On January 20 the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast Day of Agios Euthymius the…
RELIGION
Eastern Orthodox Religion and Christianity news.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026, we honour the civil rights icon and recall Archbishop Iakovos’ historic march with him in Selma, captured on LIFE Magazine’s cover – a symbol of Greek-American solidarity in the fight for equality.
ECHR case Union of Atheists v. Greece debates removal of Christian icons from Greek courtrooms. ADF defends symbols as cultural heritage, not violation of rights. Ruling pending.
On January 19 the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast Day of Agios Makarios the…
On January 18, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast Day of Agios Athanasios. Agios…
January 17 is the Feast Day for Agios Antonios O Megas (Saint Anthony the Great), the revered Father of Monks, celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Church and other traditions as the day he departed this life around 356 AD at 105 years old, marking his life of radical asceticism, prayer, and founding Christian monasticism in the Egyptian desert.
In January 2026, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) launched a blistering attack on Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, labeling him the “Constantinople Antichrist,” “antichrist in a cassock,” and “devil in the flesh,” while accusing him of British-backed efforts to undermine Russian Orthodoxy in the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and potentially Montenegro.
Ecumenical Patriarchate rejects virulent Russian SVR attack on Patriarch Bartholomew as fabricated propaganda. Since 2018 Ukraine autocephaly, it ignores similar assaults to focus on its ecumenical mission.
Russia’s SVR intelligence service directly accuses Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of collaborating with British special services to sow discord in the Orthodox world, promote Russophobia in the Baltics, and dismantle the unity of the Church by supporting nationalist structures and planning autocephaly for Montenegro.
On January 11, 2026, over 500 gathered in Hobart for the joint Epiphany Blessing of the Waters at Sandy Bay. Paul Holland retrieved the cross in a traditional swim. Community BBQ followed the Hobart Epiphany blessing ceremony.
Mel Gibson’s highly anticipated sequel to The Passion of the Christ, titled The Resurrection of the Christ, is now filming in Italy. Featuring a new cast led by Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus, the ambitious two-part epic explores cosmic events surrounding the resurrection and is set for release on Good Friday (March 26, 2027) and Ascension Day (May 6, 2027).
A Greek Melkite Catholic Church official in Aleppo has disputed the Syrian transitional government’s claim that a marked building in a Kurdish-held neighborhood is an SDF military site, asserting it is church property housing over 40 civilian Christian families amid escalating clashes and evacuation warnings.
During the Epiphany water blessing ceremony in Limassol, Cyprus on January 6, 2026, a 45-year-old man dove into the sea, retrieved the wooden Holy Cross, but then pocketed it and left the scene, triggering a police search.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended an Orthodox Christmas service near Moscow on January 7, 2026, praising soldiers for their “holy mission” to defend the Fatherland as the Ukraine conflict enters its fourth year. He highlighted the role of the Church in unity and charity, while his past visits to Mount Athos underscore his ties to Orthodox holy sites.
On Tuesday, more than six dozen teenage boys are expected to leap into the waters of Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs during the 120th annual Greek Orthodox Epiphany Day celebration.
On January 7, the Greek Orthodox church celebrates the Feast Day of the Synaxis of Agios Ioannis the Baptist and Holy Forerunner of Christ, who is also the Protector Saint of God Parents, as he baptised Jesus Christ.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis shared a heartfelt Epiphany message on January 6, 2026, emphasizing unity, determination, and optimism as Greece enters the new year. He highlighted the holiday’s renewal of strength amid global uncertainties, noting the country’s advancements in citizens’ lives, defense, and adaptive policies.
January in Greece bursts with vibrant traditions, blending ancient customs and Orthodox Christian faith. From the sacred Blessing of the Waters on Epiphany to the raucous revelry of the Arapides and Ragoutsaria festivals, experience a unique cultural tapestry. Join the festivities and witness the joyous spirit of Greece in the heart of winter.
The Holy Theophany, also known as the Epiphany, the Celebration of the Lights, or ta Fota (the Lights), is held on January 6 and is one of the most sacred and holiest Feast Days in the Greek Orthodox Calendar.
The Epiphany is one of the most sacred Greek Orthodox celebrations that dates back to ancient times.
Crans-Montana fire miracle cross: Eyewitness says flames avoided young man holding crucifix in deadly Swiss ski bar fire.
On January 1 the Greek Orthodox church commemorates Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea…
In 2026, Greece offers limited long weekends with only three three-day breaks and one four-day period around Orthodox Easter. Discover the key public holidays and plan your perfect island escapes or mainland adventures amid stunning landscapes and rich traditions.
The Holy 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia: At the beginning of the fourth century the emperor Maximian (284-305) gave orders to destroy Christian churches, to burn service books, and to deprive all Christians of rights and privileges of citizenship. At this time the bishop of the city of Nicomedia was Saint Cyril, who by his preaching and life contributed to the spread of Christianity, so that many members of the emperor’s court were also secret Christians.
On December 27 the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast Day of Agios Stefanos. Saint Stephen was the first of the seven deacons whom the Apostles ordained to serve the Church in Jerusalem. Being filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, he worked miracles and wonders among the people. Today is also the name day of Stefanos, Stefania, Mavrikos and Mavrikia. Xronia Polla!
After two years of subdued festivities due to the war in Gaza, Christmas celebrations have returned to Bethlehem in 2025, bringing joy, parades, and a lit Christmas tree to the birthplace of Jesus amid a fragile ceasefire and ongoing humanitarian challenges.
Nearly three years after the devastating 2023 earthquakes that ravaged Antakya and reduced its Christian community from 350 families to fewer than 90, the remaining Orthodox worshippers gathered on December 24, 2025, in the historic Church of Saint Peter—one of the world’s oldest cave churches—for a poignant Christmas Eve Mass, symbolizing faith and efforts to reunite amid ongoing ruins.
Turkish authorities detained 115 suspected Islamic State members in Istanbul raids after intelligence revealed plans for attacks targeting Christmas and New Year celebrations, particularly against non-Muslims. Warrants were issued for 137 suspects, with weapons and documents seized; a related operation captured senior IS figure Mehmet Gören abroad.
In his Christmas Eve 2025 message from Jerusalem, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel the only Middle East country where Christians thrive, contrasting it with persecution elsewhere, including a recent arson attack on a Christmas tree in Jenin and the decline of Bethlehem’s Christian population under PA control.
In the Orthodox Church, the Twelve Days of Christmas form a sacred bridge between the Nativity of Christ on December 25 and His Baptism (Theophany) on January 6—a time of great joy honoring the Incarnation, early martyrs, apostles, and saints.
