Eastern Orthodox Church

The Russians have built an Orthodox Church overlooking the Russian Antarctic base. Father Benjamin Maltzev offers regular services at the Holy Trinity church of Antarctica to the 15 or so Russian speakers who spend winter at the base. It is large enough, however, to accomodate more than 30 visitors per service.

Romania's budget for 2016, which parliament is due to approve this week, has cut to zero the government's contribution to the construction of new churches.

In particular, this will affect work on the Cathedral of the Redeemer, which is expected to be the tallest church in Southeast Europe.

The Bulgarian Holy Synod has decided to double the price of candles sold at Orthodox churches across the country, citing financial reasons, local media reported on Sunday.

Israeli photographer Dafna Tal’s work is to be featured at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in an exhibition, titled The Orthodox of the Holy Land, that is set to run from December 8 through to January 21.

The Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has protested in the strongest terms with the Serbian National Assembly.

The protest has been sent over the use in parliament of toilet paper that has the "cross of Christ" printed on it, the Beta agency reported.

In the latest installment of the kinky Washington Heights priest who was caught on video engaging in a fetish known as cake porn with a married church-school administrator came on Friday. The scandal involving Reverend George Pasios, aged 67, made its way to the Greek Orthodox Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate during its monthly meeting on Friday, November 27.

Sergei Gavrilov, an MP from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) urged Turkey to return the Hagia Sophia Cathedral to the Orthodox Christian Church. He said that in this way Ankara would demonstrate that good will is above politics. “We expect the Turkish side to show a goodwill gesture and return Hagia Sophia Cathedral to the Christian Church,” he said.

The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has welcomed the decision by the UNESCO General Conference to reject the proposal for the admission of so-called Kosovo.

Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Irinej said on Monday that Kosovo's membership in UNESCO would be a tragedy for culture worldwide.

The Church will "defend by force if something is taken away by force," the Beta agency quoted him as saying.

Patriarch Irinej's statement, saying Serbs should use force if Kosovo becomes a member of UNESCO and all peaceful attempts to stop it gaining control over Serbian religious monuments fail, was condemned on Wednesday by experts who warned that it could provoke instability.