Recently, an interview with Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria was published, but it cannot be described as informative due to the numerous inaccuracies it contains. There is one-sided support for the positions of the Russian Orthodox Church and, unfortunately, no mention whatsoever of the Russian invasion that has been ongoing in…| Orthodox Times (en)
By Archmandrite Dr Athenagoras Soupourtzis* In 2025, we will mark 1700 years since the convocation of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea of Bithynia (325 AD). Although this event primarily belongs within the framework of Christian Theology, and the ecclesiastical sphere, its legal and political significance is extremely interesting, and…| Orthodox Times (en)
By Archimandrite Athenagoras Soupourtzis* The recent attack on the historic Church of the Prophet Elijah in Damascus, with its tragic death and injury toll, cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader historical and geopolitical context in which it took place. The church belongs to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of…| Orthodox Times (en)
By Ben Malian/Orthodox Observer Today marks the six-year anniversary of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America’s enthronement. On June 22nd, 2019, the Archbishop was consecrated in the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York, NY. In attendance were numerous Orthodox hierarchs and clergymen, laity from across the archdiocese, and faith…| Orthodox Times (en)
Perhaps once, without you realising it, you touched the heart symbol below a video, that imperceptible press of the thumb, small like an insignificant gesture but charged like a confession of faith. It was a snapshot of a digital “miracle”, uploaded by some virtuous person, with intentions, into the crucible…| Orthodox Times (en)
By Maximos Pafilis, Bishop of Melitene In the furthest bounds of Galilee, there where the stone prayers resound in the recesses of the ruins, in Caesarea Philippi; a place imbued with the seal of a worldly power that aspired to become eternal, Christ utters a question that penetrates the fabric…| Orthodox Times (en)
The case of the Orthodox Church of Albania is a complex one. Is Archbishop Anastasios irreplaceable? Anyone familiar with ecclesiastical matters cannot, under any circumstances, definitively say yes. He has left an indelible mark, essentially rebuilding this Church from the ground up. The question of his succession has always been…| Orthodox Times (en)
In the field of theological science, certain foundational assumptions guide us so that we do not forget what we have learned. Among these, the most important and undoubtedly the most influential Greek theologian of our time—and one of Orthodoxy’s foremost figures—was the late Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon. Notably, he…| Orthodox Times (en)
With everything going on, Kimberly Guilfoyle is set to visit Greece soon. In Athens, certain circles had attempted to portray her as an apolitical figure—someone with loose White House ties but no real diplomatic interest or influence. However, her recent testimony before U.S. senators proved just the opposite. She came…| Orthodox Times (en)
The questioning of the ownership status of the historic Sinai Monastery came as no surprise. Those at the monastery had long anticipated this “eruption.” The Greek government was also aware that a “civil dispute” exists between the Egyptian state and this emblematic Orthodox center—a dispute that has grown into a…| Orthodox Times (en)
The clergy of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem have endured considerable challenges over recent decades. Now, as tensions between Israel and Iran escalate, the Patriarchate finds itself navigating a precarious tightrope. Inevitably, Jerusalem will face a choice: align with the West or with Russia. To put things into perspective, the position…| Orthodox Times (en)
Is a Metropolis based in Chania, Crete, so important that it involves a dozen Metropolitans—even the Ecumenical Patriarch himself? And yet, the succession to the Metropolis of Kydonia and Apokoronas concerns more than just the local Church. It is a question of a Church’s self-sufficiency. Will Crete become a satellite…| Orthodox Times (en)
For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The terrorist attack in Syria was, tragically, inevitable. When ecclesiastical leaders fail to confront the obvious realities in their teachings, how can fanatics remain uninvolved? Patriarch John of Antioch, as widely known, openly aligned himself with the Moscow…| Orthodox Times (en)
On the vast global chessboard, the current situation is truly unprecedented. The USA, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, and nearby players like China, Turkey, and Israel test their limits daily. This geopolitical blaze, ignited across the world, also threatens to consume the very fabric of Orthodoxy. From the Phanar to the other…| Orthodox Times (en)
By Maximos Pafilis, Bishop of Melitene The ultimate day, no glorious consummation but the final prostration, bears the weight of a weariness not merely human but liturgical, like incense that suffocates rather than delights. Over Jerusalem hovers the heavy fatigue of the ages, a dust of victims’ skins and the…| Orthodox Times (en)
How concerned should Orthodoxy be about the loss of Pope Francis? At the dogmatic level, not at all. We have our positions, they have theirs. There is no real appetite for convergence on either side. Even a simple proposal for a common Easter celebration caused grumbling. On a social level,…| Orthodox Times (en)