2+ hour, 36+ min ago (309+ words) More than fifty-five years after the Halki Theological School was shut down by the Turkish state, substantial prospects for its reopening are emerging for the first time, according to US Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack, speaking to SKAI. "When His All-Holiness visited the United States and met the President in the Oval Office, he raised [] More than fifty-five years after the Halki Theological School was shut down by the Turkish state, substantial prospects for its reopening are emerging for the first time, according to US Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack, speaking to SKAI. "When His All-Holiness visited the United States and met the President in the Oval Office, he raised the matter of the Halki Theological School'a topic of the highest importance for both President Trump and President Erdo'an. We wanted to monitor developments closely and see whether there is…...

4+ hour, 16+ min ago (343+ words) Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew issued a Joint Declaration at the Phanar on the eve of the Feast of Saint Andrew, reaffirming their commitment to the path toward full communion between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. They stressed that Christian unity is a gift of the Holy Spirit and called on all faithful to work and pray for its fulfillment. The Declaration includes a strong appeal for peace, urging political leaders to end ongoing conflicts and calling on all people of goodwill to support reconciliation. The Pope and the Patriarch firmly rejected any use of religion to justify violence and emphasized the importance of genuine interreligious dialogue and care for creation. Despite global challenges, they expressed hope in God's abiding presence and entrusted all people'especially the suffering and vulnerable'to divine mercy. Read here the full text: "O…...

6+ hour, 30+ min ago (510+ words) A patriarchal and synodal Divine Liturgy is being celebrated today, Sunday, on the feast of Saint Andrew the First-Called, founder of the Church of Constantinople, presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and concelebrated by Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria. Attending the Divine Liturgy for the Throne Feast of the Ecumenical Patriarchate are the Pope of Rome, hierarchs of both Churches, representatives of other Christian communities, diplomats, and other officials. The Greek government is represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Loverdos. At the conclusion of the service, the two primates will bless the faithful from the balcony of the Patriarchal House. At midday, Pope Leo XIV, after attending a luncheon with the Ecumenical Patriarch, will depart by air from Constantinople for Beirut, where he will continue the second stage of his apostolic journey. On Saturday, at the Phanar, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and…...

6+ hour, 46+ min ago (566+ words) After the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, Saint Andrew went to the Eastern lands preaching the Word of God. He went through Asia Minor, Thrace, Macedonia, he reached the River Danube, went along the coast of the Black Sea, through Crimea, the Black Sea region and along the River Dniepr he climbed to the place where the city of Kiev now stands. He stopped overnight on the hills of Kiev. Rising in the morning, he said to those disciples that were with him: "See these hills? Upon these hills shall shine forth the beneficence of God, and there will be a great city here, and God shall raise up many churches." Saint Andrew the First-Called accepted the decision of the prefect with joy and with prayer to the Lord, and went willingly to the place of execution....

23+ hour, 12+ min ago (728+ words) On his third day in T'rkiye, Pope Leo XIV presided at Holy Mass in the Volkswagen Arena in Constantinople, accompanied by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Pope recalled, as reported by Vatican News, that November 30 marks the first Sunday of Advent'a time dedicated to preparing for the birth of Christ, who was "begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father." This declaration was solemnly made at the Council of Nicaea 1,700 years ago'an anniversary central to this Apostolic Journey. Turning to the first reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, the Pope reflected on the invitation to all people to "ascend the mountain of the Lord," and he emphasized the importance of the images present in the passage'Isaiah 2:1-5. The first image is that of the mountain "established as the highest of the mountains," which is meant to remind us that the fruits…...

23+ hour, 57+ min ago (882+ words) On the third day of his Apostolic Visit to T'rkiye, Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for the signing of a Joint Declaration that reaffirms their shared commitment to the path toward restored full communion and their united rejection of any appeal to religion to legitimize violence. "The goal of Christian unity," the Declaration states, as reported by Vatican News, "includes the objective of contributing in a fundamental and life-giving manner to peace among all peoples. Together we fervently raise our voices in invoking God's gift of peace upon our world." Noting that "tragically, in many regions of our world, conflict and violence continue to destroy the lives of so many," the Pope and the Patriarch issued an appeal "to those who have civil and political responsibilities to do everything possible to ensure that the tragedy of war…...

1+ day, 2+ hour ago (233+ words) Following the joint pilgrimage on Friday of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Leo XIV in Nicaea to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, today, Saturday, November 29, shortly before 14:30 Greek time, the Pope, accompanied by his entourage, arrived at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, where he was welcomed by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The two primates entered together the Patriarchal Church of Saint George, where a Doxology is being celebrated. Present at the service are Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, hierarchs of the Churches of Constantinople and Rome, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps. The ceremony for the signing of the Joint Declaration is scheduled to follow in the Throne Hall of the Patriarchal House. After the declaration is signed, the hierarchs from both sides, along with the members of the papal delegation, will be formally presented before the two primates…...

1+ day, 2+ hour ago (239+ words) Pope Leo XIV visited the Sultanahmet Mosque this morning before heading to the Mor Ephrem Church of the Syriac Orthodox Church, as part of his engagements in Constantinople. At the historic mosque, the Pontiff was received and guided by Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. During his subsequent visit to the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Pope met with the heads of local churches and Christian communities living in Turkey. The meeting was attended by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, Elder'Metropolitan of Chalcedon Emmanuel, representatives of the Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem, as well as Primates of Churches and Leaders of the World Christian Communion. At 15:30 local time (14:30 Greek time), the Pope, accompanied by his entourage, will proceed to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, where he will be welcomed by Ecumenical…...

1+ day, 3+ hour ago (238+ words) Pope Leo visited Constantinople's Blue Mosque today, removing his shoes in a gesture of respect but refraining from prayer during what was his first visit, as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, to a Muslim place of worship during his four-day stay in Turkey. The pope bowed slightly before entering the mosque and was welcomed by both the imam and the mufti of Constantinople, who guided him through the vast complex of the historic landmark, capable of accommodating up to 10,000 worshippers. Walking in white socks, Leo smiled throughout the 20-minute tour and exchanged a lighthearted remark with one of his guides, Askin Musa Tunca, the mosque's chief muezzin'the cleric responsible for calling the faithful to prayer. Speaking to reporters after the visit, Tunca said he asked Pope Leo if he wished to pray, but the pope replied that he preferred…...

1+ day, 3+ hour ago (238+ words) Pope Leo visited Constantinople's Blue Mosque today, removing his shoes in a gesture of respect but refraining from prayer during what was his first visit, as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, to a Muslim place of worship during his four-day stay in Turkey. The pope bowed slightly before entering the mosque and was welcomed by both the imam and the mufti of Constantinople, who guided him through the vast complex of the historic landmark, capable of accommodating up to 10,000 worshippers. Walking in white socks, Leo smiled throughout the 20-minute tour and exchanged a lighthearted remark with one of his guides, Askin Musa Tunca, the mosque's chief muezzin'the cleric responsible for calling the faithful to prayer. Speaking to reporters after the visit, Tunca said he asked Pope Leo if he wished to pray, but the pope replied that he preferred…...