The Romanian Orthodox Church uncovered the relics of St. Blondina, a 20th-century confessor of the faith, at Eternitatea Cemetery in Iași on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by two bishops and local faithful.
Alexandra Kalinovskaya
Olga Stefanova is a documentary filmmaker, the author of several films and a book about Antarctica. Olga spoke about her journeys to the continent and shared the details of life in such extreme conditions.
According to the bishop, the march represents more than a political or social debate. “It’s about publicly witnessing that life is stronger than death and that Christians are called to give this witness in the public square,” he said.
Following the monastery’s established practice, the icon of the Theotokos was transferred from the docheion—the monastery’s oil storage building—to the katholikon.
Development would proceed in stages—beginning with the relocation of an existing candle factory, publishing house, and natural apothecary to the site, followed by construction of yurts and cabins for guests.
The city of Karaganda, Kazakhstan, hosted celebrations on April 19, marking the 60th anniversary of the repose of St. Sebastian of Karaganda, the Heavenly patron of Kazakhstan.
Despite the horrors and restrictions of earthly wars, the miracle of the Holy Fire has happened again in the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Services for the new parish will begin with Great Vespers for the feast of Palm Sunday and continue daily throughout Holy Week and Bright Week.
The cross was presented to Holy Archangels as a gesture of gratitude for the parish’s sustained dedication to the orphanage.
Approximately 80 clergymen, seminarians, and their families joined the Metropolitan on a daylong pilgrimage to St. Dumitru Romanian Orthodox Monastery in Middletown, New York, on Friday.
The Russian Home for the Elderly, located on the grounds adjacent to the cathedral, also suffered significant damage, including a partially collapsed roof. Elderly residents continue to live at the facility as dependents.
The rite was led by monastery abbot His Grace Bishop Luke of Syracuse.
The current expansion project is described as a historic moment in the life of the parish.
The Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh at the St. Serge Institute in Paris has been designated a historical monument by the French Ministry of Culture, with a ceremony marking the occasion scheduled for Sunday, April 19.
After placing the liturgical items on the altar, the Archbishop led a moleben of thanksgiving and offered a reflection on the importance of monasticism for the life of the Church.
“He will be remembered for the love he poured into his family, the countless ways he helped others, and the lasting impact he had on all who knew him. He leaves behind a legacy of compassion, humility, and unwavering faith.”
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem has announced that celebrations for Holy Week and Pascha will go ahead this year, limited to religious rites only, without processions or festive gatherings.
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) consecrated Archimandrite Peter (Karakozov) as Bishop of Seattle, vicar of the Western American Diocese, on Saturday, March 28, the feast of the Akathist of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The decision to block the Latin clerics came as Orthodox Christians were already concerned about the possibility of celebrating the Holy Fire and Paschal services in the Holy Sepulchre in two weeks.
The Council of Heads of Churches, meeting under the presidency of Pat. Theophilos, resolved to send the letter after reports circulated in Israel that only 50 people would be permitted to enter the church on Holy Saturday for the ceremony of the Holy Fire.
