Catholic Church

A divine liturgy for St. Andrew, the founder of the Orthodox Church, was celebrated on Nov. 30 at the Fener Greek Patriate in Istanbul.

Held at the historic Aya Yorgi Patriarchal Church in the Fatih district, the service featured scripture readings, hymns and congregants lighting candles in prayer.

Pope Francis said on Sept. 27 that the Catholic Church must "seek forgiveness" over the "scourge" of child sexual abuse, during a visit to Belgium where the Church's dark past looms large.

In a speech before political and civil society leaders that opened his three-day visit to the country, Francis denounced the "tragic instances of child abuse" as a stain on the Church's legacy.

Leaders of major churches in the Holy Land have accused Israeli authorities of launching a "coordinated attack" on the Christian presence in the Holy Land by initiating tax proceedings against them.

Twenty-five people, including two gunmen, have been arrested following the Jan. 28 church attack in Istanbul, with the church reopening for worship with a well-attended service.

Something of a war has broken out in the Church of Greece after an Athens priest enlisted the help of two girls from his congregation to fill in for the altar boys in the Pentecostal liturgy.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou will attend the midnight Anastasi (Resurrection) Mass on Holy Saturday at the Athens Cathedral tonight, her office said.

On Sunday (Easter Sunday), she will visit the Presidential Guard. 

Easter has arrived for Catholics. In his homily on the resurrection of Christ, Pope Francis called for an end to all wars.

Slovenia has a rich heritage of Easter customs, which vary from one part of the country to another, just like the dishes served on the occasion. Imbued with symbolism, the dishes are the centrepiece of family gatherings.

It's no secret that we Greeks love Easter ("Pascha"). In the Orthodox Christian Church, it is the most important religious holiday of the year, a time of intense spiritual reflection and solemnity.

The authorities in Lourdes, one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Catholics, are considering removing mosaics created by Slovenian priest Marko Rupnik following sexual abuse allegations against him.