Orthodox
Five years after challenging miracle of Holy Fire, Greek journalist is acquitted
By David I. Klein — March 29, 2024
(RNS) — In both a book and in videos, Alikakos recorded testimony that the priests themselves lit the flames. The Jerusalem Patriarch said he was tarnishing the authority of his priests.
Palestinian Christians make an Easter call for relief from war’s tightening grasp
By Mitri Raheb — March 29, 2024
More than 140 global Christian leaders call for Gaza cease-fire in Holy Week letter
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — March 26, 2024
More Stories
Bulgarians line the streets of the capital to bid farewell to Orthodox Patriarch Neophyte
By Associated Press — March 19, 2024
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — The spiritual leader of Bulgaria’s Orthodox Christians died on Wednesday at the age of 78 after a long illness.
Bulgarians pay their last respects to the late Orthodox patriarch
By Associated Press — March 18, 2024
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Neophyte, who became patriarch in 2013, was the first head of the Bulgarian church to be chosen after the fall of Communism in 1989.
Patriarch Neophyte I of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church dead at 78
By David I. Klein — March 14, 2024
(RNS) — A soft-spoken theologian, Neophyte I was a critic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Church authorities in Greece slap religious ban on local politicians who backed same-sex marriage
By Associated Press — March 6, 2024
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Church authorities on the northwestern island of Corfu accused the two opposition lawmakers of committing “the deepest spiritual and moral error” in voting for the law, which was approved with cross-party support on Feb. 15.
Belarus cracks down on clergy who supported protests of its authoritarian leader
By Yuras Karmanau — February 23, 2024
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — In the last three years, at least 74 clergy have been arrested, fined or deported, according to the Viasna human rights center, even before the new law took effect.
A call for Christian leaders to denounce the Russian Orthodox Church
By Mark Silk — February 22, 2024
(RNS) — Calling out leaders who seem to consider it bad ecumenical manners to tell the Russian patriarch he’s wrong.
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.
Greece becomes first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex civil marriage
By Nicholas Paphitis — February 15, 2024
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Supporters, waving rainbow banners, and opponents of the bill, holding religious icons and praying, held separate small, peaceful gatherings outside parliament Thursday.
Greek lawmakers are debating a landmark bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Here’s what it means
By Derek Gatopoulos — February 14, 2024
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The journey toward legalizing same-sex civil marriage in Greece has been long and contentious, with governments in the past shying away from a confrontation with the Orthodox Church.
Orthodox Christian radio hosted a panel on female deacons. Then misogyny poured in.
By Meagan Saliashvili — February 5, 2024
(RNS) — Far from clarifying the question of women deacons, the episode added fuel to an already incendiary conversation about women's ordination and the role of women in the church in general.
Greek bill on marriage for LGBTQ couples tests Orthodox Church’s historic influence
By David I. Klein — January 24, 2024
(RNS) — The Greek Orthodox Church opposition to legalizing marriage for anyone but traditional heterosexual couples is testing the church's influence over Greek life.
Orthodox mark Christmas, but the celebration is overshadowed for many by conflict
By The Associated Press — January 8, 2024
(AP) — Orthodox Christians packed churches Saturday night for Christmas Eve services, a holiday overshadowed for many believers by conflict.
Page 1 of 20
