Orthodox
Faith leaders, influencers who died in 2023: Preachers, protesters, writers, singers
By Adelle M. Banks — December 26, 2023
(RNS) — We also bid farewell to some celebrities and influencers whose time on stages sometimes represented public faith or whose lives were strengthened by their personal faith.
In Bethlehem, quiet Christmas celebrations draw parallels to war’s victims
By Fiona André — December 22, 2023
(RNS) — In the West Bank and Gaza, Christians are searching for ways to celebrate a subdued Christmas, with festivities canceled for the first time since the First Intifada in 1988.
Greek government says it stands by same-sex marriage pledge even after opposition from the Church
By Derek Gatopoulos — December 22, 2023
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The legislation would be brought to parliament during the house's current term, which ends in 2027, said government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis.
New date, same traditions: Ukraine’s wartime Christmas celebrations
By Iryna Voloshyna — December 21, 2023
(The Conversation) — An expert on Ukrainian music and folklore explains how holiday traditions celebrate both centuries of culture and present-day resistance.
As Russia ramps up ‘traditional values’ rhetoric − especially against LGBTQ+ groups − it’s won Putin far-right fans abroad
By Sarah Riccardi-Swartz — December 21, 2023
(The Conversation) — Far-right American Christians once viewed Soviet culture as a menace to their values. Today, some authoritarian-leaning admirers wish their country were more like Putin’s Russia.
Armenian Christians battle developer to keep control of their corner of Jerusalem
By David I. Klein — December 4, 2023
(RNS) — A tiny Christian minority sitting on one of the Holy Land's most valuable pieces of real estate has rebelled against a real-estate deal that would sacrifice nearly 25% of its land in Jerusalem.
What the Camino shows us about travel and mortality
By Jana Riess — December 4, 2023
(RNS) — Travel teaches us how fragile life is and what a holy gift every day can be. (Also, it shows us we can be fear-based idiots.)
Bethlehem pastors arrive in DC, urge lawmakers to embrace cease-fire, peace plan
By Jack Jenkins — November 27, 2023
(RNS) — 'All we want for Christmas is a constant and comprehensive cease-fire and an end to this war,' said the Rev. Munther Isaac, pastor of Bethlehem’s Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church.
US Orthodox symposium on women deacons proposes a way forward
By Meagan Saliashvili — November 14, 2023
BROOKLINE, Mass. (RNS)— A consortium of Orthodox Christian scholars, clergy and lay supporters meeting this week outside Boston proposed guidelines for the church to revive the ancient practice of allowing women to be deacons.
Jerusalem’s church leaders call for sober Christmas in Holy Land as war rages
By Fiona André — November 10, 2023
(RNS) — Leaders of Jordan’s Council of Churches issued a similar statement on Nov. 5, calling for the cancellation of Christmas celebrations in the kingdom.
Native Alaskan healer named North America’s first female saint in Orthodox Church
By Meagan Saliashvili — November 10, 2023
(RNS) — A Native Alaskan midwife known for her healing love, especially toward abused women, was glorified at a meeting of bishops in Chicago this week.
Pope Francis to join other clergy at first ‘Faith Pavilion’ at climate summit
By Adelle M. Banks — November 9, 2023
(RNS) — ‘This demonstrates the significance of the interfaith movement in helping to tackle the climate emergency,’ said one faith leader about the pavilion.
How the Israel-Hamas war has brought together Arab Christians and Muslims
By Daoud Kuttab — November 3, 2023
(RNS) — Bonds strained in recent years by the rise of Islamic radicals have been cemented again.
Anchorage’s oldest building, a Russian Orthodox church, gets new life in restoration project
By Mark Thiessen — October 30, 2023
EKLUTNA, Alaska (AP) — The Russian Orthodox church was established in Alaska on Kodiak Island in 1794 and missionaries spread the faith, baptizing an estimated 18,000 Alaska Natives.
As Turkey’s Christians celebrate a new church, religious minorities still call for respect
By David I. Klein — October 27, 2023
ISTANBUL (RNS) — Though he has allowed new houses of worship to be built and old ones to be reopened, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan needs to do more, observers say, to restore respect for a truly pluralistic society as much as for church property.