Eastern Orthodox Church

The Bulgarian Holy Synod decided late on Monday to refuse an invitation from Macedonian Archbishop Stefan and not attend celebrations for the 1000th anniversary of the creation of the Ohrid Archbishopric on May 27 in Macedonia's second city.

The Holy Synod, the Greek Orthodox Church's governing body, has expressed its "intense opposition" to the provision passed in Parliament on Wednesday that will allow same-sex couples to foster children.

In a statement on Thursday, the body said that the "state has deprived the right of some children to grow up in a natural family environment."

The encroachment of religion into Serbia's officially secular state institutions has drawn criticism after the Serbian Army command celebrated St George as its patron saint for the first time on Sunday, in the presence of Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin.

On this date (May 6), Bulgaria celebrates the Holy Martyr George the Victorious each year.

He is one of the most revered saints, a martyr of Christ's faith in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios issued a strong rebuke to the Church of Bulgaria over its support for the schismatic church in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

The Metropolitan of Adrianoupolis Amphilochios will visit on Sunday the two Greek soldiers who have been detained in Turkey since March, after accidentally crossing into the neighboring country during a border patrol, the Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios I said on Saturday, after delivering his message for Orthodox Easter.

In Eastern Orthodoxy this day, known as Holy and Great Saturday, is also called The Great Sabbath since it is on this day that Christ "rested" physically in the tomb. But it is also believed that it was on this day he performed in spirit the Harrowing of Hell and raised up to Paradise, having liberated those who had been held captive.

The Holy Light from Jerusalem will be brought on Saturday evening aboard a special aircraft by a delegation of the Romanian Patriarchy, headed by Vicar Bishop of the Archbishopric of Bucharest Timotei Prahoveanul.

The Holy Light will be offered at the Resurrection mass by Romanian Orthodox Church Patriarch Daniel to the clergy and believers present at the Patriarchal Cathedral.

Ahead of the most important Christian holiday, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), Patriarch Irinej, issued his Easter message.

The full text of the message

"The Serbian Orthodox Church to her spiritual children at Pascha, 2018

+IRINEJ

By the Grace of God

Bulgarian Christians celebrate Sunday one of the most important Christian holidays - Annunciation, reported FOCUS News Agency.

In Bulgaria, the day is marked by both the Bulgarian Orthodox majority and the Catholic and Protestant minorities.