2+ day, 2+ min ago (236+ words) The two primates of Christianity are accompanied by the leaders of other Christian denominations present in Turkey In Nicaea of Bithynia, Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Leo, 1,700 years after the Historic Council (live) The two primates of Christianity are accompanied by the leaders of other Christian denominations present in Turkey Pope Leo XIV is in Nicaea of Bithynia in western Turkey together with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. On the shores of this ancient city, the two primates are honoring the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, which took place in Nicaea in the presence of Emperor Constantine the Great. The ceremony is being held at the archaeological site on the banks of Nicaea, where ten years ago Turkish archaeologists discovered the ruins of a 4th-century basilica, believed to be either the Basilica of Saint Neophytos or, according to others, the Church of…...

2+ day, 3+ hour ago (517+ words) Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Let us reflect upon two radiant feasts that illuminate the entire mystery of salvation, the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple and the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. At Christmas, we see this fulfilled when the Temple gives birth to the God who dwells within it. The one who entered the Temple now becomes the Mother of the Temple's Lord. St. Ephraim the Syrian says, "The heavens cannot contain Him, yet a pure maiden's womb has received Him." The Entrance is shrouded in silence. No crowds, no trumpets'only the quiet marvel of the angels, who, according to tradition, feed the child Mary with heavenly bread. St. Gregory of Nyssa tells us that "God delights to work in secret that which He later reveals in glory." In the Temple, Mary…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (341+ words) An unconventional "wedding ceremony" involving four men caused strong reactions in Germany in early November and reignited public debate about the limits of church practice, the legal framework of marriage, and social sensitivities. According to a report by Berliner Zeitung on November 7, a 33-year-old pastor in Berlin held'by her own account'a "poly wedding" ceremony between four men, as part of a pop-up wedding festival in Kreuzberg. In the intense backlash that followed, since polygamy is illegal under German civil law, the local Protestant structure expressed support for the pastor, while the Bishop of Berlin clarified that it was not an official church act with legal validity. The ceremony reportedly took place during a pop-up wedding festival in the summer'an open-air/temporary wedding festival set up in front of a Protestant church in Berlin's Kreuzberg district, where couples could receive a…...

3+ week, 6+ day ago (190+ words) At the conclusion of the Doxology, the Ambassador read the message from the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece responsible for Greeks Abroad, His Excellency Mr. Ioannis Michail Loverdos Metropolis of Sweden honors Greek National Day of October 28th At the conclusion of the Doxology, the Ambassador read the message from the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece responsible for Greeks Abroad, His Excellency Mr. Ioannis Michail Loverdos On Sunday, October 26, 2025, His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Saint George in Stockholm, assisted by the Cathedral's Pastor, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Bartholomew Iatridis. At the close of the Divine Liturgy, a Doxology (Thanksgiving) Service was held, attended by Her Excellency Ambassador of Greece to Sweden Aikaterini Fontoulaki, the Presidents of the two Greek Schools of Stockholm, the Honorable Messrs....

3+ week, 6+ day ago (136+ words) Stewardship is our grateful response to God's blessings " offering our time, talents, and treasures to support His work through the Church. At Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, your stewardship helps sustain a sacred place of faith, remembrance, and hope at the World Trade Center, ensuring it continues to shine as a beacon of Orthodoxy and peace. Join us on November 9 for Stewardship Sunday as we renew our commitment to our faith and our community. Together, we build and sustain the mission of St. Nicholas " one offering, one heart, one parishioner at a time. Become a Steward. Support. Serve. Shine. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine 130 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10007Tel.: 212-227-0773 ATTN.:FR. ANDREAS VITHOULKAS4 WORLD TRADE CENTERFLOOR 29th150 GREENWICH ST., NEW YORK, NY 10007...

4+ week, 1+ day ago (288+ words) Halloween, is among the world's oldest traditions, having direct associations with pagan and religious approaches. Although in Greece we have Halloween with parties, spooky amphitheatre, lanterns, pumpkin carving, and trick-or-treating, in various countries in Europe, but mainly in North America, the observance of Halloween has a religious character, as it marks the beginning of a three-day Christian period to honour the dead, called "Allhallotide'. The origins of Halloween derive from the Celtic Samhain festival of ancient Britain and Ireland. On the day corresponding to November 1 in modern calendars, it was believed that the new year began. This date was also considered the beginning of the winter season, as cattle returned to their pastures and farmland was renewed. During the Samhain festival, it was believed that the souls of those who had died were returning to visit their homes, while those…...