Serbian Orthodox Holy Synod Threatens Schism with Romanian Orthodox Church, Glorifies New Martyrs

At its recent session earlier this week the full Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church (the Holy Assembly of Bishops) reiterated its repeated protests to the Bucharest Patriarchate over the schismatic intrusions of the Romanian Orthodox Church on the canonical territory of the Church of Serbia and stated that if the Romanian Orthodox Church does not stop uncanonically celebrating services in eastern Serbia without the permission of the local hierarchy that it would follow the example of the Church of Jerusalem and break communion with the Bucharest Patriarchate.

During its session the full Holy Synod also protested the ongoing persecution of the autonomous Macedonian Orthodox Church by the Macedonian government, glorified the Holy New Martyrs of Momisici of the Turkish Yoke, and discussed the division of the Archdiocese of Belgrade and Sremski Karlovci (currently the largest of the Serbian Orthodox Church) into several more manageable dioceses. More (in Serbian) here.

In Memoriam: Metropolitan Constantine of the UOCUSA

Metropolitan Constantine (Buggan) of Irinoupolis and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and the Diaspora fell asleep today at the age of seventy-six. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Constantine served the UOCUSA in various capacities for forty-five years, forty of those years as a hierarch of either the independent Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) or the UOCUSA (after much of the UAOC in the Ukrainian Diaspora was received into the Ecumenical Patriarchate). May his memory be eternal! More information on Metropolitan Constantine's life can be found here.

OCA Holy Synod Meets in Spring Session

At its recent spring session the Holy Synod of the American Orthodox Church (OCA) reviewed recent developments in the life of the OCA, among other things excommunicating Oriental Orthodox Christians received into the OCA should they maintain communion with their native Orthodox Churches and elevating four of the Church's diocesan bishops to the rank of archbishop. More here.

New Bulgarian Orthodox Bishop of Toledo Consecrated

Archimandrite Alexander (Golitzin) was consecrated Bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarians today by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington and all the serving hierarchs of the American Orthodox Church (with the exception of Bishop Alejo of Mexico City). Axios! The consecration service was well attended, with many clergy and faithful from the Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of Toledo, the Midwest, and East and West Coasts of the United States in attendance. More here.

Unalaska Cathedral Vandalized

It is being reported that Unalaska's historic Cathedral of the Ascension has been desecrated by vandals who spray-painted "Dutch" and "Duncha" on the outside of the Alaskan Orthodox house of worship. Local Alaskan authorities have pledged to catch the perpetrator or perpetrators of the crime, which is both a federal offense (as the cathedral is a historic landmark) and possibly a hate crime. More here.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Completes Visit to Bulgaria

Patriarch Cyril (Gundyayev) of Moscow has completed a visit to Bulgaria. During his time in Bulgaria the Russian Orthodox patriarch met with Patriarch Maxim (Minkov) of Sofia and other members of the Bulgarian Orthodox Holy Synod to discuss relations between the Russian and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches as well as with the President of Bulgaria. More here and here.

Alexandrian Orthodox Church Celebrates St. Mark

Pope Theodoros II (Horeftakis) of Alexandria has led celebrations of the new style feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, the founder and first hierarch of the Church of Alexandria, on the 24th and 25 of this month. Participating in the festal services at Alexandria's Cathedral of the Annunciation were hierarchs and clergy of the Alexandrian and Cypriot Orthodox Churches as well as representatives of the Greek government and the Greek and Arab Orthodox communities in Egypt. More (in Greek) here.

The Popes of Alexandria of both the Alexandrian and Coptic Orthodox Churches consider themselves successors to St. Mark and incumbents of the Throne of St. Mark, which in recent history held jurisdiction over all Orthodox Christians in Africa until the autocephaly of the Churches of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Australian PM Visits the Phanar

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate as part of her recent state visit to Turkey, meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) during her time at the Phanar. During their meeting the two discussed interreligious and inter-cultural dialogue worldwide as well as the environmental work of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. More here.

Milan Synod First Hierarch Resigns Episcopacy

The first hierarch of the Old Calendrist Milan Synod, Metropolitan Evloghios of Milan, together with his auxiliary, Archbishop Abbondios of Como, have both resigned from the episcopacy and begun to serve as priests in preparation for reception into the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. The status of the other three hierarchs still belonging to the Milan Synod is unclear. More (in Italian) here.

Weaverville Monastery Brotherhood Moves to Ukraine

A somewhat controversial monastery received into the American Orthodox Church (OCA) from the Ruthenian Catholic Church (more on that here) has been received into the autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church with the blessing of Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) of the OCA to be reestablished in Ruthenia (the Transcarpathian oblast of the Ukraine).

Halki Seminary to Reopen

According to US President Barack Obama the Turkish government has committed to reopened the Holy Trinity Theological Seminary on Halki, used by the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church to train clergymen in Turkey until the Seminary's closure in 1971. The Seminary's reopening is a key step towards Turkish membership in the European Union. More here.

Coptic Orthodox Appoint Papal Locum Tenens

Following the repose of Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of blessed memory this past Saturday the Coptic Orthodox Church has appointed Metropolitan Pachomius of Beheira, the eldest member of the hierarchy, as locum tenens of the patriarchal throne until a new pope can be elected. The election is not likely to take place until after the election of a new Egyptian president this July. More here.

In Memoriam: Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria

Our father Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria has fallen asleep in the Lord at the age of eighty-eight. Born the eighth child of a devout Upper Egyptian family in 1923, the future successor of St. Mark became involved as a youth in the life of the Church, and particularly in the Sunday School movement. He later studied history and theology in Cairo before retreating to the desert of Scetis in 1954 to join the 'Syrian Monastery' of the Mother of God, where he was tonsured with the name Anthony.

In 1962 Pope Cyril VI the Wonderworker consecrated Fr. Anthony to the episcopacy with the name of Shenouda and appointed him dean of the Coptic Orthodox theological seminary in Cairo. Under Bishop Shenouda's guidance the size of the Seminary's student body tripled, and when Pope Cyril VI reposed in 1971 Bishop Shenouda was elected to succeed him as head of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

During Pope Shenouda's forty-one year papacy the Coptic Orthodox Church grew both in Africa and in the Egyptian Diaspora, with numerous new churches and dioceses being established throughout the world. Like his predecessor St. Athanasius, Pope Shenouda was exiled to the desert for his protests against policies of the state in Egypt and throughout his life advocated for the rights of his flock in the country.

After months of illness due to old age Pope Shenouda reposed peacefully in Cairo this past Saturday at the age of eighty-eight. In accordance with his last wishes he is to be buried in the Monastery of St. Paisius (or Bishoy) in Wadi al-Natrun. More on Pope Shenouda's life, as well as some of his sermons, may be found here. May his memory be eternal!

Ukrainian Catholic Church Protests Church Legislation

The Ukrainian Catholic Church is protesting legislation recently introduced in the Ukrainian Parliament that would transfer historic monasteries and churches in the country still under state administration to the Church of Ukraine, claiming that the status monuments, which were historically owned by the Orthodox Church, required a "complex settlement." More here.

Head of Romanov Dynasty Repents for Tsars' Sins

In an address to the Russian nation on the 400th anniversary of the end of the Time of Troubles the head of the House of Romanov, Grand Duchess Mariya Vladimirovna, has recognized the failings of her dynasty during its rule of Russia, saying that "we repent before God for [the dynasty's] mistakes and sins, and we ask forgiveness of the Russian people—both for myself and on behalf of my ancestors."

The grand duchess, who described the period since the February and October Revolutions as a second Time of Troubles for Russia, went on to call on the Russian people to contribute to funding worthy celebrations of the anniversary by giving to causes that would assist those in need, to "erect monuments...not only on the streets and squares of our cities, but first and foremost in the hearts of the people."

Grand Duchess Mariya Vladimirovna's full address with its appeal can be found here.

Clean Monday

“Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
Who knows if He will turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind Him —
A grain offering and a drink offering
For the Lord your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion,
Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the people,
Sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the children and nursing babes;
Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber,
And the bride from her dressing room.
Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,
Weep between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord,
And do not give Your heritage to reproach,
That the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?'"

From the prophecy of St. Joel.

ROCOR Metropolitan to Undergo Surgery

Please remember Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in your prayers as he undergoes knee surgery in Australia this coming Monday.

Update (28/2/2012): Metropolitan Hilarion's doctors successfully performed the knee replacement surgery and are pleased with the results of the operation. More here.

Old Calendrist Metropolia Consecrates Bishop for Miami

The 'Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles,' formerly the North American diocese of the Milan Synod, has a new hierarch, consecrated by the Metropolia's head, Metropolitan John (Lobue) of New York, and its Bishop Fanourios (Michael) of Lincoln. The new bishop, Christoudolos of Miami, has been assigned by the Metropolia to head its missionary outreach in Cuba and Latin America. More here.

In Memoriam: Metropolitan Mar Osthathios of Niranam

Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Osthathios of Niranam fell asleep today at Parumala's St. Gregorios Hospital. Although afflicted by kidney failure, Metropolitan Mar Osthathios pleaded not to be put on dialysis because of the many poor throughout the world without access to such treatments. The medical team responsible for him attempted to put him on dialysis regardless of his request, but the attempt was unsuccessful and Metropolitan Mar Osthathios reposed under their care. May his memory be eternal! More on Metropolitan Mar Osthathios' repose can be found here.

Alexandrian Orthodox Pope Visits Nigeria

Pope Theodoros II (Horeftakis) of Alexandria has begun a pastoral visit to the Alexandrian Orthodox Church in Nigeria. The papal delegation traveled first to Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, where it was met by Metropolitans Alexandros (Gianniris) of Lagos and Gregory (Stergiou) of Yaounde, the Greek ambassador to Nigeria, and the Egyptian consul in Lagos.

The day after his arrival in Nigeria Pope Theodoros visited Lagos' Cathedral of the Resurrection, where he concelebrated a thanksgiving with Metropolitan Alexandros and the cathedral's clergy. From the cathedral the papal delegation went to the nearby Monastery of St. Anthony, an outpost of Orthodox monasticism in West Africa and seat of the Nigerian Orthodox Church's seminary.

During his time in Nigeria Pope Theodoros will visit a number of the country's parishes, celebrate his nameday with the consecration of a new church in eastern Nigeria, and lay the cornerstone for the new cathedral in Lagos. More here and (in Greek) here.

OCA Seminary Releases Strategic Plan

The American Orthodox Church's St. Tikhon's Theological Seminary has released its 3-year strategic plan for the institutional, educational, and communal development of the historic seminary. More here.

Greek-Americans Establish Relief Fund for Greece

The Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has established the Relief Fund of the People of Greece to provide assistance to the Greek people as living conditions in Greece continue to deteriorate due to the country's ongoing economic crisis. More here.

Minneapolis Cathedral Replaces Frescoes

Minneapolis' historic Cathedral of St. Mary, pastored at one time by St. Alexis (Toth) of Minneapolis, has completed the first phase of renovations of the cathedral's frescoes, which are being replaced by more traditionally Orthodox frescoes. More here.

Turkish Constitutional Commission to Meet with Ecumenical Patriarch

The constitutional commission of the Turkish Parliament has invited Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople to speak to its members on 20 February about the issues facing the country's ethnic and religious minorities and how the new draft constitution being considered could best protect their place in Turkey. More (in Turkish) here.

Northern Kosovars Reject Government Authority

In a recent referendum criticized by both the European Union and the Serbian government northern Kosovo's ethnic Serb majority has overwhelmingly rejected the authority of the independent Kosovar government. The Kosovar Parliament downplayed the referendum's results, which saw 99.7% of northern Kosovo's 40,000 Serbs voting against the Albanian-dominated Kosovar government in Pristina, whilst the Serbian government criticized them as harmful to Serbian interests, which under the leadership of Serbian President Boris Tadic have been focused on developing a dialogue with the Kosovar government aimed to allowing for Serbian membership in the EU. More here.