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Articles for Patriarchate

Armenian Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City feel the walls closing in
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Armenian Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City feel the walls closing in

Al Jazeera  

As Israel’s war on Gaza rages and Israeli attacks on people in the occupied West Bank continue, Armenian residents of the Old City of Jerusalem are fighting a different battle – quieter, they say, but no less existential. Now, the small Christian community has begun to fracture under pressure from forces they say threaten them and the multifaith character of …

Land City Jewish Christian Old Jerusalem Christians
US Christian churches renew urgent calls for ceasefire as Christmas approaches
1 year ago

US Christian churches renew urgent calls for ceasefire as Christmas approaches

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We plead, ‘peace, please peace!’” Their statements follow …

Peace War Church Leaders Palestinian Gaza Israel
A first for reclaimed Kyiv cathedral: Christmas in Ukrainian
2 years ago

A first for reclaimed Kyiv cathedral: Christmas in Ukrainian

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — Packing a cathedral for Orthodox Christmas, hundreds of worshippers heard the service in that church in the Ukrainian language for the first time in decades, a demonstration of independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which remained loyal to the Moscow patriarch since the 17th century, declared independence from Moscow’s Patriarchate after Russia’s invasion …

Christmas War Ukraine Church Service Russian Moscow
Ukraine takes over Kyiv cathedral amid church dispute
2 years ago

Ukraine takes over Kyiv cathedral amid church dispute

LA Times  

Parts of the centuries-old Pechersk Lavra monastic complex in Kyiv, Ukraine, have been taken over by the state. The Ukrainian government has taken the main cathedral of a historic monastery in Kyiv from a denomination previously affiliated with the Russian Orthodox patriarchate and allowed its Ukrainian rival group to use it for Orthodox Christmas services. Ukrainian Minister of Culture Oleksandr …

Ukraine Church Russian Moscow Ukrainian Kyiv Orthodox
Divisions appear in Russian Orthodox Church over its support of Putin’s war in Ukraine
2 years, 8 months ago

Divisions appear in Russian Orthodox Church over its support of Putin’s war in Ukraine

The Independent  

On the holiest day in its religious calendar, the Russian Orthodox Church was struggling under the weight of its own contradictions. Although no bishop has yet indicated a desire to split with the Russian Orthodox Church, Father Kobetiak said the clergy and the faithful in Ukraine sought “spiritual independence”, mentioning how one priest is now serving “a half-ruined cathedral without …

War Ukraine World Christian Putin Russian Ukrainian
Israeli restrictions on ‘Holy Fire’ ignite Christian outrage
2 years, 8 months ago

Israeli restrictions on ‘Holy Fire’ ignite Christian outrage

Associated Press  

JERUSALEM — Christians celebrated their “Holy Fire” ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Saturday against a backdrop of rising tensions with Israel, which imposed new restrictions on attendance this year that it said were needed for safety. In the dense confines of Jerusalem’s Old City, where Jews, Christians and Muslims must share their holiest sites …

Church City Jewish Palestinian Israel Israeli Site
Israeli restrictions on 'Holy Fire' ignite Christian outrage
2 years, 8 months ago

Israeli restrictions on 'Holy Fire' ignite Christian outrage

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Christians were celebrating the “Holy …

Church City Jewish Palestinian Israel Israeli Christian
Russian talking point: Blaming US for Ukraine church split
2 years, 9 months ago

Russian talking point: Blaming US for Ukraine church split

Associated Press  

While Russia has sought to justify its assault on Ukraine with complaints about NATO’s eastward expansion, it has also claimed that foreign actors have encroached on its religious turf in Ukraine — even alleging the United States helped instigate an Eastern Orthodox schism there. Moscow Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, said both the West and a rival …

Religious Ukraine Church Russian Moscow Ukrainian Russians
Russian priests in Amsterdam leave Moscow Patriarchate
2 years, 10 months ago

Russian priests in Amsterdam leave Moscow Patriarchate

NL Times  

The Russian Orthodox parish in Amsterdam announced Saturday it will no longer function within the Moscow Patriarchate and has asked the archbishop of the diocese of The Hague and the Netherlands to grant canonical dismissal. The parish’s four priests and deacon unanimously decided it was no longer possible to “provide a spiritually safe climate” for their congregants within the Moscow …

Russia Russian Moscow Parish Nederlands Dagblad Patriarchate Moscow Patriarchate
Russia’s war drives a wedge between Orthodox Ukrainians and the Moscow Patriarchate
2 years, 10 months ago

Russia’s war drives a wedge between Orthodox Ukrainians and the Moscow Patriarchate

Raw Story  

As Russian troops step up their assault, clergy and worshippers at the Ukrainian Orthodox churches that are attached to the Moscow Patriarchate are distancing themselves from Russia, placing into question one of the Kremlin's main channels of influence in their country. Three days after Russia invaded, Patriarch Kirill denounced the "evil forces" that were undermining the historical unity of Russia …

France Ukraine Church Russian Moscow Kremlin Ukrainian
How is Russia-Ukraine war linked to religion? | Explained
2 years, 10 months ago

How is Russia-Ukraine war linked to religion? | Explained

India TV News  

Ukraine’s tangled political history with Russia has its counterpart in the religious landscape, with Ukraine’s majority Orthodox Christian population divided between an independent-minded group based in Kyiv and another loyal to its patriarch in Moscow. Even though Russian President Vladimir Putin justified his invasion of Ukraine in part as a defense of the Moscow-oriented Orthodox church, leaders of both Ukrainian …

War Ukraine Russia Church Putin Russian Moscow
Ukraine’s leader orders Orthodox Church to change its name
6 years ago

Ukraine’s leader orders Orthodox Church to change its name

Associated Press  

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s president on Saturday signed a bill that orders the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to change its name to reflect its ties to Moscow. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday signed the bill ordering the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to explicitly indicate its link to the Moscow Patriarchate in its name. When the Ukrainian parliament passed the bill Thursday, …

Ukraine Church Moscow Ukrainian Orthodox Its Name Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox church calls on UN for help in Ukraine
6 years, 1 month ago

Russian Orthodox church calls on UN for help in Ukraine

Associated Press  

MINSK, Belarus — The Russian Orthodox Church on Friday called on the United Nations, the leaders of Germany and France, the pope and other spiritual leaders to protect believers in Ukraine in the face of pressure on Moscow-affiliated clerics. Ukraine’s Orthodox clerics will gather for a meeting Saturday that is expected to form a new, independent Ukrainian church, and Ukrainian …

Ukraine Church Russian Moscow Ukrainian German Orthodox
Russian Orthodox Church splits from Constantinople over Ukraine
6 years, 3 months ago

Russian Orthodox Church splits from Constantinople over Ukraine

Al Jazeera  

In the largest schism in Orthodox Christianity for over a century, the Russian Orthodox Church has cut all ties with the Constantinople Patriarchate over a “historic” decision to recognise the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as independent. The Holy Synod has also urged other Orthodox Churches to properly evaluate a decision taken by Constantinople and to “search for ways out of the …

Ukraine Church Russian Moscow Ukrainian Decision Orthodox