(Vatican Radio) A statement from Greg Burke, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, has confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Egypt at the end of April. Here is the full text of Greg Burke’s statement: “In response to the invitation from the President of the Republic, the Bishops of the Catholic Church, His […]
Changing canon law, pope brings Latin and Eastern practices closer
Date Posted: September 16, 2016
Changing canon law, pope brings Latin and Eastern practices closer (National Catholic Reporter) Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service | Sep. 15, 2016 Vatican City In a change to church law, Latin-rite Catholic deacons may not preside at a wedding when one or both of the new spouses are members of an Eastern Catholic church. The […]
Pope, Russian Orthodox Patriarch meeting in Cuba
Date Posted: February 15, 2016
After 1,000-year split, pope and Russian patriarch embrace in Cuba Pope, Russian Orthodox patriarch to meet in Cuba, Vatican announces By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service 2.5.2016 8:09 AM ET VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After almost three decades of tense Catholic-Russian Orthodox relations, Pope Francis will meet Patriarch Kirill of Moscow Feb. 12 in […]
Synaxis – day two
Date Posted: January 25, 2016
A video of Patriarch Kirill’s address to the synaxis may now be viewed on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LumwJEqmmkg Even if you cannot understand Russian, the 15-minute video is very interesting in that it also includes views of the opening of synaxis and many views of the various delegates. The Patriarch’s remarks are summarized in Russian at https://mospat.ru/ru/2016/01/22/news127085/. […]
Council to be held in Crete
Date Posted: January 25, 2016
The Romanian Patriarchate continues to be the best source of information about the developments at the synaxis. The following link conveys some very exciting news. http://basilica.ro/sfantul-si-marele-sinod-panortodox-se-va-intruni-in-creta-grecia–111604.html I have pasted the Google translation below: His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church said Sunday, January 24, 2016, that the Holy Great Pan-Orthodox Synod in June […]
Pope: September 1, day of prayer for the environment
Date Posted: August 11, 2015
Link to news article: Pope creates day of prayer for the environment
Coptic Church recognizes martyrdom of 21 Coptic Christians
Date Posted: February 24, 2015
The Coptic Orthodox Church has announced that the murder of the 21 Egyptian Christians killed by the so-called Islamic State in Libya will be commemorated in its Church calendar. Pope Tawadros II announced that the names of the martyrs will be inserted into the Coptic Synaxarium, the Oriental Church’s equivalent to the Roman Martyrology. This […]
Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain canonized
Date Posted: January 17, 2015
Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain (1924-1994), a monk of of Mt. Athos who was renowned for his holiness and the wisdom of his spiritual writings was recently canonized by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. Note: Cononizations by the Ecumenical Patriarchate are significantly less frequent than those by the Roman Pontiff. http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/01/13/elder-paisios-canonized-by-patriarch-bartholomew-of-constantinople/
Maronites ordain married priest
Date Posted: March 1, 2014
Submitted on February 25, 2014 By Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org Pope Francis has granted permission for a married deacon to be ordained to the priesthood for the Maronite Catholic Church for the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon. Father Wissam Akiki was ordained Feb. 27 at St. Raymond’s Maronite Cathedral in St. Louis. He is […]
Pope Francis Meets with Russian Orthodox Representative
Date Posted: November 13, 2013
by Raquel Maria Garcia Alvarez Rome, Nov 12, 2013 (Prensa Latina) Pope Francis today received Metropolitan Hilarion, head of Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, who is visiting this capital. The meeting is considered an important sign of an eventual rapprochement between the two churches, which have been strained in the past […]