Orthodox church

The Orthodox Church today honors the memory of Athanasius the Great. The holiday is called Atanasovden by the people.

Sensitisation to the environment and climate change is now one of the main programmes of the Archdiocese of Athens and of Metropolitanates (bishoprics), as Ta Nea reports today.

The initiatives taken by the Metropolitan bishops of the Orthodox Church of Greece regarding the management of one of the most important issues preoccupying the whole world are certainly laudable.

The Turkish Armed Forces repaired and maintained the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mar Tuma (Saint Thomas) in the northeastern Syrian city of Ras al-Ain, the country's National Defense Ministry said on July 14. 

Health Minister Vasilis Kikilias and Athens University Medical School Professor of Epidemiology Sotiris Tsiodras met today with the 12-member Permanent Holy Synod to persuade the Orthodox Church of Greece to join the state's massive vaccination push to build a wall of immunity by the end of August.

Croatia's Serbian National Council, SNV and the NGO Documenta - Centre for Dealing with the Past on Thursday commemorated the deaths of around 400 Serbs who were killed by Nazi-allied Ustasa members under the World War II-era Independent State of Croatia in the town of Glina 80 years ago.

On Great and Holy Saturday the Orthodox Church commemorates the burial of Christ and His descent into Hades. It is the day between the Crucifixion of our Lord and His glorious Resurrection. The Matins of Holy Saturday is conducted on Friday evening, and while many elements of the service represent mourning at the death and burial of Christ, the service itself is one of watchful expectation.

Ombudsman Renate Weber had a meeting with leader of the Romanian Christian Orthodox Church (BOR) on baptism, bringing to attention several aspects that could be considered by the BOR Holy Synod, including analysing the opportunity of some classes in the liturgical practices of baptism, and establishing ways of performing the ritual adapted to each case.

The Archbishop of Athens has come under criticism in Greece for quietly raising the costs of church funerals during the pandemic by up to 250 per cent without any warning or explanation to funeral homes and the families of the deceased.

The head of Cyprus' Orthodox Church on Wednesday pledged to rebuild a row of historic homes that were partially demolished next to an under-construction cathedral amid a public outcry over what government officials described as an "unlawful" action.

Today the Orthodox Church pays homage to St. John - The Baptist of the Son of God.

The Church also honors him as a Forerunner-prophet who prepares people for the coming of the Savior.

St. John's Day is accompanied by a rich ritual throughout the country, associated mainly with the young married.