Orthodox Churches Boomed During Pandemic, Study Finds, but Calls Growth ‘Mixed Bag’
Almost half of US Orthodox churches remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to only 12% of all religious congregations.
Ukraine’s Parliament Approves Ban on Moscow-Linked Religious Groups. One Church Is Seen as a Target
A large majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox, but they are divided between two main groups with similar names: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
With New Patriarch, Bulgarian Orthodox Church Turns Toward Moscow
Many who opposed Daniil, the new Patriarch of All Bulgaria, worry that his election represents a sharp turn away from the policies of his predecessor, Neophyte I, who is remembered as a unifier.
Heads of Churches Say Israeli Government Is Demanding They Pay Property Tax, Upsetting Status Quo
There are 182,000 Christians in Israel, 50,000 in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and 1,300 in Gaza, according to the U.S. State Department. The vast majority are Palestinians.
Jerusalem: Holy Fire Spread to the World
Lauren Draper of Churches for Middle East Peace reflects on attending an ancient ceremony marking Orthodox Easter alongside Palestinian Christians in the midst of harsh restrictions from Israeli authorities.
Damaged in War, a Vibrant Church in Ukraine Rises as a Symbol of the Country’s Faith and Culture
The building, a striking fusion of the ancient and the modern, reflects a country determined to express its soul even in wartime.
Bulgarians Line the Streets of the Capital to Bid Farewell to Orthodox Patriarch Neophyte
Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, led the memorial service.
Greece Just Legalized Same-Sex Marriage. Will Other Orthodox Countries Join Them Any Time Soon?
Eastern Orthodox leadership, despite lacking a single doctrinal authority like a pope, has been united in opposing recognition of same-sex relationships both within its own rites and in the civil realm.
Orthodox Mark Christmas, but the Celebration Is Overshadowed for Many by Conflict
Orthodox Christians packed churches Saturday night for Christmas Eve services during ongoing conflicts including the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars.
Ukraine Celebrates Christmas on Dec. 25 for the First Time, Distancing Itself From Russia
The change, enacted in legislation signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in July, reflects both Ukrainians' dismay with the 22-month-old Russian invasion and their assertion of a national identity.