Russian Orthodox Patriarch Meets With Riga Mayor

In a meeting with the mayor of Riga, Nil Ushakov, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Cyril (Gundyayev) has called upon the Latvian government to recognize Russian as an official language of the Latvian state, noting that nearly half of the Latvian population speaks Russian as its first language and yet have been disenfranchised in the country as non-citizens despite their long residency in it. More here.

Catholicos Karekin Leaves for St. Petersburg, Riga

Catholicos-Patriarch Karekin II (Nersessian) of Echmiadzin has departed for Russia and Latvia to begin a pastoral visit to the Armenian Diaspora in St. Petersburg and Riga. In St. Petersburg Catholicos Karekin will be participating in the 300th anniversary celebrations of the Armenian community there, whilst in Riga he will consecrate a new Armenian Orthodox church built for the Latvian capital. More here.

Latvians Honor Pro-Nazi Soldiers in Riga

Hundreds of pro-Nazi marchers met in Riga, Latvia, today to honor World War II veterans who fought with Nazi Germany in the Waffen SS. The previously banned demonstration took place thanks to a ruling from a Latvian court. During the march others gathered to support Latvia's opposition to Fascism during World War II. More here.

Latvian President Visits Patriarch Cyril in Moscow

Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow recently received the President of Latvia during the latter's state visit to the Russian Federation.

In stark contrast to neighboring Estonia, in Latvia the national government has regularized the legal standing of the Latvian Orthodox Church, allowing it to care for Orthodox Christians in the armed forces, protecting its property against claims from schismatic groups, and designating the Nativity (according to the traditional calendar) as a national holiday.

More on the Latvian president's visit with the patriarch can be found here.