Eastern Orthodox Church

Bulgaria's Minister of Culture Boil Banov announced on Monday afternoon that an exhibition of Bulgarian religious artefacts that were to be displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris has been cancelled.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday welcomed a decision by the Church of Greece and Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa to recognize the autonomy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, during a visit to Kiev.

Greek Archbishop Ieronymos informed the Holy Synod on Friday that he has refused an invitation from Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem to attend a meeting of Orthodox leaders.
According to a statement issued by the Holy Synod, Ieronymos refused the invite because the calling of such meetings of Orthodox leaders is the sole privilege of the ecumenical patriarch based in Istanbul.

The Russian Ministry said that "the unity and solidarity of the Orthodox world, as well as the preservation of its centuries-old foundations, are crucial for ensuring the normal development of society."

Behind words about faith, nation, and freedom often hide naked political interests and a fight for dominance in society. The ongoing feud reminds us again of how questions regarding Church and faith are so intertwined with politics and power.

Hand in glove

This is stated in the epistle of the Patriarch and the Synod published on the website of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks Wednesday the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr and first archdeacon in the Jerusalem Community Church.

Christmas is the holiday of spiritual and material gifts, Romanian Orthodox Church Patriarch Daniel said in the sermon of the Holy Liturgy officiated at the Patriarchal Cathedral, on the occasion of the Birth of the Lord. "We see that these gifts which the Wise Men brought to Baby Jesus have awaken in the conscience of the Church our duty to bring gifts to God.

President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Ludovic Orban participate at the Patriarchal Cathedral, on Sunday, in the memorial service commemorating the heroes of the Revolution of December 1989.

The Church of Greece said Wednesday it supported Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios' right to grant independence to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2018.

The Holy Synod, which met on Tuesday and Wednesday, said it also recognized Vartholomaios' "privilege" to "further address the issue of recognition."