Egyptian President Orders Gov't to Rehouse Christians Fleeing Sinai Violence

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi has ordered the government to provide housing to Christians fleeing violence on the Sinai peninsula, the president's office said.

Bulgarian Orthodox Church tells government: Don’t admit more refugees

The governing body of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the Holy Synod, has called on the country’s government not to admit more refugees, while saying it has compassion and solidarity for those already in the country.

Attacks in Egypt's Sinai kill at least 12, mostly police

At least 12 people, mostly Egyptian policemen, were killed Sunday when militants attacked a police station in the provincial capital of Egypt's northern Sinai, and detonated a roadside bomb against a passing armoured vehicle, officials said.

Jerusalem Mayor Barkat condemns 'deplorable' arson attack against Christian seminary

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat condemned an apparent arson attack against a Greek Orthodox seminary in the capital on Thursday morning.

Russian Orthodox church helps flood victims in Serbia

Over the past two days Belgrade cathedrals have received 47 tons of humanitarian aid and turned it over to the people who need it...

The Russian Orthodox church has organized assistance to flood victims in Serbia. On Tuesday a group of Russian Orthodox volunteers have left for Serbia. First, they intend to buy relief supplies in Belgrade and then deliver the humanitarian cargoes to the flood-stricken territories, a source from a charity department of the Russian Orthodox church said on Tuesday.

Christians in Turkey mark Easter with masses...

Christians celebrated Easter with church masses in several cities across Turkey on April 20.

The Greek Orthodox community gathered for a mass at the Fener Orthodox Greek Patriarchate in Istanbul’s Balat neighborhood, performed by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the Saint George Church. The mass was attended by locals as well as visitors from Greece and other parts of Europe.

Easter masses were also performed in cities with small Christian populations, such as in the southern provinces of Hatay and Mersin.

Seven injured by fireworks on Easter Day in Greece

Seven people were injured by fireworks on the Aegean Sea island of Santorini in Greece on Sunday as the country was celebrating Easter Day.

The injured included three American tourists, aged 51, 53 and 54 respectively, who were transferred by air from Santorini to Crete after suffering serious injuries from fireworks used by worshippers.

Four other people, two Cypriots and two Greeks, were also slightly injured in the same incident and received first aid on the Greece's popular tourist island.

Outrage over Syrian rebels assaulting catholic monastery, killing hermit

 Syrian Turkmen rebels.(AFP Photo / Jm Lopez)

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A revered Syrian monk and hermit, Father Franҫois Mourad, has been killed during an assault of the Franciscan monastery in a predominantly Christian village in the north near the Turkish border, Vatican Radio reported.
The circumstances surrounding Mourad’s death in the monastery of St. Anthony of Padua, about 70 miles from Syria’s largest city Aleppo, remain unclear.

Με τιμές αρχηγού κράτους η υποδοχή του Αγίου Φωτός το απόγευμα στην Αθήνα

Το Αναστάσιμο Μήνυμα έδωσε σε ολόκληρη την Οικουμένη, από τον Πανάγιο Τάφο, ο Ελληνορθόδοξος Πατριάρχης κ. Θεόφιλος, στις 14.16 το μεσημέρι.
Ακολουθώντας τα βήματα των προκατόχων του ο Ελληνορθόδοξος Πατριάρχης, που έχει το ακριβό προνόμιο να φέρνει κάθε χρόνο το Φώς της Ανάστασης του Θεανθρώπου, από νωρίς μπήκε στο ιερό κουβούκλιο στον Πανάγιο Τάφο μέσα στον κατάμεστο ναό της Αναστάσεως στην καρδιά της Ιερής Πόλης.
Λίγα λεπτά μετά τις δύο μεσημέρι βγήκε από τον Πανάγιο Τάφο, κρατώντας σε κάθε χέρι 33 κεριά όσα δηλαδή και τα χρόνια του Ιησού και μετέδωσε το Φως στους πιστούς και μαζί το μήνυμα της Ανάστασης του Σωτήρα της ανθρωπότητας. Ένα μήνυμα που πλημμύρισε τον ναό και ξεχύθηκε στα παμπάλαια δρομάκια των Ιεροσολύμων με τους εκατοντάδες πιστούς που κρατούσαν τις αναμμένες λαμπάδες, ενώ οι καμπάνες του Ναού δεν σταματούσαν να ηχούν χαρμόσυνα. Περισσότεροι από 5.000 υπολογίζονται οι πιστοί που έφτασαν αυτές τις ημέρες στην Ιερή Πόλη απ΄όλα τα σημεία του πλανήτη, ακριβώς για να παραστούν στην τελετή της Αφής του Αγίου Φωτός.

Thousands to flock to J'lem for Orthodox Easter ceremony

By JPOST.COM STAFF

05/04/2013 08:47

 

Tens of thousands of pilgrims were expected to visit the Old City of Jerusalem Saturday to celebrate the "Holy Fire," Israel Radio reported. 

The annual occurrence held at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher marks the day preceding Orthodox Easter.

Thousands of security authorities were deployed Saturday morning in the Old City where vehicular traffic was barred.

Macedonia News el:How Greece celebrated Easter in these difficult times ...

Macedonia News el

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(News from real/true Macedonia, Greece [1] , [2])

Greeks celebrated Orthodox Easter on Sunday in a manner befitting the country’s crisis-hit economy with food and drink cutbacks and state expenses kept to a minimum.

Stung by higher transport costs and income falls, many opted to stay at home while a leading trade association said purchases for the country’s foremost religious festival had been the poorest in a decade.

A tradition for political leaders to visit army barracks on Easter Sunday was also curtailed, with the exception of the head of state, Karolos Papoulias, who is lunched with paratroopers in the northern city of Naousa (Macedonia)[fotos 1,2].

Holy Fire ignites in Jerusalem (VIDEO rt) ...

Thousands of Christians have lit torches and candles from a holy flame that 'miraculously' emerged from the tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem on the eve of Orthodox Easter.

­The Holy Fire ignited after Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem delivered a prayer. To make sure he had no unholy sources of fire, he was searched by Israeli security forces before entering a small chamber marking the site of Christ' tomb.

'Holy Fire' lights up Jerusalem church for Easter ...

Thousands of Orthodox Christians filled Jerusalem's ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre and spilled out into the narrow streets on Saturday for the "Holy Fire" ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter.

Believers hold that the fire is miraculously sent from heaven to ignite candles held by the Greek Orthodox patriarch in an annual rite dating back to the 4th century that symbolises the resurrection of Jesus.