Christianity

The authorities in Lourdes, one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Catholics, are considering removing mosaics created by Slovenian priest Marko Rupnik following sexual abuse allegations against him.

Pope Francis will preside over mass in St Peter's Square Sunday as he kicks off events leading to Easter, just a day after leaving hospital following a bout of bronchitis.

The 86-year-old's admittance to hospital on Wednesday with breathing difficulties sparked concerns he may not be well enough to attend a series of rites in what is the most important week in the Christian calendar.

Bulgaria's Orthodox Church celebrates the Annunciation with solemn services. The holiday commemorates the joyful biblical event in which an angel of God announced to the Virgin Mary the good news that she would give birth to the long-awaited Savior of the world.

The spiritual head of the world's Orthodox Christians said on Wednesday that Russia's powerful Orthodox Church shared responsibility for the conflict in Ukraine but that he stood ready to help in Russia's postwar "spiritual regeneration".

In what is seen as a blow to Moscow, Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios stated on Tuesday that he will cooperate with Lithuanian authorities to establish a new branch in the Baltic country to ensure that people of faith are no longer only under the supervision of the Russian church.

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios said on Tuesday he would work with Lithuanian authorities to establish a new branch in the Baltic nation to ensure that believers are no longer under the sole supervision of Moscow.

The Slovenian Bishops' Conference (SŠK) will get its first ever woman secretary-general as sister Marija Šimenc takes over from Tadej Strehovec on 17 April. She will be the highest-raking woman in the Slovenian Roman Catholic Church.

The Slovenian Protestant community in Bethlehem in the US state of Pennsylvania will soon be left without their church. More than 110 years after being built by the community, St John's Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church is being sold. The town's Slovenian Catholics are in the process of losing their church as well.

Designed around the notion of opening up to public view something that has been kept closed or secret, as well as the scene as a sanctuary, the Athens Concert Hall (megaron.gr) presents an expansive exhibition of work by George Xenos, some of which are on public display for the first time.

Greeks celebrated Epiphany Friday with blessing of the waters ceremonies across the country.

The holiday is known as Three Kings Day for Catholics and the Baptism of Christ for the Orthodox. Greece is predominantly Orthodox.