Serbian Orthodox Metropolitan Returns to Argentina

Metropolitan Amphilochius (Radovic) of the Orthodox Church in Montenegro has begun a pastoral visit to the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Buenos Aires and South America, of which he is currently administrator per the decision of the Serbian Orthodox Holy Synod when it established the new diocese. Traveling with Metropolitan Amphilochius were two priests newly assigned to Serbian Orthodox parishes in Argentina.

In addition to his visits to Argentina's Serbian Orthodox parishes Metropolitan Amphilochius will also concelebrate at the consecration of a new auxiliary bishop for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Buenos Aires. More here.

South American Episcopal Assembly Meets in Buenos Aires

The second session of the Episcopal Assembly of South America has been held in Buenos Aires, with hierarchs representing the dioceses of the Constantinopolitan, Russian, Serbian, and Polish Orthodox Churches present on the continent. During the session the Episcopal Assembly established committees on inter-church relations, canonical and liturgical issues, religious education, and catechetical issues. More here and here.

Russian Authorities Resettle Bolivian Old Believers in Primorye

A resettlement program launched by the Russian government to resettle Old Believers living abroad in Siberia has moved a group of Old Believers living in Bolivia to Primorye in the Russian Far East. Their are also discussions underway between the Russian government's immigration authorities and Old Believers in Bolivia and in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay concerning their resettlement in Siberia as well. More here.

Antiochian, Russian Orthodox Hierarchs Meet in Moscow

Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of the Russian Orthodox Church yesterday received Metropolitans Antonio of Mexico City, Damascene of Sao Paulo, and George of Homs and Archbishop Niphon of Philippopolis of the Antiochian Orthodox Church at his residence in Moscow. During their meeting the hierarchs discussed relations between the Antiochian and Russian Orthodox Churches as well as the significant pastoral work undertaken by the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Latin America, which is the largest of the Local Orthodox Churches present in the region, and the issues facing the Orthodox Churches in the Middle East in our times. More here.

Metropolitan Hilarion Begins Paraguay Visit

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk has begun his visit to Paraguay, being welcomed to the South American nation's capital by Metropolitan Platon (Udovenko) of Buenos Aires of the Russian Orthodox Church and Paraguayan officials. During his stay in Paraguay Metropolitan Hilarion will be visiting the country's Russian Orthodox parishes, meeting with Paraguayan and Russian officials, and delivering a lecture at the Catholic University of Paraguay. More here.

Catholicos Karekin Visits Chile

Catholicos-Patriarch Karekin II (Nersessian) of Echmiadzin has concluded his pastoral visit to Chile. Accompanied by Archbishop Kissag of Buenos Aires, Catholicos Karekin met with Chilean officials and representatives of the Armenian Diaspora in Chile and discussed the assignment of a pastor to the Armenian Orthodox parish being organized in Santiago. More here.

Pictured are the visiting clergy serving in a Roman Catholic church loaned to their use during Catholicos Karekin's stay in Chile.

Serbian Orthodox Church to Establish New Dioceses, "Bond" Dioceses in Americas Closer to the Old World

The Holy Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church has decided to create new dioceses in the Americas and Europe. Discussions on the division of the Eparchy of Raska and Prizren in Kosovo into new dioceses has, however, been postponed.

In Europe the Serbian Orthodox Church in Austria, Switzerland, and Italy is to be separated from the Central European Eparchy of Hildesheim and established as the Eparchy of Vienna, whilst the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Americas is to be reorganized to include a diocese with jurisdiction over Latin America.

The Holy Assembly also discussed designating St. Sava's Monastery and Theological Seminary in Libertyville, Illinois, as stavropeghial institutions as "an an effective way of bonding the Church in America closer to the mother country" (so much for pan-Orthodox unity).

More on the above can be found here.

Catholicos of Echmiadzin Visiting South America

Catholicos-Patriarch Karekin II (Nersessian) of Echmiadzin has left Armenia to begin a pastoral visit to the Armenian Orthodox Church in South America, during which he will visit the Armenian Orthodox Dioceses of Buenos Aires (in Argentina), Montevideo (in Uruguay), and Sao Paulo (in Brazil) as well as the faithful in Chile and Venezuela. More here.