Built between 532 and 537, Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom, Ayasofya) represents a brilliant moment in Byzantine architecture and art. It was the principal church of the Byzantine Empire in its capital, Constantinople (later Istanbul), and a mosque after the Ottoman Empire conquered the city in 1453. The decision of the Turkish government in 1934 to…

A light quake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale was recorded at 15:22 on Sunday with epicentre 18 km south-southwest of Mt. Athos and focal depth 15 km. According to sources, there were slight damages at the police station of Karyes while there are no information for damages at Mt. Athos’ monasteries. It is noted…

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin’s visit to Mt Athos was concluded late Saturday, The Russian premier entered Mt Athos on Thursday and stayed at the monastery of Philotheοu. On Saturday morning he visited the monastery of Aghios Panteleimonas which concluded the Russian Prime Minister’s private visit to the Holy Community. Mishustin delivered a large…

A moderate earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale was recorded at 01:50 on Sunday in the sea region 22 km southwest of Athos peninsula after a 4.2 Richter quake shook the monastic community at 22:39 on Saturday night with the same epicentre. A series of other minor quakes followed with the strongest measuring 3.9R…

On September 26, 2020, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America ordained Deacon Sotiri Michalatos to the Holy Priesthood at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. AXIOS!! Before Deacon Sotiri entered into the Holy Altar, His Eminence reminded him of the importance of the Παρακαταθήκη, the “Divine Trust” that will be placed in his hands: “It is…

A military plane with cadets has crashed near the Chuguev military airfield. Archbishop Jonah called on his Facebook page to pray for the cadets tragically killed in a plane crash, which took place two kilometres from the airfield of the town of Chuguev, near Kharkiv. “God rest boys !!! A plane with cadets crashed near…

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), has sent a message of greeting to His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Great Antioch and All the East, on the occasion of his name day. Your Beatitude, Please accept my heartfelt greetings with the commemoration day of your heavenly…

His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, has greeted the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch on the day of St. John the Theologian. Your Beatitude, Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant at the Altar of God! I cordially greet you on your name day. Wishing to become like your heavenly…

On 24th September 2020, an international online conference on “Religion in Changing World. Role of Education in Upbringing of Youth” took place on the platform of the TASS press centre in Moscow, bringing together eighty participants from twenty countries. Among those who took part in the forum were religious leaders, statesmen, journalists and experts. With…