Eastern Orthodox
Greece just legalized same-sex marriage. Will other Orthodox countries join them any time soon?
By Dasha Litvinova and Peter Smith — February 16, 2024
Roughly 200 million Eastern Orthodox live primarily in Eastern Europe and neighboring Asian lands, with about half that total in Russia, while smaller numbers live across the world.
White House to award 2 faith leaders the Presidential Medal of Freedom
By Marika Proctor — July 1, 2022
(RNS) — Sister Simone Campbell and the Rev. Alexander Karloutsos will be among the 17 Americans recognized in a ceremony at the White House on July 7th.
Russian Orthodox head escapes EU sanctions thanks to Orban
By Samuel Petrequin — June 2, 2022
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Hungarian government said sanctioning Kirill would have been inappropriate on grounds of respect for religious freedom.
Mayor of Kyiv makes plea for visit by Pope Francis, calling it ‘key for saving lives’
By Claire Giangravé — March 15, 2022
(RNS) — Mayor Vitali Klitschko called on the pope ‘to stand with the Ukrainian people by jointly spreading the call for peace.’
With war in Ukraine, Pope Francis’ yearslong outreach to Kirill appears to be in ruins
By Claire Giangravé — March 10, 2022
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — For years popes have hoped to meet the Russian Patriarch in Moscow, but the war in Ukraine has set back the clock on overcoming the Christian divide between East and West.
Orthodox Church’s top patriarch hospitalized in Washington
By Jack Jenkins — October 24, 2021
(RNS) — The cause was not immediately clear, although officials said his hospitalization was "out an abundance of caution."
Orthodox Church’s top patriarch to visit US, meet with Biden
By Peter Smith — October 22, 2021
Making the latest of several trips to the country during his 30 years in office, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is expected to address concerns ranging from a pending restructuring of the American church to his church's status in his homeland, Turkey.
Vaccinated faithful throng Jerusalem church for Holy Fire
By Associated Press — May 2, 2021
(RNS) — The scene at the church was a stark contrast to last year's, when only a handful of religious leaders held the centuries-old ceremony in a near-empty setting enforced by the coronavirus pandemic.
Eastern Christians mark Easter in shuttered Jerusalem church
By Associated Press — April 20, 2020
JERUSALEM (AP) — Travel restrictions imposed by Israel to prevent the spread of the coronavirus have prevented the arrival of pilgrims to Jerusalem for the springtime holiday.
Rival Ukraine churches clash over Easter lockdown rules
By Associated Press — April 16, 2020
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Moscow-affiliated church said believers could gather outside places of worship despite a government ban on public gatherings, while the independent church called it a ‘Christian duty’ to stay home.
The stories we tell about our country and our faith matter
By Michael Wear and Amy E. Black — March 6, 2020
(RNS) — Too many influential people believe and tell the story that either a diverse America is a threat to Christianity or that Christianity is a threat to a diverse America.
Seeking the cross: Icy dips mark the feast of Epiphany
By Veselin Toshkov, Associated Press — January 6, 2020
Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria celebrated Epiphany by jumping in frigid waters to retrieve a cross. The holiday commemorates the coming of the Wise Men.
Émigré Russian Orthodox inch toward a return to Moscow Patriarchate
By Tom Heneghan — September 10, 2019
PARIS (RNS) — A decision seemed to be made, but as with most émigré politics and disputes among Eastern Orthodox churches, it got complicated.
‘Let’s not wait for the theologians,’ says Pope Francis about sharing the Eucharist
By Thomas Reese — June 5, 2019
(RNS) — Is the pope signaling his willingness to move toward Eucharistic sharing without total theological agreement?
Greek town ritually burned Judas as Orthodox celebrated Easter
By Jerome Socolovsky — April 9, 2018
ERMIONI, Greece (AP) — The tradition dates back centuries in some places. In the Greek town of Ermioni, it has been observed the past 25 years.
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