Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of St. Nicholas in Athens, Greece - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Orthodox Church

Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of St. Nicholas in Athens, Greece - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Orthodox Church

Panorthodox Synod : ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW SPEAKS OF ''UNJUST AND UNHOLY" WAR RUSSIA UNLEASHED AGAINST UKRAINE

Panorthodox Synod : ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW SPEAKS OF ''UNJUS...:   On July 7, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew led a service in the Kyriaka Martyr Church in Athens.

Modern Science & the Orthodox Tradition | Conference | Day 2 - considering the thought of the late Romanian theologian,Fr.Dumitru Staniloae

Ecumenical Patriarchate/Region of Attica,Greece Co-sponsoring Major Environmental Gathering

From 5-8 June 2018 on the Saronic Islands of Attica,Greece will be held the environmental symposium "A Green Attica for a Sustainable Environment - Preserving the Planet and Protecting Its People."Theologians,scientists,political and business leaders,activists and journalists of the international community will convene to explore pressing environmental problems of the region and its islands,examining the connections between ecology and economy,particularly in the context of pressing social and environmental challenges of our time,according to the official announcement of the symposium signed by His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople,leader of the world's Orthodox Christians.*
The President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopios Pavlopoulos will attend;while the President of the Republic of France Emmanuel Macron has been invited to open the symposium of about 250 governmental,environmental and religious leaders.Both the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Region of Attica have spearheaded the international dialogue on the environmental dilemma and interrelated social problems,including the refugee crisis.The parties aim to affirm a collaborative response to the ecological crisis;while advocating a sustainable planet as a sacred legacy for all people and especially our children,the communique explained.*
The Hellenic Republic Region of Attica,with a population of 3,750,000,consists of the Athens Metropolitan Area,plus several other nearby cities and islands of East Central Greece.Official hosts of the symposium are Patriarch Bartholomew and Irene "Rena" Dourou,Governor of the Region of Attica.Ms.Dourou has a Master's degree in Political Science and has served twice in the Greek Parliament.A member of the ruling Syriza Party,she is also a member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.Ms.Dourou has been selected as an Alternate Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy,which promotes the principles of Christianity and democracy among parliamentarians.

Patriarch Bartholomew Visits Prime Minister Tsipras of Greece - the Patriarch's thoughts at a major Middle East conference in Athens

On 31 October 2017,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople was received at the Maximos Mansion in Athens by Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras.Their talks lasted over an hour,thoroughly covering several issues of mutual concern.They also held discussions on the sidelines of the Second Athens Conference on Religious and Cultural Pluralism in the Middle East,which was held from 29-31 October.
The Patriarch was accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Cydonia.Also joining the confidential talks was the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Amanatidis,who covers Church and Cultural Diplomacy.*
The Athens Conference is the initiative of His Excellency Professor Nikos Kotzias,Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs.Besides Patriarch Bartholomew and Prime Minister Tsipras,also attending the Athens Conference were His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece;His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine;His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa;and His Excellency Sameh Shukrey,Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs.*
Patriarch Bartholomew made a number of incisive observations at the Athens Conference,including:
As is well known,whenever people ignore or discontinue dialogue,taking the place of dialogue are monolithic ideologies,totalitarian regimes,the cruel demagogy,and,ultimately,weapons,destruction,and death.
This is why we recommend a dialogue of truth and love,which promotes mutual trust and empowers participants to assume the necessary initiatives and responsibilities together.Sincere dialogue can change the flow of history.*
Thus,we consider imperative the expansion,elevation and establishment of interreligious dialogue at every level,while bearing in mind past failures,present needs,and future prospects.As unrest increases daily throughout the world,it incites unhealthy feelings of insecurity,depression,and suspicion of new,unpleasant,and dire surprises.
Interreligious dialogue is obligated and able to acquire value,purpose and effectiveness only if we are able to rid people of faith from the fear that pan-religious syncretism is allegedly pursued through such dialogue.*
The tragic suffering of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern peoples has already caused and continues to cause a great deal of devastation in human relations,as well as in the natural,cultural,and religious environment.This is precisely why the highest level of mobilisation will be required for interreligious cooperation and the handling of ongoing religious crises,the healing of the emotional wounds of people-which are perpetuated by this conflict-but also for the cultivation of a moderate atmosphere for the restoration of a peaceful coexistence among religions and civilisations.*
The First Athens Conference was held in 2015.

Preparations for the Pan-Orthodox Council Move Ahead

Preparations for the Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church,to be held in 2016, are continuing in Athens,Greece.The Special Inter-Orthodox Committee for the Preparation of the Pan-Orthodox Council convened in Athens on 16 December and will wrap up the session on 18 December.Under the leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon,Ecumenical Patriarchate,representatives of the autocephalous churches are drafting the procedural rules of the Great and Holy Council.
Among those attending the Athens meeting are several hierarchs,including:
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk,chairman of the Department of External Church Relations,Moscow Patriarchate;
Metropolitan Emmanuel of France,Ecumenical Patriarchate;
Metropolitan Basilios of Akkar,Patriarchate of Antioch;
Bishop Irinej of Backa,Patriarchate of Serbia;
Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Peristerona,Orthodox Church of Greece;
Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantine,Jerusalem Patriarchate;
and Metropolitan John of Korce,Albanian Orthodox Church.
The Great and Holy Council has long been a cherished dream of many,but it is safe to say it is now well on the way to realisation.