Orthodox Catholic Church

Thousands of pilgrims gathered Monday in Bulgaria's Rila mountains to welcome their "spiritual" new year with a cosmic-like dance performed in concentric circles, creating a striking image on the verdant mountain plain.

A new Syriac Orthodox Church to be built in Istanbul will be a "new wealth" for the city, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Aug. 3.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pledged to support Archbishop Anastasios of Albania during a meeting in Athens Thursday. Anastasios sought the government's help in tackling the challenges facing Albania's Orthodox Church.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Archbishop of Albania Anastasios at Maximos Mansion on Thursday.
Anastasios congratulated the conservative leader on becoming prime minister and requested the government's help in tackling the challenges facing the Balkan country's Orthodox Church.

Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Christian Orthodox Church (BOR) on Thursday presented fresh Wimbledon tennis champion Simona Halep with a Patriarchal Cross, the highest decoration of the Romanian Patriarchate, at a ceremony hosted by the Patriarch's residence. "To many of today's young people, Simona is a symbol of diligence, perseverance and hope.

On June 29, the Orthodox Church honours the memory of the great apostles Peter and Paul. 

The celebration is of ancient origin, the date selected being the anniversary of either their death or the translation of their relics.

On the same day, just a few hundred meters away, a group called the "Alliance for Life" is staging a counter-march, it said, in defence of "traditional family values".

Some of this march's supporters have called people on social networks to resist what they call a "gender ideology" that they call "the work of Satan".

Parallel marches with different audiences:

Mayor of Tepelena Termet Peci (centre) addressing supporters in the Church of St Nicolas in the village of Lekel. Photo: Termet Peci Facebook

"The use of sacred churches for political activity insults religious and institutional feelings," a statement issued on Monday reads.

Bulgarians celebrate Monday Midsummer Day, widely known as Enyovden, a holiday related to traditional beliefs about herbs and their healing power.

On June 24 the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and it is believed that if collected before surise on this day, the herbs have the strongest healing power.

An Orthodox Church delegation including Patriarch Irinej and the Montenegrin bishop Amfilohije met Bashar al-Assad on Monday evening, with the Serbian religious leader and the Syrian president exchanging warm words over Serbia's stance on Kosovo and the ongoing conflict in Syria.