Archbishop Job of Chicago

Today marks the second anniversary of the repose of Archbishop Job (Osacky) of Chicago of blessed memory. More on his life can be found here. May his memory be eternal!

New Metropolitan of Kyrenia Enthroned on Cyprus

Per the decision of the Holy Synod of the Cypriot Orthodox Church Metropolitan-elect Chrysostomos has been consecrated to the episcopacy and enthroned as ruling hierarch of the Metropolis of Kyrenia. More (in Greek) here.

Macedonian Orthodox Archbishop Arrested

The Serbian Orthodox Church is reporting that Archbishop Jovan VI (Vraniskovski) of Ohrid, head of the autonomous Macedonian Orthodox Church, has been arrested upon attempting to enter his native Macedonia from Greece. It is expected that Archbishop Jovan will request a retrial for the false accusations brought against him in Macedonia in absentia during 2010. In the meantime he has been imprisoned in the Macedonian capital, Skopje. More here.

New Bishop of Bishkek Arrives in Kyrgyzstan

The recently consecrated Bishop Feodosiy (Gazhu) of Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan has been presented in his new diocese, which has jurisdiction over the whole of the Orthodox Church in Kyrgyzstan. Bishop Feodosiy arrived in Kyrgyzstan after first spending time with Metropolitan Vikentiy (Morar) of Tashkent in Uzbekistan. More (in Russian) here.

Antiochian Orthodox Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles Elevated in Rank

Patriarch Ignatios IV (Hazim) of Antioch has elevated Bishop Joseph (al-Zehlaoui) of Los Angeles, an auxiliary of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, to the rank of archbishop. Axios! The report of the elevation can be found on the website of the former Diocese of Los Angeles.

New Romanian Orthodox Auxiliary Bishop for Iberia Consecrated

Bishop Ignatie (Trif), auxiliary of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Spain and Portugal, has been consecrated to the episcopacy. Axios! The consecration took place during the Sunday Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Holy Archangels in Paris. More (in Romanian) here.

Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Visits Western United States

Patriarch Irinej (Gavrilovic) of Pech has undertaken a pastoral visit to the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Alhambra and Western America, celebrating the feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple at St. Sava's Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and also visiting the Monasteries of Sts. Paisius and Anthony in Safford and Florence respectively. More here.

Cornerstone for Russian Orthodox Church Laid in Madrid

Archbishop Mark (Golovkov) of Yegorevsk and Bishop Nestor (Sirotenko) of Korsun of the Russian Orthodox Church have laid the cornerstone for the first permanent Russian Orthodox church in Madrid. A parish previously existed in the Spanish capital, but functioned as a house church and later closed, only being revived in 2001 when the Moscow Patriarchate established a new parish dedicated to the Nativity of the Lord. More (in Russian) here.

Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh Enthroned

The newly elected Metropolitan Savas (Zembillas) of Pittsburgh of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has been enthroned by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) of New York in concelebration with hierarchs of the Archdiocese and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Axios! More here.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Visits Armenia

Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow has completed his second visit to Armenia as head of the Russian Orthodox Church. During his time in Armenia Patriarch Kirill met with Catholicos-Patriarch Karekin II (Nersessian) of the Armenian Orthodox Church and Armenian President Serzh Sargsian. He also participated in meetings with other Transcaucasian religious leaders and in a session of the Interreligious Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States. More here and here.

Malankara Orthodox Receive Syriac Orthodox Community in California

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has received a Syriac Orthodox mission into its jurisdiction in the Los Angeles area, placing the community under the care of Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Milithios of Thrissur. More 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.

First Metropolitan of Singapore Consecrated in Constantinople

Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople has consecrated Archimandrite Constantine Tsilis as the first Metropolitan of Singapore. Axios! Metropolitan Constantine will oversee the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church in the East Indies and South Asia. More here.

Pre-Vatican II Mass Returns to the Holy Land

Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem of the Roman Catholic Church has authorized the celebration of the traditional Roman Mass in his diocese, the first such formal authorization to be granted in the Holy Land since the modernization of the Roman Catholic Church's services in the 1960s. More here.

ROCOR Archbishop Visits Mexico

Archbishop Kyrill (Dmitrieff) of San Francisco of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad has made a pastoral visit to Mexico, during his stay in the country leading celebrations in honor of the founding of Mexico City's Skete of the Holy Trinity and meeting with Metropolitan Athenagoras (Aneste) of the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church in Mexico and Bishop Alejo (Pacheco y Vera) of the Orthodox Church in Mexico. More here.

New Greek Orthodox Auxiliary Bishop for the USA Elected in Constantinople

The Holy Synod the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church has elected Archimandrite Sevastianos (Skordallos) as Bishop of Zela and auxiliary to Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) of New York of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Axios! Bishop-elect Sevastianos, a native of Cyprus, is to be consecrated to the episcopacy this coming Saturday by Archbishop Demetrios and other hierarchs of the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church in North America. More here and here.

New Antiochian Orthodox Auxiliary Bishops Consecrated at Balamand

Earlier today Patriarch Ignatios IV (Hazim) of Antioch consecrated the three newly elected auxiliary bishops of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America to the episcopacy. Axios! The consecrations took place during the Sunday Liturgy at the Balamand Monastery of the Dormition in Lebanon due to the ongoing unrest in neighboring Syria. Video coverage of the consecration services can be found here, whilst the Archdiocese's press release can be found here.