In Memoriam: Archbishop John of Presov

Archbishop John (Holoni) of Presov, the senior hierarch of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church, has fallen asleep at the age of seventy-five. Born Ivan Holoni in 1937 in what today is central Slovakia, as a young man the future hierarch entered the Theological Faculty at the University of Presov, in 1958 being ordained to the deaconate (and later the priesthood) after completing his theological studies.

In 1983 Fr. Ivan was consecrated Bishop of Michalovce in southeastern Czechoslovakia, where he served as ruling bishop until 2006. In that year Bishop John was elevated to the rank of archbishop by the Holy Synod of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church and later transferred to the Eparchy of Presov, which was newly vacant following the repose of Metropolitan Nicholas of Presov, first hierarch of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church. Upon Archbishop John's transfer he was designated Exarch of the Orthodox Church in Slovakia.

Archbishop John fell asleep on 2 August and was buried in his home village of Kravany. May his memory be eternal! More on Archbishop John's life can be found here and here.

Czechoslovak Orthodox Church Marks 60 Years of Autocephaly in Prague

The Czechoslovak Orthodox Church has marked the 60th anniversary of its autocephaly, observing the anniversary this past Thursday with celebratory services led by Metropolitan Krystof (Pulec) of Prague and concelebrated by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk and other hierarchs of the Czechoslovak and Polish Orthodox Churches. More here.

The Orthodox Church in the Czech and Slovak Republics was initially under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church, but gained its autocephaly from the Russian Orthodox Church following World War II.

Serbian Patriarch, Czechoslovak Metropolitan Mark Anniversary in Belgrade

Metropolitan Krystof (Pulec) of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church has visited Belgrade to concelebrate the festal Divine Liturgy for the Cross on the 90th anniversary of the enthronement of St. Gorazd of Prague by the Serbian Orthodox Church as diocesan hierarch of the Orthodox Church in Czechoslovakia. The festal services were concelebrated by Patriarch Irinej (Gavrilovic) of Pech and clergy of the Russian, Serbian, Czechoslovak, and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches. More (in Greek) here.

Russian Orthodox Archbishop Visits Bratislava, Karlovy Vary

Archbishop Mark (Golovkov) of Yegorevsk, auxiliary of the Moscow Patriarchate for its institutions abroad, has visited the representations of the Russian Orthodox Church to the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church in Bratislava, Slovakia, and Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, to discuss the life of the representation in Bratislava and plans to build a Russian cultural center in the Slovakian capital, whilst in Karlovy Vary Archbishop Mark led commemorations of the 300th anniversary of the visit of Tsar Peter I of Russia to the city. Metropolitan Krystof (Pulec) of Prague and Archbishop Juraj (Stransky) of Michalovce were both present for the services in Karlovy Vary. More (in Russian) here.

OCA Metropolitan, Bishop Visiting Czech Republic

Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) of the American Orthodox Church (OCA) has begun a visit to the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church at the invitation of Metropolitan Christopher (Pulec) of Prague. Metropolitan Jonah will be accompanied on his visit to the Orthodox Church in the Czech Republic by the OCA's Bishop Benjamin (Peterson) of San Francisco. More here.

Metropolitan Christopher Celebrates 5th Anniversary of Enthronement

Metropolitan Christopher (Pulec) of Prague is celebrating the 5th anniversary of his enthronement as First Hierarch of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church today. Representatives of the Constantinopolitan, Russian, Georgian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Greek, Albanian, Polish, and American Orthodox Churches were present in Prague to concelebrate the Sunday Liturgy with him, as were clergy of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church. More here.

Czechoslovak, Russian Orthodox Churches Prepare for Autocephaly Celebrations

During his visit to Moscow Metropolitan Christopher (Pulec) of Prague met with Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk to discuss the Russian Orthodox Church's participating in the upcoming anniversaries of the 60th anniversary of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church's autocephaly and the 1150th anniversary of the mission of Sts. Cyril and Methodius to what today is the territory of the Czech and Slovak Republics. More here.

Metropolitan of Prague Visiting Moscow

Metropolitan Christopher (Pulec) of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church has begun a visit to Moscow accompanied by Bishop Tichon of Komarno, the auxiliary of the Eparchy of Presov. During his time in Moscow Metropolitan Christopher will serve at the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church's representation in Moscow and speak at St. Tikhon's Humanitarian University in the city. More here and here.

Metropolitan Christopher of Prague Begins US Visit

Metropolitan Christopher (Pulec) of Prague of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church is beginning a visit to the American Orthodox Church (OCA) and the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCOR) today in New York. During the course of his visit to the United States Metropolitan Christopher will meet with Metropolitans Jonah (Paffhausen) of the OCA and Hilarion (Kapral) of New York of the ROCOR as well as Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) of New York of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. He will also serve a memorial for the ever memorable Metropolitan Laurus (Skurla) of the ROCOR at his tomb in Jordanville, New York. More here.

Metropolitan Hilarion Begins Visit to the Czech Republic

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk of the Russian Orthodox Church began a visit today to Metropolitan Christopher (Pulets) of Prague of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church. In addition to celebrating services at the Russian Orthodox representation church in Karlovy Vary Metropolitan Hilarion will also meet with state authorities of the Czech Republic and be presented with a Czech translation of his book "The Spiritual World of St. Isaac of Syria." More here.

First 2011 Session of Russian Orthodox Synod Abroad

At the first 2011 session of the Synod Abroad of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) preparations were begun for a hierarchical council of the ROCOR to be held this May and for the upcoming visit of Metropolitan Christopher (Pulec) of Prague of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church. Fr. Oleg Smirnov of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand was also defrocked per his request. More here.