Saidnaya Monastery Attacked

It is being reported that Syrian rebels have attacked the Antiochian Orthodox Church's world famous Saydnaya Monastery, firing shells at the pilgrimage center that fortunately did not explode upon impact. (Their failure to explode is being credited as a miracle of the Mother of God, to whom Saydnaya is dedicated.) More (in Greek) here.

There are concerns that as the Syrian uprisings continue Syria's religious minorities, who have enjoyed equal rights under the secular Baathist rule of President Bashar al-Assad, will increasingly become the targets of the anti-Assad rebels. Please keep Syria and its peoples in your prayers!

Metropolitan Philaret Serves Memorial for Minsk Attack Victims

Today marks the 40th day since the terrorist attack in Minsk, Belarus. The day is being marked with a memorial served by Metropolitan Filaret (Vakhromeyev) of the Belorussian Orthodox Church in Minsk's Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, with President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus in attendance. More (in Russian) here.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Lays Cornerstone of Dubrovka Memorial Church

Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow earlier today laid the cornerstone for a church in southeastern Moscow to be built in memory of the victims of the Dubrovka terrorist attack there in 2002. The church, one of two hundred to be built in Moscow over the next few years, will be dedicated to Sts. Cyril and Methodius. More (in Russian) here.

Memorials for Victims of Minsk Attack

This morning Metropolitan Filaret (Vakhromeyev) of Minsk and Slutsk, First Hierarch of the Belorussian Orthodox Church, served a memorial for the victims of yesterday's terrorist attack in the Minsk Metro in the capital's Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. All the churches of the Belorussian Orthodox Church have been blessed to serve memorials for the attack's victims for the next 40 days. More here and here.

Syriac Orthodox Church in Lebanon Bombed

St. Mary's Church in Zahle, Lebanon, suffered a large explosion yesterday. Although no one has claimed responsibility for the attack against the Syriac Orthodox church many throughout Lebanon have condemned it as well as the abduction of Estonian tourists near Zahle last week. Despite the damage to the church Metropolitan Mor Yostinos Paulos of Zahle celebrated the Sunday Liturgy in the courtyard of the church. More here and here.

Suicide Bomber Attacks Moscow Airport

Moscow's Domodedovo Airport has bin hit by a suicide bomber, who killed 35 and put 168 more in the hospital. Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington has called for all the faithful of the American Orthodox Church to pray for the victims of the attack. More here.