place candles after a special service for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, during a ceremony to bless Easter cakes at St Michael's Cathedral before Orthodox Christmas in Kyiv.

Patriarch opens center amid thaw in ties

Ushering in a new era in the relationship between Athens and the Phanar, Greek Archbishop Ieronymos and visiting Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios together attended the inauguration of a gerontology center in the town of Dilesi in Viotia, central Greece, on Thursday. Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos was also at the event. 

Patriarch set to formalize Ukraine Church independence

Amid mounting tensions with the Russian Orthodox Church, the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate is preparing to formally grant independence to the Church of Ukraine from Moscow in an Epiphany Day ceremony.

More specifically, Patriarch Vartholomaios will on Sunday give the tomos - the formal decree of autocephaly - to Metropolitan Epiphanius in Istanbul.